A TV show portraying real Muslim-American families who are proud members of America's melting pot. Sounds like a pretty good idea, right? Showing both Muslims AND America in general that we CAN all get along. Seems to me that is about as American as we can get.

However right wing America won't stand for tolerance and acceptance of differences. They are boycotting companies advertising on the show and Lowes, for one, caved to their racist, anti-American demands.

From BBC News:

Home improvement retailer Lowe's is facing criticism after removing advertising from a reality TV show showcasing American Muslims.

The company pulled ads from All-American Muslim after complaints from the Florida Family Association.

The cable TV show portrays the lives of five families in Dearborn, Michigan, a city known for its Muslim and Arab population.

Lowe's issued an apology, but did not say it would re-advertise on the show.

The North Carolina-based company said in a statement it apologised for having "managed to make some people very unhappy".

"It appears that we managed to step into a hotly contested debate with strong views from virtually every angle and perspective," the firm said...

Wait...a "hotly contested debate?????" What debate? Whether racism or tolerance is better? Whether Muslims should be treated like people? Exactly what side is Lowes coming down on here?  read more »

This is a cool upcoming event on Friday, January 14th at 7 PM in Park Slope, Brooklyn (particularly given the levels of intolerance and hate speech in America today):

On the Friday night before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we will see how Jewish values and international human rights standards grapple with issues of discrimination and tolerance in a diverse society and, in particular look at our obligations as a Jewish community to address Islamophobia.

There will be a slightly shortened Friday night service led by Rabbi Bachman and Noah Aronson, joined by a special inter-generational CBE choir. Following straight on from this there will be food and a panel discussion with Daisy Khan from the American Society for Muslim Advancement, Iain Levine from Human Rights Watch and Rabbi Bachman. The panel will be moderated by Lisa Miller, the Religion Editor at Newsweek.

Please come and join us for this exciting event. For further information and to RSVP please contact Isabel Burton at 718-768-3814 ext. 243 or iburton@cbebk.org

September 11th, 2010

- Robert F. Kennedy, U.S. Senator from New York, 1965-1968

We, the undersigned, are progressive bloggers from across New York State. We write, report, and opine about the politics, culture, and economies of our diverse communities. Since the 17th Century, New York State has been a gateway to the New World for people from all over the world - of every color, nation, and creed. Openness, tolerance, and diversity are what made New York great. The movement of people, ideas, and commerce westward to America's frontier was made possible by all New Yorkers.

The rights guaranteed to us as citizens of New York and the United States are blind to religion or race. We, the undersigned, extend our hands in friendship to Muslim New Yorkers - who, like people of any faith, share our common hopes and dreams for themselves and their children.

In 2001, violent extremists indiscriminately murdered and injured thousands of innocent New Yorkers, including hundreds of Muslims. Those extremists committed their crime in the name of Islam, perverting it into a message of hatred and fear. We remember starkly the pain of this attack, and have overwhelming compassion for its victims and survivors.

But we cannot allow a hateful act to engender new hate. American values, principles, and rights should not be jettisoned because they are claimed by, or owed to, a particular faith whose name was horribly abused. We New York State bloggers believe it is our duty to stand up for the values that make America great - that our laws and Constitution apply equally to all - Muslim and Christian; Jew and Gentile; believers and non-believers.

We, therefore, support and defend the right of Muslim New Yorkers to build a community center on privately owned land in Lower Manhattan.

Signed,

Phillip Anderson (The Albany Project), Alan Bedenko (BuffaloPundit/WNYMedia.net), Rich Boatti (The Albany Project), Michael Bouldin (The Daily Gotham), Adama D. Brown (GlowDemocrats), Ezra Ford (Jefferson Democrat), Brian Keeler (The Albany Project), Cynthia Kouril (Firedoglake), Elana Levin, David Michaelson (The Daily Gotham), Mark Odien (WNYMedia.net), Liza Sabater (CultureKitchen), Chris Smith (WNYMedia.net), Andrew C. White (The Albany Project)  read more »

Leo Igwe should be an inspiration to us all. He is a Nigerian Humanist who stands up to religious extremism (both Muslim and Christian) and tries to protect children from religious-inspired child abuse...and for his pains he has been beaten, harrassed by police and frivolous lawsuits, and now his family has been attacked.

I am proud to have recruited Leo as a regular blogger on Culture Kitchen where he has written many fascinating pieces on religious extremism and superstition in Africa and how they impede African progress. I read all his pieces and learn a great deal from them. But I also worry about him. Most of us can blog all we want without endangering ourselves or our families. Leo cannot. He has chosen to speak truth to power at the risk of himself and his family. Would I be so brave in his shoes?

This is from Leo's latest Culture Kitchen piece:  read more »

So there is yet more to be written about Isaac Abrahan, candidate for City Council, and his refusal to attend a political meeting in a childcare center because it was in the basement below a church.

This issue led to much private discussion among my liberal Jewish friends (including with an Israeli co-worker of mine). And to more attention that it deserved on this blog. But the reason it got undue attention is that behind what really was little more than a well-known media hog's wanting to martyr himself for publicity are some very real issues. And issues that are seldom easy to balance.

The key point is the interaction between an individual's personal beliefs (in this case a Hasid's refusal to enter the religious building of another religion) and the wider community. In this case it is more of an issue because had Isaac Abraham merely wished to live in Brooklyn without entering a church no one would have thought anything of it. In this case it is an issue of someone from a community known for its avoidance of outside cultural influences wanting to represnt the wider community in a public office. Is this possible?

Of course it all depends.  read more »