Perhaps you’ve seen that billboard in East Hillsborough (near the McIntosh Road-I-4 intersection) that asks: “Purpose of Life?” and answers with “877-WHY-ISLAM.” The message is that of a New York-based Muslim advocacy group, Islamic Circle of North America. The sponsors include members of the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area.
Good idea.
The more vehicles and venues for Islam to confront and debunk Muslim stereotypes the better. Anything that promotes cultural awareness and understanding is most welcome. Anything that could help defuse raw emotions is imperative.
But here’s a suggestion for ICNA, which has 22 chapters and is engaged in a fairly aggressive marketing campaign that includes two dozen billboards in 18 cities.
Awareness, education and understanding are ultimately the only means for those seeking permanent rapprochement between Islam and the non-Muslim world. But it will necessarily be a time-consuming process and will take more than a billboard campaign.
So, there’s the matter of impact in the here and now. The Mumbai massacre was the most recent reminder that indiscriminate murders are still being committed by jihadists who are still perverting the Koran.
What would really get people’s attention? And help absolve Muslims from the criticism that they – collectively – have not been nearly outspoken enough about heinous acts committed in the name of their religion?
How about billboards that deliver the message that the world’s “infidels” have been waiting – and begging – for?
How about billboards that bluntly declare: “Stop Murdering In The Name Of Allah!”?