USA: Eid Postage Stamp Provokes Hate in Tennessee
A 2008 version of the stamp, before the price increase
As Muslims in the United States celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the celebration which marks the end of Ramadan, a pernicious chain e-mail is making its rounds. The e-mail falsely claims that President Obama has issued a new postage stamp commemorating the two Eid celebrations and urges readers to boycott it, naming several terrorist attacks on the U.S. over the past twenty years. The full text of the e-mail can be seen in this post by Missives from Marx, who expresses frustration at the letter, saying:
I received the following email forward today from a family member. It is because of stuff like this that I’m going to have to spend four weeks of my Western Religions course deconstructing Muslim stereotypes. This is why critical thinking has to be an essential component of all my courses.
As it turns out, there's nothing new about the letter, or the stamp. About.com explains that the letter has been around since at least 2002, while the stamp itself was issued on September 1, 2001.
Aziz Poonwalla, on the BeliefNet blog City of Brass, explains the history of the e-mail:
Versions of the email, which has been making the rounds for years, have been repeatedly debunked before, but it still persists. I've blogged extensively about the history of the Eid stamp, the controversy that accompanied it when it was introduced (mostly from conservative Republicans), and the defense of the stamp by President Bush and Speaker Hastert. In a nutshell, the stamp was introduced on September 1st 2001, ten days before the 9-11 attacks, during the Bush Administration. Mayor Piper joins a long list of conservative politicians who have no objection to stamps commemorating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, even teh Chinese New year – but a stamp devoted to the muslim holiday of Eid is singled out as a threat, requiring response from “patriotic” Americans?
A post on the Clarksville Online, a blog for the town of Clarksville, Tennessee, explains why the e-mail has made major headlines this year:
Clarksville Tennessee’s Mayor, Johnny Piper has sent an inflammatory anti-Islamic email to employees of the city, encouraging them to boycott a stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service…
…Mayor Piper has since attempted to defend his actions, but they are simply indefensible. Muslims are a integral part of this country. They serve honorably in our armed forces, defending our nation, and our freedoms. No one should be treated like a second class citizens based on their religious beliefs, or the actions of a radical fringe. This incident created by our Mayor has been an embarrassment for our City, our State, and our Country.
Sheila Musaji has been tracking chain e-mails about the stamp for The American Muslim (TAM) since 2005, and in an update, remarks on Mayor Piper's abhorrent actions:
I’m certain the good mayor was just as surprised about President Obama’s White House Iftar.
And, of course the final recourse of all bigots: “I have some good Muslim friends,” he immediately added.”
Perhaps those good Muslim friends might enlighten him as to why THIS (PDF) is offensive.
49 comments
Mr.Kactuz,
After reading your negative comments about Islam, two of my best freinds start reading the Qura’n. They seem to be very interested, I’m concerned they might convert.
Mr. Kactuz.
Fyi.. one of my freinds took the “shadah” became a moslem yesterday! Just because of your negative comments about Islam.. After reading your comments, he said he need to do more reaserch about the religion and he got attracted to it.
thanks to you Mr. Kactuz..
And do you think I care? That is his problem.
Now he is part of a select group that follows a god that pours boiling water over the heads of his enemies and says that he is going to skin them alive then put the skin back on so he can torture them again (That is Quran 4:56 in case you don’t know). That must make your friend feel really good.
Oh yes, by the way, do you suppose that if I said good things about Islam, your friend would reject Islam? In case you don’t understand, I am just being sarcastic and making fun of your logic.
Kactuz
Kactuz,
Guess what? I found the Verse!
Those who reject our signs, We shall soon cast into the fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the chastisement. Truly Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. (Qur’aan 4:56).
Mr. Kactuz.
yes he is part of the Uma he said and he hopes he will not be among the people who will be skined and re-skined to test the punshment of God.
Mr. Kacutz, are you not afraid you might be one of the people who will be skined? just wondering.
you do not have to reply.
thanks
No, I am not afraid, not of Allah, not of Bugs Bunny, not of casper the friendly ghost, not of unicorns and not of leprecauns and not of any other figment of human imagination.
But lets suppose that Allah exists and he is god…. Why am I to be tortured? I have never killed anybody. I have denounced racism, murder, torture and discrimination. I give some money to the poor (not much, don’t have much). So why exactly does Allah want to torture me? because I tell the truth? Think about it.
It is good to see that I am not the only one that reads the Quran here. I guess my quote is accurate. Allah does love torture. Think about that!
If you do something because a bully is going to brutally torture you if you don’t, well it aint worth doing.
Hope that answers your question.
kactuz
Everybody believes that their religion is the true religion.
Me too I’m a christian and i know Jesus Christ to be the true and only Messiah sent from God. I’m not here to debunk anyone’s belief. But the Bible states that narrow is the path and straight is the way that leads to salvation and few will find it. Also wide is the path that leads to death and unfortunately many are on this road. These are the last days so why should anybody be shocked that Islam is the fastest growing religion headed straight to hell. Sorry, but I most speak the truth. Their are Christians that do not walk in the truth of love your neighbor and your enemy and we too will have to face the final judgement. How can anybody think that the life they lead here on earth can save them from Jehovah’s judgement that will be executed thru His Son Yesuha (JESUS). I personally could not serve a religion that requires me to save myself. No one can save them self to serve a God who is Holy and requires Holiness from His people. Its sad how the Devil has deceived people into to believing these false religions. A greater travesty is that people born into the family of these false religions are rejected if they don’t conform to the families religion. My prayer is that everybody reading this will examine themselves, realize what a wicked person they are, and are in need of the Savior Yeshua. And to my Christians brothers and sisters God has set us here as the light of the earth.
To all my other fellow mankind please wake up, how can you say you believe in a Holy God and yet a lot of your actions are truly Demonic, sorry but the Truth must be told. Please, I beg of you try Jesus. Don’t refuse Him because most people who confess Him really don’t line up with His message of Love, but you might be one who will!