The level of hysteria in some segments of America is simply unbelievable. Even though we've all grown accustomed to outrageous stories and racist remarks, we still continue to be surprised, baffled, angered and tickled by how downright foolish and ignorant some people can be.
Someone in Lubbock, Texas hung a sign written in Arabic on Valentine's Day with the phrase, 'Love All' on it, and a large heart.
Then, as the saying goes, '...all hell broke loose!'
Law enforcement shut down the highway. Politicians declared a possible emergency situation. The Mayor of Lubbock reported the incident to Homeland Security and the FBI. Fox News, the primary source to terrorize people with such fear-mongering, screamed in its headlines that 'ARABIC BANNER MYSTERIOUSLY APPEARS ON TEXAS BUILDING'.
(I wouldn't be surprised if some people fainted, ran helter-skelter or yelled with fear as they saw the sign!)
It took a few hours for the situation to return to normal, but only after they had stripped down that 'evil and fear-inducing' sign with its blatant message of hate (or, in this case, of love).
Truly, even as we laugh at such ignorance, this is also a warning sign and a source of potential alarm for us. Terrified people act in terrible ways, and unless and until they calm down, it is very likely that such fear will translated into xenophobic actions against the Muslim community (as it already has in so many places).
Allah will protect; our job is to educate others even as we remain faithful to Him.
The following incident which happened last year is even more hysterical...in Gardner Louisiana welcome home signs in Hebrew caused a stir with residents calling the Police and with national media turning up.
Hebrew mistaken for Arabic in Lousiana.
Gardner, Louisiana residents were startled at the appearance of some handwritten signs posted around town that many thought were Arabic terror messages. Most terrorists don't use the same methods as one advertising a garage sale, but you never know. Though in this case, the fear was all for naught.
It turns out those signs are not terror messages. They aren't even written in Arabic.
As the Times of Israel explains:
"The 'mysterious' sign actually says 'Welcome Home, Yamit,' in a boxy Hebrew scrawl, likely by a non-native Israeli or child."
The Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office as well as local NBC affiliate KALB have been inundated with calls by locals fearing the worst. They say not to worry and assure everyone that these signs are in no way connected to ISIS.
While Gardner may be small town USA where we expect no better, at least their questions were of an actual middle-eastern script. In London, back during the Gay Pride Parade of all places, spectators confused a black flag with white sex toys arranged all over it with the ISIS flag. Let's repeat that for clarification. Some actual people thought that a bunch of dildos in a row was Arabic script.
Let that sink in.
It seems the whole world is having problems with their deductive reasoning skills where terrorism is concerned.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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