CAIR takes the highground as Geller cranks it up a notch

Advertisement sponsored by CAIR to counter the pro-Israel ad supported by Pamela Gellar and AFDI (Credits: CAIR)

Last week Pamela Geller’s savage ads hit the Metro in our nation’s capital. The Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) is countering in style with an attractive 16 feet by 9 feet image of a joyful youth accompanied by a positive, wise message; “Show forgiveness, speak for justice, avoid the ignorant.”

CAIR’s ads will be placed in the same D.C. subway stations where Geller’s savage ad are currently displayed.

Examiner:

The Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) will run its own ad to speak out against what most consider a hate-filled propaganda backed by AFDI. The ad sponsored by the Muslim Advocacy Group is a 16 ft. by 9 ft. banner which reads, “Show forgiveness, speak for justice, avoid the ignorant.” In a press release issued on October 12, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said, “We hope to expand this anti-hate campaign in the nation’s capital and throughout the nation. We need the community’s help to challenge the growing propaganda campaign of anti-Muslim hate in our society with positive messages of what Islam is and who we really are.”

Although many riders see the ads and counter ads as mere ad wars, most are supportive of the way the matter is being handled in a peaceful manner. According to Voice of America, the Washington Metro officials said the FBI is investigating a threat of violence if the ads ran. Despite some minor reports of vandalism to the ads in the New York subways, nothing much of a serious nature has been reported.

Benetta Standly, Washington director of the American Civil Liberties Union, supported the metro ads saying that the fear of violence cannot override the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. Her argument is that hateful speech should be countered by more speech but one that is done peacefully.

“In this country, the answer to offensive or hateful speech is simply more speech to counter that. So what we see happening now in the Washington, D.C., Metro transit system is people are starting to put up different advertisements that counter the hateful speech,” Standly told VOA.

Infamous Islamophobe Pamela ‘Savage’ Geller and American Freedom Defense Initiative, the umbrella group of Stop Islamization of America, are cranking up the heat with a new ad directly targeting the Koran:

The Blaze:

[T]he activist is preparing to launch another, potentially more controversial ad blitz — one that includes an image of the World Trade Center up in flames and two controversial verses from the Koran.

On Sunday, Geller shared her new poster and an explanation of its purpose (it’s a response to a new ad being put out by the Council on American-Islamic Relations) with TheBlaze. Much like Sojourners, Rabbis for Human Rights and United Methodist Women, CAIR also launched an ad decrying Geller’s anti-jihad campaign.

“We hope to expand this anti-hate campaign in the nation’s capital and throughout the nation,” CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement. “We need the community’s help to challenge the growing propaganda campaign of anti-Muslim hate in our society with positive messages of what Islam is and who we really are.”

(Hat tip Karen Platt)