Dunkin Donuts, my favorite coffee brand, pulled a Rachel Ray ad because right wing blogger, Michelle Malkin, felt that the scarf resembled a kaffiyeh and that “The kaffiyeh, for the clueless, is the traditional scarf of Arab men that has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad,” [CNN] (tip Runa via email)
Letter protesting the withdrawal of an ad because of an ethnic scarf
I sent mine, did you?
img: via Über Desi @ Flickr.com
Enough is enough. This kind of fear mongering has gone on for too long and went too far this time. By pulling the Rachel Ray ad, not only did Dunkin Donuts kowtow to unreasonable demands but also perpetuated the stereotype that anyone wearing a certain kind of clothing is a jihadist or terrorist. This is perhaps only symbolic but it could also signify the beginning of a slippery slope where further unreasonable demands (Against turbans, for instance) could be made under the guise of faux-patriotism.
Instead of getting mad at the situation and simply venting our frustrations by blogging about it, we propose a little online Gandhigiri. Print the following protest letter, paste a stamp, write your address, sign it and post it. [MS Word 97-03] [PDF Version]
Also forward this letter to your friends, families and co-workers. Perhaps sending dozens of nicely worded requests to Dunkin’ Donuts’ Customer Care department should help in getting the point across.
Share your thoughts in the comments space below and, of course, print, sign and send the protest letter to Dunkin’ Donuts.
Dear Dunkin’ Donuts,
I’m extremely disappointed in your decision to withdraw the above ad because a few people felt it related to jihadists. By withdrawing this ad, you’ve not only folded to demands of an unreasonable nature but also unwittingly perpetuated this myth that people wearing certain traditional clothing are similar to jihadists and terrorists.
People belonging to various cultures across the country consume your products daily and, frankly, your decision to withdraw this innocuous web ad shows a lack of understanding and respect to these customers. I request that you do the right thing and put this ad back in circulation or make an appropriate gesture of conciliation to customers from all cultures.
Signed,
A disappointed customer
FAQ
Q. It’s Dunkin Donuts’ money and ad to do as they please.
A. And as Dunkin’ Donuts customers its our right to voice our displeasure.
Q. Michelle Malkin has the right to say what she wants.
A. Newsflash, so do we.
Q. Will this work?
A. What was that Thomas Jefferson quote on death and taxes? Nothing is guaranteed. This may work or fail miserably. Consider the other option, doing nothing about it. That will definitely not work.
Q. Why not boycott Dunkin Donuts?
A. Who said that was not an option?
Q. I have a better idea….
A. Got a better idea? Share it in the comments space below.
Q. I don’t have a Dunkin Donuts shop in my area. Why should I protest?
A. Since Dunkin Donuts sells their stuff online, anyone anywhere is a potential customer.
Q. How much money will all this cost me?
A. The price of a postage stamp.
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