New 'script' for Islamophobia at RNC
CLEVELAND (Christian Examiner) – The Council on American Islamic Relations claims Americans have nothing to worry about with the rush of Muslim immigrants to the U.S. and it is trying to use humor to prove its point.
CAIR members in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention are distributing packages of what looks like over-the-counter allergy medication. A closer look at them, however, reveals a tongue-in-cheek approach to what the group claims is rampant Islamophobia in the Republican Party.
"Islamophobin," a mock medication, is supposed to help create public awareness about how Muslims are being treated and spoken of by conservative candidates for office – including Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
"We hope human will create public awareness about the harm Islamophobia does not only to ordinary American Muslims, but also to the values of equality and religious freedom upon which our nation is founded," Nihad Awad, CAIR's executive director, said in a statement.
CAIR actually launched the Islamophobin campaign in May, but it has received little attention until now. The "medicine" – actually pieces of green, sugar-free gum – promises "multi-symptom relief for chronic Islamophobia."
It claims to treat "blind intolerance," "unthinking bigotry," "irrational fear of Muslims," and "U.S. Presidential Election Year Scapegoating."
The product claims it will produce "peaceful co-existence" within minutes. A warning on the package also includes the statement:
"Those who already believe in religious diversity, tolerance and mutual understanding should not use this product. For those who hold bigoted stereotypes of Muslims and subscribe to Islamophobic conspiracy theories, use of this product may result in feelings of remorse and/or guilt."
CAIR produced a mock commercial for the product promising to end bigotry. In it, white Americans are shown running away from Muslims, looking suspiciously at bearded Muslim men and women wearing the hijab (head scarf), and passing up a ride to the hospital from a Muslim driver.
Left-leaning news outlets have praised the campaign, but conservative sites have called the gag "snarky" and a mockery of U.S. security concerns.