Our beloved Shahed Amanullah from Altmuslim posted this rant of perfection on Muslim "silence" on some serious, very serious, matters we seem to be ignoring.
Muslim Website Says Muslims Aren't Offended By Apple StoreÂÂ
 What if a Muslim in a forest complained about a New York retail outlet he'd never visited? Would it make a sound? If MEMRI weren't around, it wouldn't. By Shahed Amanullah, October 11, 2006
 Recently, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) stated that an anonymous Islamic website in the Middle East urged Muslims to show their outrage at the Apple Store in New York City, which built a pavilion coincidentally resembling the cube shape of the Ka'aba, the ancient structure in Mecca towards which all Muslims pray (the actual structure is glass, though MEMRI referenced a black plywood cover during construction). Predictibly, the post brought out cries of indignation from people upset that Muslims would be offended (yet again). But missing in the report was the name of the purported website, why it was considered authoritative on the matter, or any actual offended Muslims (our straw poll garnered a collective shrug, along with much respect for Steve Jobs, himself the son of an Arab). It's not the first time the controversial organisation has selectively framed an issue to show Muslims in a less than positive light, nor is it the only instance of pre-emptive outrage attributed to Muslims in recent months. Take the case of a Kate Moss advertisment across the street from a New York mosque. The idea that Muslims might be offended by this went from blog post to mainstream media, somehow becoming "hundreds" of Muslims " infuriated" along the way. Nobody bothered to ask Muslims, though. In fact, no Muslim ever complained . A similar story happened when a UK art gallery pulled some sexually explicit art pieces depicting young girls so as to not "shock the population" of Muslims who live in their east London neighborhood. As with the above, no Muslims actually complained, but it didn't matter - the damage was done, and Muslims were labeled anti-art without even having a say in the matter. The list goes on. A British school bans children's stories about pigs so that Muslims won't get offended - again no Muslim complained ("It is rather sad," commented UK imam Ibrahim Mogra. "Muslims would not find the Three Little Pigs offensive."). A German opera last week cancelled a performance in which the leaders of various religions were beheaded, again citing Muslim sensibilities - even though, again, no Muslims complained, and the opera was performed three years ago without incident. Despite the reaction of the Muslim world to the Danish Muhammad cartoons - which probably drove much of the paranoia behind these decisions - Muslims in the west have a thicker skin than most people think, and the vast majority aren't looking to impose their values on others. But in the case of the (selective) MEMRI account, where at least one Muslim did (allegedly) complain about the NYC Apple Store, it seems that whenever a lone Muslim says something incendiary - even when it is an anonymous person hiding in a cave somewhere - his words are taken to somehow represent all Muslims. When whole groups of Muslims issue condemnations of terrorism, they are treated as "brave but isolated cries", or worse, ignored. In MEMRI's case, the mainstream media has already begun reporting it as fact. When it comes to Muslims, everyone loves a rumor.

You know, Laury, I think I am starting to feel a mite offended... yeah... so much so, that only a MacBook, at say, half price, would ease my soulish agony. Yeah, I can feel that agony coming on right now.
And I will find the person at MEMRI responsible for this BS, and I'm sure I will speak for the Ummah when I send him or her the traditional greeting for situations like these: Nigga, PLEASE!
It's MEMRI propaganda.
Here's our take, at Apple Gazette.
Sigh. And we Apple lovers (of all religions) were taken for a ride.
Not only do we all love the Cube, we love Apple, we love Apple!
My old ibook finally kicked it and I bought one of those gorgeous black 13 inch iBooks that look like a Prada clutch. Since there was some special going and I am an educator, I got an iPod Video for free. It is also black.
I now sit in Chicago O'hare waiting for a plane to Oakland, type this on my sleek Prada, ooops, Mac iBook, and in a moment I shall watch an episode of TNA wrestling I bought off of iTunes.
Muslims like Mac cause it is cool enough for us.
There is that business about how well they work, but really that is secondary to how cool their stuff is......
Laury
I should say that Memri did us Muslims a favor by saying something so ABSURD it sheds light the BULL DOODY about Muslims freaking out every minute over every thing.
It's amazing that MEMRI calls it the "Apple Mecca". With their picture of the cube covered in black for construction, they're sure looking to incite those who are inclined to be incited. Especially if Apple's really gonna serve alcohol.
That mainstream news would pick that story up (and blow it up) just goes to show what good mainstream news is for. Press releases and generating more ad revenue.
The stories of others censoring themselves so as to avoid (the possibility of) offending muslims illustrate political correctness gone too far. I suspect those who are trying not to offend muslims are really just trying not to get suicide-bombed. Speaking of which, did you know Muhammad invented suicide bombing?ÂÂ
Fashion Mujahid, you crack me up.
hakim
This is me and my Apple Powerbook (well, about 3 powerbooks ago) in a 1998 issue of Newsweek. The story started like this:
"Shahed Amanullah knows it's time to pray, not by a muezzin's call from a mosque minaret, but because his PowerMac has chimed..."
Who says Muslims don't like Apple?
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