I'm really not sure how I feel about this one, but I found this story pretty interesting, and thought I'd let you, the reader, decide how we feel about this. So, Lowe's, the home improvement warehouse, otherwise known as Home Depot's arch nemesis, has pulled their ads from the new TLC Reality TV show, All-American Muslim, which chronicles the lives of five families from Dearborn, Michigan, a Detroit suburb with a large Muslim and Arab-American population.
It's turns out, a conservative group, known as the Florida Family Association, had a problem with the ads being aired on the show stating that the program was "propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda's clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values." I, personally, have never seen the show, but I can only assume that the producers are American and would never allow this to happen. I would think that the shows sole purpose was to show us, Americans, how hard it is to be a Muslim or Arab-American in a day where there is so much hatred for their culture because of terrorism. Like I said, I've never actually watched the show, so I do not know how these families are being depicted. Maybe they're being shown in the same light as the "Jersey Shore" kids for all I know. Bottom line is, Muslim and Arab Americans still live here, they watch this show, and they still do spend money here in America. It's just plain dumb to pull ads from a TV show where you will have potential customers.
A state senator from Southern California recently stated that he is considering calling for a boycott of the home improvement superstore, calling the move "un-American" and "naked religious bigotry". Senator Ted Lieu also went on to say that he would consider legislative action if Lowe's doesn't apologize to Muslims and reinstate their ads. The senator has even gone as far as sending a letter of his complaints to Lowe's CEO, Robert Niblock.
Senator Lieu explained that the show is, indeed, about what it's like to be a Muslim in America, and it touches on the discrimination they sometimes face being here, and that Lowe's actions is evidence of that very discrimination. The Senator also stated that he wants to raise awareness so that consumers will know during this holiday shopping season that Lowe's is engaging in religious discrimination. The cast of All-American Muslim are also said to be upset with Lowe's decision. Lowe's did, however, release an apology, but according to Senator Lieu, the apology does not go far enough since the ads are still pulled.
I have to say that I probably will not be boycotting Lowe's because I actually like shopping there, but I do have to say from a business angle, this looks pretty bad on their end to pull an ad because of a few small groups complaining about the show. They should be more concerned with the business they can stand to lose now because of this. This also might be a great opportunity for Home Depot to jump in and place ads in Lowe's place. Do I feel that it was "un-American" to advertise on a Muslim-American TV show? Absolutely, not! It is, however, in Lowe's right to advertise where and when they want to and that is the American way. They only ones they'll really end up hurting will be their business, not the Muslims.
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