Billboards highlight Middle Eastern relations during ethanol debate

[Robbien]

The billboards, located throughout Missouri, show a farmer and an unlabeled picture of the former king of Saudi Arabia standing in front of corn field with the text: ‘‘Who would you rather buy your gas from?’’

The advertisement has prompted a mixed reaction in the Muslim community, with the president of the St. Louis chapter for the Council on American-Islamic Relations calling it ‘‘an attack’’ and a ‘‘cheap method’’ for ethanol supporters to get their point across.

‘‘Just looking at the board implies hate and discrimination for no reason,’’ Kamal Yassin said. Yassin said it made sense to talk about the Middle East when debating alternatives to fossil fuels, but said the billboards cross the line.

‘‘Middle Easterners, Arabs and Muslims are all easy targets right now because no one is really defending them,’’ he said. ‘‘It gets to the point where you have to think twice because using that tactic is inappropriate. It doesn’t belong in any kind of campaign or discussion of the issues.’’

The billboards are paid for by the Missouri Corn Growers’ Association, one of the biggest backers of a bill that would require a 10 percent ethanol blend in Missouri gas whenever ethanol costs the same or less than gasoline.

http://www.lakesunleader.com/articles/2006/04/27/news/22.txt

[liberal N proud]

1. Maybe a better billboard would be a picture of the state of MO and Saudi

Arabia next to each other
The statement would be Where would you rather buy your gasoline from.

It would take the human factor out of it, no chance for discrimination.

[megatherium]

2. Is it really hate or discrimination to prefer to not buy your fuel from

people who do not allow women to go anywhere unescorted, or to drive; or who do not allow Jews to enter their country; or who punish apostasy from Islam with death; and who do not allow non-Muslim worship even in private?

[Ian David]

3. Just put Bush and Cheney next to the sheik. That would be fair. n/t