JaBbA's Hut

This is completely horrible. A message from my minister:

Recently, some well-produced DVD's were included with the ad inserts in papers throughout Ohio. The Plain Dealer refused them, so now I have discovered they will be mailed out to all of us in the Cleveland area. These are malicious, anti-Islamic messages and have been characterized by some as hate speech. They are targeting swing states.

More information is on the Ohio Meadville UU District website.

Friends,

A recent Sunday edition of the Akron Beacon Journal included an obviously expensive, professionally-produced anti-Islamic DVD titled "Obsession." One of our OMD ministers who viewed the DVD frankly called it "hate-filled" and "lie-filled." It was also included in newspapers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Canton, Toledo and other cities in Ohio; and, apparently, in still more cities in "battleground" states in the presidential election. The Cleveland Plain Dealer did not carry the DVD.

Many Unitarian Univeralists in the OMD have already expressed outrage that something which blatantly violates the principles of religious freedom and tolerance could be distributed in our community, and put into the hands of our children, under the label of "advertising". They are writing the newspapers which distributed the DVDs to let them know how they feel.

This is a non-partisan issue. Our congregations and the district are able to express their disgust with this kind of reactive messaging without any risk to their non-profit status. I believe that we are called by our values and principles as Unitarian Universalists to speak out against those who would promote intolerance and fear in our communities.

With blessings,

Rev. Joan VanBecelaere
District Executive
Ohio-Meadville District of the UUA

Information on the DVD is at Obsession With Hate.

I'll update here if I hear anything else. I know this kind of hatred exists out there, but people need to fight it whenever it comes out of the shadows.

This should have been an easy decision for ANY newspaper - well done to the PD for refusing the insert, but some investigative reporter needs to explore why other papers accepted this and where the money came from to pay for it.

JaBbA says get involved, let the world see that America stands against this kind of filth.