Posted on 08/11/2007 2:45:56 PM PDT by fanfan
Members of the Jewish and Lebanese Christian communities in Windsor are outraged by the appearance of a billboard that appears to promote Hezbollah -- an organization the Canadian government considers terrorist.
"That organization is banned in Canada," said Harvey Kessler, executive director of the Windsor Jewish Community Centre. "How can that billboard be up in Windsor when it represents a terrorist organization which is banned under the laws of Canada?"
Located at the southwest corner of Marion Avenue and Wyandotte Street East, the billboard does not mention Hezbollah by name, but features a central image of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the controversial political and military group that represents Lebanese Shia Muslims and has clashed with Israeli troops for more than 20 years.
OPPOSITE OF PEACE
Kessler said he feels Nasrallah represents "the opposite of peace."
"It should be offensive to all people living in Windsor. It should be offensive not only to the Jewish community, but to any Canadian."
Emile Nabbout, president of the Windsor branch of the Lebanese Christian political group Kataeb, said he also thinks Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, and he feels the billboard creates a misconception of the views of Windsor's Lebanese community.
"We really are not in support or in favour of that billboard and it should be removed ASAP," Nabbout said.
The image of Nasrallah is flanked by four other Lebanese political figures. "All those individuals in that picture... they are in opposition to the Lebanese government right now," Nabbout said.
"By just analyzing the picture, there is no doubt in my mind this is a Hezbollah activity," he added.
Printed in English on the left side of the billboard are the words: "Lebanese and Arab communities in Windsor city congratulate the Lebanese people for their steadfastness and endeavor to establish peace in Lebanon."
But Nabbout said that Arabic writing which appears on the right side of the billboard does not match the English translation. According to Nabbout, the Arabic writing makes a reference to fighting.
"What they mean by 'fight' is basically 'guerrilla' -- using arms and weapons," Nabbout said. "Basically, there is a very specific word... That is a definite difference between the Arabic and the English."
Contacted on Friday night, Mayor Eddie Francis said he was made aware of the billboard earlier in the day. Asked if he is concerned about its presence, Francis said: "The politics of Lebanon belong in Lebanon, not on the streets of Windsor."
Francis said he has no idea who was responsible for the billboard, but the city is now looking into whether its content violates any rules.
Kessler said he has talked to Chief Glenn Stannard of Windsor police about the billboard, as well as the mayor. He said he has made calls to councillors, the city's race and ethnocultural relations committee, RCMP and CSIS.
"I understand that everyone is looking at strategies under the Canadian law to get it down. Because it is not appropriate," Kessler said.
Nabbout said members of the Lebanese Christian community have made calls to local MPs Joe Comartin and Brian Masse about the issue.
But Sam Ali, a 39-year-old Lebanese-born Windsor resident, said he supports the billboard's message, and he believes many in the city's Lebanese population feel the same way.
According to Ali, the accusations that Hezbollah is terrorist are untrue. "Hezbollah is freedom fighting. Whoever calls them terrorist is a liar," he said.
Ali, a Muslim, said Nasrallah has done good things, helping people with hospitals and medicine. "When Nasrallah speaks in Lebanon, a million and a half or two million people go into the street to listen."
Fellow Lebanese native and Muslim Ghina Maawie said she doesn't understand why anyone would be offended by the billboard. "When I saw it, I felt so happy and so proud of it," she said. "In Canada, we have freedom of speech."
Maawie also dismissed the criticisms of Hezbollah. "For anyone to defend Lebanon, they call them terrorist. All we did is defend our country."
Ugh...no comment.
Ping.
These people are lucky I’m not at home, and that’s all I have to say about that. The Jewish community would not be the only ones raising hell...
Nasrallah is the Bin Laden of the Shia islamic terrorists.
The terrorist enablers love to toss around the words 'lie/lying" quite often. As in this instance, when they do so they generally are.
That my friend, would be a hate crime and a violation of the Canadian Human Rights Act
The members of the Commission would be on your butt like flies on dog poop!
Not that it's a bad idea, mind you!
You still awake? I haven’t had a chance to go down and view this monstrosity, not that I could read it in arabic anyway. Just to let you know, that area of Wyandotte Street used to be literally owned by Jewish merchants and shopkeepers. The arabs have completely taken it over.
Just saying.
Just to be sure, I’ll send it to Rush.
If this doesn’t have legs, we’re doomed.
But a few Freepers can. it would be very useful to get a complete picture of that billboard. A year from now, the usual suspects will deny it ever existed.
Agreed.
Just two.
*tapping fingers*
We have the CBS logo on many billboards up here, but the ads change all the time.
In fact, I think the logos were added to the billboards shortly after Dan Rather had his trouble.
;-)
“The politics of Lebanon belong in Lebanon, not on the streets of Windsor.”
I wouldn’t hurt to make the observation that Dearborn, Michigan is only 6 or 7 miles from the Detroit-Windsor bridge.
Wouldn't surprise me if they did and are taking money for the add...
Do we smell a boycott here?
In the picture of the billboard that you posted there are two useful idiots Christian politicians. Emile Lahood the illegal President of Lebanon and a shameful slave of the Syrian terrorist regime, and ex-General Michel Aoun who has a large following among Lebanese Christians but I can guarantee you that 95% of his followers hate Hizballah but they follow this idiot Aoun because they are emotionally controlled by the stupid rhetoric he tells them. Of course Hizballah terrorist group is using the picture of the two Christians politicians for propaganda purpose.
Please keep me updated on what is happening with this terrorist billboard in Windsor, thank you very much FRiend.
THANK YOU fanfan for starting this thread.
#
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1875105/posts?page=797#797
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.