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."
> “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?”
An easy answer to a dumb question asked by a naive person.
Canada embraces the “cultural mosaic” model, where all cultures are considered equally valid. This is in stark contrast to the American “melting pot” model, where everyone blends into what defines being American.
Speaking personally, I am not into “bans”. I’d rather not ban the Nazis or the Hizzbolah or the KKK or any other of the rotten groups that we’ve had to fight at one point or another, as a Society. Let them continue to be, so that we can Know the Enemy.
But the reason why the Hizzbolah can, with impunity and tacit approval, advertize? This is because Canada abandoned the opportunity of devising a national identity, back in the Trudeau years. As a Nation we defined ourselves by what we were not (ie American) as opposed to what we are. And we set aside all of our national traditions and heritages, and allowed open slather: everything was both permissable and equal.
We are reaping the rewards of what we sowed back then. No surprises here. We have alot to “thank” Trudeau for.
*DieHard*
That’s not fat Mookie, that’s the mullah causing problems in Lebanon.
Sounds like San Francisco is trying to expand its power.
Under the PATRIOT act financial support of terror groups is grounds for confiscation of assets. At the very least every one of CBS’ broadcast licenses in this country should be rescinded.
This is what my husband is fighting for?
Same difference. Six of one, half dozen of the other...
You’ve seen one nutjob mullah you’ve seen them all.
Hmmm...so they import Middle Easterners, don’t ask them to assimilate, and are surprised that this is the result?
Thanks for the post and the photo.
Interesting to see that one of our domestic enemies has placed their
logo with this terrorist billboard.
(CBS)
“..Christian communities in Windsor are outraged by the appearance of a billboard that appears to promote Hezbollah..”
Import cancer cells at your own risk. For some reason I have no compassion for people who insist on being stupid whether it is in Canada, US or Europe.
Wasn’t planning on going down there. I’ll try and get a shot tomorrow and post it.
In Lebanon, you don't.
Note how these Hezbollah supporters are expressing their admiration from Canada. They do not seem especially eager to return to their homeland to enjoy life under the Hezbollah boot.
Have you ever seen those demonstrations where the Moonbats walk around chanting: “We are all Hezbollah now”? I think part of the problem is that these people have gone through their whole lives without anyone ever setting any boundaries. When they screwed up as kids, their parents didn’t spank them. Their teachers always told them they were right—as not to hurt their self esteem (or maybe ‘cause they didn’t know any better anyway). If I ever run across one of them, they will rue the day.
I’d like to see one of those go up here in Jacksonville, FL.
I wouldn’t give it 24 hours.
I’d do it, but Windsor’s too much of a drive... pinging anyone in the area.
Good lord, I hope not.
I just didnt know what else to say. These are the same kind of people that we are fighting in Afghanistan, and for our guys to come home from that and see these people’s faces on a billboard, here in Canada! —————————This pandering to every group here has got to stop. Problem is, we did this to ourselves. We, as a country have struggled so long with our “national identity”—we are a country formed by immigrants—which has worked fine for us until now-past immigrants have spilled their own blood on foriegn soil defending this country. Now we have people who care nothing for Canada, and will spill their blood defending the country in which they originally came from—while at the same time, taking full advantage of the rights that our forefathers fought for—but I don’t think this is what they had in mind. I don’t think society as a whole, whether it be here, in the U.S., Britain, etc.—quite knows how to deal with this!
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