Caving to religious bigotry, Lowe’s pulled its advertising from the TLC program, “All-American Muslim.” The show examines life in Dearborn, Mich., through the lens of five Muslim American families. Dearborn is home to the largest mosque in the United States, serving more than 3,000 worshipers.
The Florida Family Association has said it finds the show offensive because “The show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks while excluding many Islamic believers whose agenda poses a clear and present danger to the liberties and traditional values that the majority of Americans cherish.” Why is it so shocking to profile Americans, who are also Muslims, as “ordinary folks?” The program is educational, informative and illuminating; it could hardly be described as “propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda’s clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values.”
Interfaith Alliance believes that religious freedom is best served by respecting individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy. While we have struggled with religious diversity in the U.S. since before its founding, we believe it has been the basis for America’s great strength. TLC’s “All-American Muslim” presents a neutral view of challenges faced within American Muslim communities as they deal with building new traditions in a country where their religion is a minority, an experience not unlike the challenges faced by every other immigrant community that has come to the United States.
It is time for Lowes to exert some of its energies on self-home improvement by supporting programs like “All-American Muslim” – and their creators’ efforts to share the lives and cultures of American Muslim families with the rest of the country – and refusing to surrender to pressures from anti-Muslim groups who are far too easily able to influence the greater public with their views.
Consider expressing your disappointment with Lowes’ quick decision to remove advertising dollars from TLC programming by calling Lowes’ customer care line at 1-800-445-6937 or visiting its customer care page to leave a comment: You also can express appreciation for TLC.
Interfaith Alliance President Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy recently weighed in on Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry in an interview for a new effort, “My Fellow American.” Check out that clip here: My Fellow Americans
