Kick the Anthill

Jumping on the Can You Believe This? bandwagon…

Whenever I saw this story at MichelleMalkin.com, I just KNEW I had to say something.  And while she mentions that she doesn’t know who to root for, I certainly do know who I’m rooting for.  I’m rooting for Abercrombie & Fitch.

Why?

Simple reason, really.  No, I’m not hip on a company that puts out soft-porn pictures as their advertisements to entice my children into their stores, but still.  Whenever a special-interest group tries to overstep a company’s policies, it just rankles me to no end. 

It’s like that moronic lawsuit that Savino Latuga made against Hooters in 1993 for not hiring him as a waiter.  Or what about the absurdity of Linda Carlson’s lawsuit against eHarmony, simply because they rejected her application because she’s a lesbian!  And in related news, lawyer John Claasen also sued eHarmony for rejecting his application because he’s married! 

You can see the YouTube posted video (coincidently by CAIRtv) from Tulsa News Channel 6 here.

I have completely had it with these types of lawsuits. 

I am so over-the-top angry right now that I can barely think straight.  I mean, this type of thing makes me want to say words that I’m not supposed to say.

For starters, who do these freaking people think they are?  America is a capitalist country.  Period.  END OF STATEMENT.  We are a FREE COUNTRY.  Part of the American Dream is that we all have the freedom to make it on our own.  That we all have the freedom to–if we choose to–build a company that serves whatever purpose it is that we want it to serve.  And if it takes off and is profitable?  AWESOME!

So who the CRAP do these people think they are, forcing a company to cater to their whims?  In one of the eHarmony cases, John Claasen is freaking married!  I don’t care if he’s “separated”!  What he’s attempting to do is force them to make it OK for him to be an adulterer!  In Linda Carlson’s eHarmony case, she’s trying to force eHarmony to allow homosexuals into their database.  Why?  Since eHarmony is there with a specific set of guidelines, was created with a specific purpose in mind, with a specific group of people to cater to, don’t they have the right to fulfill that purpose?  Trying to force eHarmony to do what these two nutjobs are attempting, in my opinion, goes directly against the American Dream.

Aside:  I don’t know if you know this or not, but Neil Warren (founder of eHarmony) is an evangelical Christian.  He received his Master’s degree in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.  He’s published NUMEROUS Christian-based self-help books.  Until recently, eHarmony was partnered with James Dobson’s Focus on the Family.  They still support FotF and they support 700 Club.  While he claims his reason for excluding homosexuals from eHarmony is based on his research only involving heterosexuals, I’m willing to bet that there’s a theological reason in there too.  Somewhere.  It may not be clearly apparent, but… 

And, honestly, I think eHarmony separated from Focus on the Family not because of Dr. Warren, but because, since the Warrens have little to do with the running of the company anymore (they’ve both retired), I’m betting that it’s because the new CEO, Greg Waldorf, as well as the President and COO, Greg Steiner, are not Christians.  Or, if they are, they’re choosing to “expand” the business for monetary reasons over keeping it within the guidelines set forth by Dr. Warren.  Hey, what’s more capitalistic than putting money before God?

Anyway, back to what I was saying.

So this teenager (whom many news sources AND CAIR are misrepresenting as a Muslim woman) went into an Abercrombie and Fitch Kids store and applied for a job.  And was turned down, because she “didn’t fit the image.”

Well no kidding! 

May I direct you to the A&F website so you can see some of their advertisements?  May I direct you to their stores so you can see what kinds of pictures they have hanging on their walls? 

So, honestly, do you think a devout muslim “woman”–who, as CAIR says, claims that her burqa is “part of her identity”–would accurately reflect the image that Aberhardbody & I’vegotanitch try to reflect?  Does she fit the mold? 

She fits about as well as Savino Latuga did for being a Hooter’s girl–even though he’s a man. (Savino, dude, might I suggest you try your hand at getting a job at DD Peckers?)

This is one of those cases where we’re being told that we have to cater to people that–while we don’t discriminate against them–we don’t choose to serve.

No, I’m not saying that I support A&F.  I don’t.  I have a HUGE problem with their advertising tactics and the images that they produce.  BUT, I DO support their right to do with their company what they want.

So, here’s honestly what I think is going on.  Yes, it’s a conspiracy theory, but I don’t care. 

CAIR is behind the whole thing.

1)  She claims she’s involved and interested in fashion.  Uh-huh.  Yeah, right.  Don’t care that her fingernails are painted blue and she has some 80’s Bangle-esque throwback billion bracelets on her wrists that we can’t help but notice as she wrings her “poor pitiful me!” hands.  She’s a MUSLIM, people!  By their own strict rules, they have to cover their bodies, head to foot!  Did you take a look at her during the interview?  Her body is completely covered, except her face, wrists, and hands.

And that crap about “you can’t tell who is Muslim or not” in the pictures that A&F supply their stores with the quote “Does your staff look like ours?” across the top is completely bogus.  Yes, you can tell who is Muslim or not.  Muslim women wear burqas!  And Muslim men have this funky mangey beard thing going on.  You can always tell who is Muslim and who isn’t, based on their appearance.  A Muslim’s appearance is strictly enforced.  There’s guidelines they have to follow.

And her other quote about “It’s a hard thing to just start wearing a head scarf, because there’s always side affects” is complete crap, too.  In the Muslim tradition, young girls aren’t required to wear them.  BUT, whenever they enter puberty, they do have to start wearing them.  Why?  Because, once they hit that age, they can start bearing children of their own.  And since that’s the case, they have to start dressing “modestly” so that they don’t attract the sexual desires from men.  So, she didn’t ‘just start wearing a head scarf.’  Her tradition demands that she to do it.  (IMO, that’s soooooo over-the-top oppressive, but whatever floats their boat…)

And speaking of dressing modestly so that they don’t attract the sexual desires of men, can I redirect you to the pictures I posted above (Note:  pics were removed to avoid offense to anyone)?  Is there a Muslim woman (or man, for that matter) in the black and white A&F pictures?  If ANY of the men are, I’ll bet it’s the young Hugh Hefner wannabe in the picture that, in my opinion, glorifies polygamy, ménage à trois, and open relationships.  I mean, isn’t that what every Muslim man wants whenever he goes to Heaven?  I thought the idea of the seventy some-odd virgins awaiting him (an obvious reference to having multiple sex partners) was something that Muslim men were looking for.  So, having said all that, assume you are Muslim.  Would you want your teenage daughter to work for a company that openly glorifies sex?  ESPECIALLY in a place that encourages girls to dress provacatively, all in the name of fashion? 

I seriously doubt it.

2)  Take a look at the Tulsa World article.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Web site, “absent undue hardship, religious discrimination may be found where an employer fails to accommodate the employee’s religious dress or grooming practices,” including a head covering.

“This shouldn’t create undue hardship,” Hashmi said. “This level of disrespect is unfair.”

So, which is it, Hashmi?  Is it religious discrimination, or is it a level of disrespect?  And is it in any way religious descrimination at all?

I think not.

Why?

Because of a very simple little thing that the district manager for A&F said.  If you watch the video at YouTube (I hate the fact that CAIRtv is requesting that you can’t embed this video**) again, she says in her typical teenage bad grammar:

And he was like ‘No, she can’t work here no matter what, wearing that on her head.’

Where does the religious discrimination come in here?  He said that she could not work there if she chooses to wear the head scarf.  He didn’t make any mention to her oppression religious preference.  So, they can’t be sued for religious discrimination.  PLUS, there’s NO anti-religious statements in their hiring rules.  There’s rules about what you can and can’t wear, I’m sure.

So, she doesn’t fit the A&F image.  Big deal.  If anything, she could try to get herself a job at, oh, The Buckle or Hot Topic or any-freaking-other fashion store!  But no.  She wants to claim that she’s now horrifically affected and can’t apply for another job anywhere else, because she was rejected at A&F.

Which leads me to…

3)  CAIR is behind this.  I know they are.  I mean, I don’t know know, but yet, way down deep in my soul, I know they are.  Why?  Because of the absurdity of the situation.

Is it any stretch of the imagination to think that any devout Muslim family would even consider allowing their daughter (remember–she’s female, and we all know how oppressed the fairer sex is in the Muslim community) to work at a company that peddles their wares using pornography?

I can only imagine what her Muslim father would do to her if she got a job there and, when he walked into the store to see her, saw this image emblazoned on that huge wall that you are assaulted with whenever you first walk into any A&F store:

(Pic of half-naked guy removed–but you can go to any of their stores and see it about 250x larger than real life on their main wall, if you’re so inclined.)

Can’t you just see the headline now:  “Muslim Man Accused of Murdering Daughter In Ritual Killing Because of Where She Worked”

And then A&F would most likely be sued over that, too.

No.  I think there’s more to this than that.  ANY devout Muslim wouldn’t even consider working for a company that peddles their wares in these means.

So, what do I honestly think is happening?

I think CAIR decided to take on a HUGE company to force them to change into something that is Muslim-friendly.  More and more and more and more and more, we’re hearing all these stories where CAIR is suing someone, because they’re not Muslim-friendly or because they want to further advance their brand of religion.

For example, in Canada, October is now Islamic History Month, much like our own Black History Month that is celebrated in February.  Let’s see…  Celebrating the historical contributions blacks have given us (equality and freedom fighters like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Harriet Tubman, the inventions of people like Eli Whitney and George Alcorn, great generals such as General William Ward and General Colin Powell, and the voice of Darth Vader–James Earl Jones) vs celebrating the historical religious contributions by Islamics (the bombings of the World Trade Center in ‘93, 9/11, the idea of 70+ virgin whores awaiting Allah followers in heaven, ritual killing of women who disappoint their men, slaughtering homosexuals in public).  Yes, I can see how those two things could be seen as equal.  I can see how people would want to give the Islamic community their due by dedicating a whole month to their whims.

And if you think it’ll never happen here in the US, think again.  The Empire State Building in New York City is now turning green to celebrate the end of Ramadan.  How the HECK does someone make that kind of decision?  “Well, it doesn’t matter if they’re behind the bombings of the WTC in 1993 and then destroyed them in 2001.  It doesn’t matter that they hate Jews to the point that they want them wiped off the planet.  It doesn’t matter that they refuse to admit that the Holocaust actually happened–but they would certainly support it if it happened again.  We’re going to light up this American icon in support of their religion!”

You know, if it weren’t for the fact that the Statue of Liberty is in New York City, I would refuse to ever go there.

But again, I’ve gotten off the track of where I was going…

So, CAIR has decided that they want to change an institution to what they believe it should be by suing the pants off of them.  Not that those pants would exactly have that far to fall to be completely off their models bodies… 

How would they accomplish this?

By sending someone to talk with this family and convincing them to be the tool. 

They probably found out that this teenage girl in Tulsa likes fashion.  For that matter, they probably found a handful (how many teen Muslim girls are interested in fashion?), and out of that few, specifically chose her because she’s here in the Heartland of America.  So they go to her and say “we want you to apply for a job with A&F.”  Her father probably refused to allow her to apply at a regular A&F, because of the sheer amount of hormones that practically float through the air in that store. 

So, they decide to go to an A&F Kids.  Not that it’s much better, when it comes to advertising.  But at least they’re not showing the bottom half of naked men.

They KNEW she wouldn’t get a job there.  How could they not?  It’d be like having a prostitute wear her fish net stockings, leatherette miniskirt, white tank (no bra), and faux leopard print jacket while she’s trying to sell toys to kids at FAO Schwartz.

They KNEW she’d be rejected.

And they were ready to pounce.

So, my fellow Americans, I ask you this:  do you really, honestly, truly believe that this lawsuit is justified?  I certainly don’t.  We’re having a belief system that is not our own being forced down our throats.  We’re having a belief system that is truly Anti-American shoved into our orifices for one reason and one reason only:  Islam hates us.  And CAIR loves them for it. 

I can just hear their mantra now:  “Allah DAMN America!”

**Another conspiracy theory:  CAIRtv refuses to allow embedding of their videos because they’re sly.  Forcing everyone to go to their YouTube site to see their videos enables them to advertise other videos in their collection.  If they can entice you with a morsel, then maybe they’ll be able to get you interested enough to eat the whole meal.