They didn’t like that the ruler depicted “four veiled persons” next to the name Mohammed. A customer claimed “This promotes exclusion.” Staples rather fancifully explained that the veiled figures were ninjas, and removed the ruler from circulation.
But what, really, was the problem? Islam’s prophet Muhammad ordered that women be veiled, covering everything but their face and hands. And many Muslim women to this day do go out in public with their faces covered. So why should anyone object to a ruler bearing his name and the images of veiled people?
Of course, if one of the figures had been labeled “Mohammed,” then Staples would be bombed and its employees massacred, and everyone in the Western intelligentsia would say they had it coming. But this is different: they were trying to promote inclusion by offering a ruler with the name “Mohammed,” so that little Mohammed could have his own personalized ruler at school, just like little Hans and little Jürgen and little Anna. But instead, they’re accused of promoting exclusion. One might almost get the impression that some groups are perpetually aggrieved, and only take gestures of good will as occasions to grow even more aggrieved, aggressive and demanding.
“Removed from assortment at Staples because of criticism: Controversy around Mohammed ruler,” translated from “Nach Kritik aus Sortiment entfernt Staples: Wirbel um Mohammed-Lineal,” Hamburger Morgenpost (MOPO), January 30, 2018:
Great confusion about a ruler at Staples: The American office supply chain faces the charge of racism. At the cash register of a Hamburg branch, a ruler with a Mohammed lettering was advertised that has aroused irritating associations for some customers with the Muslim world view. For next to the name Mohammed to the left and right, four veiled persons are depicted.
A customer complained that she felt it was “absolutely impossible for children to get the wrong picture” and added: “this promotes exclusion.”
The name Anna is associated with butterflies, the name Mathilda with owls and the very name Mohammed with disguise.
However, on closer inspection, it can be seen that the veiled persons are ninjas (fighters of pre-industrial Japan — ed.). The company therefore said that it was a misunderstanding.
“The rulers can be customized by our customers for €3.49,” said a member of the affected branch to MOPO. In the case of Muhammad, there was only one “unfortunate combination of ninjas and his name.”
Neither intent nor an image of Muslims shaped by a certain perspective would have led to the creation of the ruler. After all, the branch reacted to the criticism and deleted the said ruler from the assortment.
Phil Copson says
I’m all confused – according to everything I’ve read, Mohammed WAS a ruler…..?
PRCS says
Heh!
LeftisruiningCanada says
😀
Cheap and nasty too, and also very self-customizable.
Champ says
LOL, Phil!! …good one 😀
StellaSaidSo says
Last week, it was a squiggle on a child’s sock. This week, it’s a name on a ruler. What will Muslims be offended by next week?
Meanwhile, the number of deadly terror attacks committed by Muslims since 9/11 has reached 32,454.
PRCS says
I’m sure they’ll think of something.
Westman says
McDonald’s arches?
Save Europe says
The religion of the perpetually offended.
mortimer says
Sharia law merely states that the DHIMMI CONTRACT becomes VOID when a dhimmi says something ‘impermissible’ about Islam, its prophet, etc. The violation is punished by violence or death. It doesn’t matter if it was an accident. The BLASPHEMER MUST BE KILLED under discriminatory Sharia, because the ISLAMIC JURISTS decided that FIGHTING ISLAM VERBALLY MAY NOT BE ‘FORGIVEN’ because Mohammed is not alive to make that ruling, so a blasphemer is killed.
Since Islam permits vigilantism, any Muslim may ASSASSINATE a blasphemer.
Just so you know and are all on the same page when you discuss this … and you will.
Eur says
As long as the kfires continue to breathe, Muslims will be offended. They would only feel comfortable in a totally Islamic world where the kfires lived subdued.
Kessler says
If the people complaining were genuinely opposed to things promoting “exclusion”, perhaps they should be more vocal about women hiding themselves under various Islamic garments, rather than a kiddy picture on a ruler.
Westman says
I agree. It seems they were more concerned that the true picture of Islam’s own discrimination for its women would be on display and other children might get the wrong(correct) idea.
Who said the Circus was defunct? There is a new show every day and a new believer born every half-second. Tune in tomorrow for another episode of, “As The Grievance Churns”
RickeyG says
I’m beginning to believe these complaints are being made as a form of “Watch how high the kaffir jumps when I tell him to”…
StellaSaidSo says
I agree, RickeyG. We are being played. And until we push back decisively, they will continue to provoke with these petty, contrived grievances, sobbing in public about how offended they are, and laughing their heads off in private. They need slapping down, and soon.
PRCS says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_GYLxe3Vuk
StellaSaidSo says
Nice one, PRCS!
LeftisruiningCanada says
Very true Ricky, and every time we bow down before them, they puff themselves up just a little bit more like the petty little boy bullies they resemble.
Shmoovie says
Agreed.
The West strikes out again, trying to make nice with the permanently peeved. There is no image for little Mo’s ruler, lunchbox or pencil set that would be acceptable.
MFritz says
Then don’t call your children “Mohammed”, no ruler needed & problem solved!
Mockingjay says
Yeah just think of all the many ( and I mean M A N Y ) little Mohammads who have to go without personalized stationary.
That’s NOT very inclusive, now is it?
Carolyne says
Why would one need stationary if they cannot write? They can communicate with each other with government issued cellphones. Literacy not needed.
Wyldeirishman says
If the rulers surrounding this one were approximately 9 years old, I’m sure an exception could be granted…
PGuud says
Why is Staples promoting that garbage, to begin with? Dolts.
Islam is a cancer. You’re supposed to hate and seek its destruction. You’re not supposed to embrace it.
Islam: where freedom ends and slavery begins.
LeftisruiningCanada says
Yes.
Islam seems to have a complete lack of any concept which teaches one to endure small ‘offenses’ , or to accept a little mockery. “Turn the other cheek” is a foreign and disgusting idea for muslims, or so it would appear.
No wonder the Nazis spoke so highly of islam, with all of their Nietzschian Will to Power blah blah. Nazis didn’t really do the whole turn the other cheek thing either.
Champ says
Silly muslims …don’t they name their sons after “muhammad”? And many other children’s names are featured on the rulers, too. Sigh. This doesn’t make a lick of sense. But of course nothing about islam makes ANY sense to me.
terry says
They removed it because of threats to them and their Families.