December 15, 2011
by Matthew
Kayak.com has decided to join Lowe’s and refuse to run ads on the TLC show “All-American Muslim.” Their marketing director Robert Birge is courageously direct about their cowardice:
“It’s a worthy topic, but any reasonable person would know that this topic is a particular lightning rod. We believe TLC went out of their way to pick a fight on this, and they didn’t let us know their intentions.’’
They are outraged — outraged! — at being asked to engage in ethical behavior. Okay, so it’s clear that Kayak feels no ethical or financial obligation to constrain its anti-Muslim stance, but aren’t they the ones fueling the controversy by bowing to the bigotry brigade?
Lowe’s is similarly staunch in its abdication of morality.
“It appears that we managed to step into a hotly contested debate with strong views from virtually every angle and perspective – social, political, and otherwise – and we’ve managed to make some people very unhappy,’’ the statement said. “We are sincerely sorry.’’
I have to agree that Lowe’s is sorry, but I mean it in a very different sense of the word.
Boston Globe: Kayak won’t renew ads on Muslim TV show
