Cause Without a Rebel
July 1, 2008 6:58 PM   Subscribe

The appearance of Rebel the (quite cute) six-week-old black German Shepherd puppy has resulted in an apology from the Tayside Police to its outraged Muslim community.
posted by WCityMike (51 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: poster's request -- cortex



 
I... don't actually believe this.
posted by Citizen Premier at 7:02 PM on July 1, 2008


I read and re-read the first few paragraphs to be sure I got it. Is this it?

1) The police made an ad that had a dog in it.
2) The shop owners don't like dogs.
3) Outrage ensues.
4) MetaFilter is posted to.
posted by DU at 7:05 PM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Looking at Google news for this story, the top hits are from the Mail, the Telegraph and FOX News. Just sayin'.
posted by nowonmai at 7:06 PM on July 1, 2008


I am outraged by their outrage!
posted by MasonDixon at 7:06 PM on July 1, 2008


LOLISLAM
posted by sciurus at 7:07 PM on July 1, 2008


i'm in ur hat outragin ur shopkeepers
posted by kuujjuarapik at 7:09 PM on July 1, 2008 [2 favorites]


What exactly are they offended at? If they think a dog is unclean, do they have no pictures anywhere? Are none of these shopkeepers newsagents?

It's not as if it is their hat it's sitting in, is it?
posted by Brockles at 7:09 PM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Storm in a teacup provokes inflammatory axe-grinding from the Daily Mail!
posted by Abiezer at 7:11 PM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Well, most MeFites are citizens of a country where classical nude statues are considered indecent by large segments of the population, so lets all keep a healthy sense of perspective?
posted by Avenger at 7:13 PM on July 1, 2008 [3 favorites]


So, just because you wouldn't allow it in your house means that we are not allowed to acknowledge that police dogs are useful animals? If a Muslim went missing would they protest the use of police dogs?


Damn is that dog cute though.
posted by melissam at 7:13 PM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


The puppy has his own blog, and he doesn't mention it.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:16 PM on July 1, 2008


Is the Mail considered a far right-wing news outlet? I really don't know.
posted by yhbc at 7:17 PM on July 1, 2008


"has upset Muslims"
Well, we can add that to the list of things that gets them so emotional.
I am yaaaaawn at their outrage.
They should have used a piglet for the photo.
posted by a3matrix at 7:18 PM on July 1, 2008


...classical nude statues are considered indecent by large segments of the population...

And if someone objected by going from 0 to Outrage in 1.3 seconds, I'd mock them too.
posted by DU at 7:19 PM on July 1, 2008 [2 favorites]


This is simply some outrage to make Muslims look bad. I mean, don't get me wrong, I hate the evil bastards, every single one, breeding like cockroaches, hating America, except for the half dozen I am close to, and their lovely families, and their families' tribes, and...
You know, just in general...I, I, can't get outraged here dammit all to hell.
posted by dawson at 7:19 PM on July 1, 2008


I also count exactly one (1) muslim (apparently) quoted in the story. Outrage?
posted by yhbc at 7:19 PM on July 1, 2008


Is the Mail considered a far right-wing news outlet?
No, it's considered to be a far-right lie sheet not as good for wiping your arse as it used to be since they started printing in colour.
posted by Abiezer at 7:23 PM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Too right we should be outraged by that advert, it's dispicable not to involve the community in something they help fund, I mean.. WHO THE HELL USES A ROTARY PHONE! I'm simply outraged!

But look at the cute wittle puppy!
posted by Static Vagabond at 7:25 PM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


Meh, that puppy's not that cute, and even if it was, it isn't sanitary to have a dog's ass rubbing up on the inside of a hat, regardless of your faith.
Sorry, but I just can't seem to get het up over this... if you give me a minute, I can probably find some other non-story in the sidebar to be outraged by...



... POSH AND KATE IN IDENTICAL OUTFITS?!?!?! WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE?!? GRAAAAAAH!!!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:30 PM on July 1, 2008


That's one cute puppy.
posted by blucevalo at 7:30 PM on July 1, 2008


I'm with Citizen Premier on this one - it sounds made-up.

Can we get someone of the Muslim faith to weigh in here?
posted by facetious at 7:31 PM on July 1, 2008


Things Muslims Hate, Vol. 1
posted by Brian B. at 7:35 PM on July 1, 2008


bumper sticker: my ritually unclean german shepard can chew the crotch off your muslim
posted by quonsar at 7:35 PM on July 1, 2008


bumper sticker: my ritually unclean german shepard can chew the crotch off your outraged muslim
posted by quonsar at 7:36 PM on July 1, 2008


why do outraged muslims make me repeat myself?
posted by quonsar at 7:37 PM on July 1, 2008


As silly as this "outrage" is, it's no more or less silly than the milk jug outrage.
posted by MaryDellamorte at 7:37 PM on July 1, 2008


Having a dog in an Arab/Muslim household is an exhausting proposition. Who wants to wash or take a shower every time a dog touches or licks you, as I was brought up to do back home in Egypt? In Islamic tradition, Muslims are prohibited from touching the saliva of dogs. If you do come in contact with a dog, you're supposed to wash your hands seven times before you pray. Most Muslims will avoid dogs at all cost to stay clean for their daily prayers. There are a few closet Muslim dog lovers, but they tend to keep their dogs outdoors.
(source)

Eh, it's a cultural thing. They (apparently some of them anyhow) think dogs are filthy and unclean. The equivalent would be if someone distributed postcards with Terry the Police Turd to English-bred shopkeepers.
posted by fleetmouse at 7:38 PM on July 1, 2008


I also count exactly one (1) muslim (apparently) quoted in the story.

One muslim who sounded rather understanding of the whole situation.

But come to think of it, that's how most of the muslim's I know personal display their outrage as well. Fuckin' peaceful coexisters, that's what they are.
posted by tkolar at 7:40 PM on July 1, 2008


Just a reminder: Your religious beliefs are stupid, too.
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:40 PM on July 1, 2008


The advert has upset Muslims because dogs are considered ritually unclean

lmao their culture is stupid
posted by Optimus Chyme at 7:41 PM on July 1, 2008


I'm all for being sensitive to others. But there is common sense, thankfully pretty much everyone poops in toilets, and there is stuff like this. Does the fact that its religious have something to do with it?
Or is it because they're Muslim = Arab = Terrorist = Boomboom = death = fear ?

Next time I want to do something illegal I'm starting a religion and then getting violent. I shall call myself... SCIENTOLOGY!
posted by Parallax.Error at 7:47 PM on July 1, 2008


Fail.

See the real story here.


Jeez...

/shakes head



Mephisto
posted by Mephisto at 7:47 PM on July 1, 2008 [4 favorites]


they'd better not go online then - on the internet, no one knows you're a dog
posted by pyramid termite at 7:48 PM on July 1, 2008


I wouldn't go so far as to call a dog filthy but they're definitely dirty. But, a dog's got personality. Personality goes a long way.
posted by The Straightener at 7:52 PM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


They WERE going to have an image of the prophet naked wearing a police hat and doing a pole dance, but were advised to go with the puppy instead.

Sheesh, there's no pleasing some people
posted by mattoxic at 7:54 PM on July 1, 2008


Thank you, Mephisto, for providing evidence of what I and most readers were certain was the real story here.

But PLEASE stop signing your posts. You don't have to do that!

(I told him that privately in memail earlier, honestly I did!)
posted by yhbc at 7:58 PM on July 1, 2008


"has upset Muslims"
Well, we can add that to the list of things that gets them so emotional.
I am yaaaaawn at their outrage.
They should have used a piglet for the photo.


How adorable, you salivated on cue just as the Daily Mail wingnuts hoped you would. Good doggie.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 8:00 PM on July 1, 2008


Reading the actual article and trying to discriminate between that the reporter (from a known sensationalistic news source) insinuates vs. what the Muslim person actually said:

There is no actual outrage expressed.

He does say he thinks it will be ineffective.

"It was probably a waste of resources going to these communities." And that's because "People [in those communities] who have shops just won't put up the postcard."

I suppose it is mildly interesting to realize that some people somewhere in the world think puppies are disgusting and dirty whereas I personally think they are snuggly and cute.

But as to outragefilter--I'm dailling mine to about 0.0000001 and resuming my nap . . . .
posted by flug at 8:00 PM on July 1, 2008


I have a chihuahua puppy that eats poop.

I believe that fits the definition of ritually unclean.
posted by photoslob at 8:00 PM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


The Straightener:
Ah, so by that rationale, if a pig had a better personality, he would cease to be a filthy animal. Is that true?
posted by boubelium at 8:06 PM on July 1, 2008


Asshats.
posted by autodidact at 8:07 PM on July 1, 2008


I... don't actually believe this.

Well, it's the daily mail, so there's not much reason to.
posted by delmoi at 8:07 PM on July 1, 2008 [2 favorites]


Why is this thread still here?
posted by tkolar at 8:08 PM on July 1, 2008


In Islamic tradition, Muslims are prohibited from touching the saliva of dogs. If you do come in contact with a dog, you're supposed to wash your hands seven times before you pray. Most Muslims will avoid dogs at all cost to stay clean for their daily prayers. There are a few closet Muslim dog lovers, but they tend to keep their dogs outdoors.

Ok, that's fine, but since when is a PICTURE of a dog unclean? There's no dog spit on a picture, people.
posted by Malor at 8:11 PM on July 1, 2008


Damn. I just heard a really good radio program on Muslim cultural integration in the U.S. versus Europe, and I don't remember what series it was.
posted by Tehanu at 8:12 PM on July 1, 2008


Strikes me as a British version of the kerfuffle in Quebec about Muslim women having to unveil their faces in public in order to vote in elections. Every single story I read had Muslim women who wore full head coverings saying they thought having to unveil their face for identification purposes was perfectly fine and reasonable, and even Canadian Muslim groups saying there was nothing wrong with such a rule as far as they were concerned.

And then there were a bunch of quotes from politicians and random people on the street about how outrageous it was that Muslims should be outraged about this sort of thing, and how they had no respect for our rules and regulations.
posted by chrominance at 8:14 PM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


HEY SEWER RAT MAY TASTE LIKE PUMPKIN PIE BUT I'D NEVER KNOW CAUSE I WOULDN'T EAT THE FILTHY MOTHERFUCKER.
posted by The Straightener at 8:16 PM on July 1, 2008


Ok, that's fine, but since when is a PICTURE of a dog unclean?

Nobody has said that one is. It's just not something that a muslim shopkeeper is going to hang up in his shop window.
posted by tkolar at 8:19 PM on July 1, 2008


HEY SEWER RAT MAY TASTE LIKE PUMPKIN PIE BUT I'D NEVER KNOW CAUSE I WOULDN'T EAT THE FILTHY MOTHERFUCKER.

Why shun pumpkin pie?
posted by Brian B. at 8:23 PM on July 1, 2008


well, you know when it comes to cute puppies, those muslims just aren't like us. we know how to treat cute puppies.
posted by saulgoodman at 8:25 PM on July 1, 2008


The same muslim shopkeepers, tkolar, that "have dog food cans and packets on the shelves and bacon and pork sausages in the chill cabinet with the pictures of happy pups and contented porkers beaming from the packaging?”

The stories don't add up. One suspect it's a jackass on council who's shot his mouth off without bothering to get the facts on the ground.

That, and a media that's all about whipping up the racial hatred.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:25 PM on July 1, 2008 [1 favorite]


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