Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Scottish Muslims Flip Out over Rebel the Puppy



When I look at this photo, I see an adorable little puppy.

When some Muslims in Scotland look at it, they see red.

Muslims in the Scottish district of Tayside are outraged by the appearance of a wide-eyed, 6-week-old puppy on postcards distributed by the local police force, according to the Daily Mail.

Postcards showing police dog-in-training Rebel, a German shepherd born in early December, are causing a furor among the region’s Muslims who believe dogs are "ritually unclean," the Daily Mail reports.

The cute cards were meant to notify locals of a new telephone number for non-emergency phone calls but instead have become a flashpoint for a clash of cultures. Shopkeepers are refusing to display the offending ad and a Dundee city councilor is calling for an investigation.

...The Tayside police force said the police puppy, the force’s "newest recruit," was not intended to cause offense.

"His incredible worldwide popularity — he has attracted record visitor numbers to our Web site — led us to believe Rebel could play a starring role in the promotion of our non-emergency number," said a police spokesperson.

This is a culture clash, but I don't think there's any question that the dominant culture should not have to kowtow to Muslim communities.

A Tayside police spokesman said: "We did not seek advice from the force's diversity adviser prior to publishing and distributing the postcards. That was an oversight and we apologise for any offence caused."

What is that? So now the Brits can't display puppies? They have to apologize for something as innocuous as the little pup?

I think the Scottish Muslim communities have a choice: Assimilate or tolerate.

No apologies are in order.

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