Malkin, Rachael Ray and the Real Symbols of Hatred in America

The level of hatred is so bad in America these days that even "looking" like a terrorist should give someone reason to fear.

After Sept. 11, 2001, some 14 people who "looked" Middle Eastern were murdered by assailants angered by the terrorist attacks.

The number of hate crime incidents against anyone who even looks Arab -- Sikhs, Pakistanis, dark-skinned Italians, and Arabs -- has continued since the terrorist attacks more than seven years ago.

Some were Middle Eastern but most were not. Suspects in several of the killings admitted they were angered because of their victim's "ethnicity" and the terrorism, but no hate crimes charges were ever brought against any of the killers. "Backlash terrorism" is not considered a crime, but it should be. Including when TV talk show hosts are accused of supporting terrorism by sporting "jihadi chic" clothing.

It was all driven by fear, and hate-mongering. Anyone who looked like a terrorist or dressed like a terrorist had to be a terrorist.

At a music store I frequented, the clerk there was Italian and had long hair a beard and a mustache. Several days after Sept. 11, I asked where he was and a clean-shaven man in a suit came up and said it was him. There had been so many vocal attacks from customers about how he looked, he said he had no choice but to change his lifestyle.

Mexican Americans in Chicago were forced to drape the Mexican Flag around their car front hoods so that people would stop accusing them of being terrorists -- better to be labeled an "illegal immigrant" than a "terrorist."

So many of my Muslim American friends stopped going out for months, removed their hijabs (head coverings once called "babushkas" in the 1970s), or draped their heritage flags around their car hoods.

This week, the continued hate crime frenzy in this country took another victim, the popular television food channel host Rachael Ray.

Oh yeah. You didn't know that Rachael Ray is un-American? Unpatriotic? A supporter of terrorists?

According to Michelle Malkin, one of the leading purveyors of hate in America today, Rachael Ray is promoting hatred and support of terrorists by what she wears.

The cute little Rachael Ray, an Emmy Award-winning television talk show host, launched her now popular food talk show on Sept. 18, 2006 with guest Diane Sawyer. Ray's guests have run the gamut from popular celebrities, newsmakers and American icons who joined her in fun, frolicking and talk of food.

But according to Malkin, considered one of the country's most prolific purveyors of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hatred, Ray might also be a "terrorist" sporting "a jihadi chic keffiyeh" in the Dunkin' Donuts ad. Malkin was coy about targeting Ray and Dunkin' Donuts, which she says "she likes."

Yet, who knows? Maybe the DD could be a hangout for terrorists, according to Malkin's logic. Why else do so many police officers hang out at them?

Dunkin' Donuts hired Ray to help promote one of their iced-coffee drinks. They shot the commercial and Ray wore a black and white checkered scarf with a paisley floral design around her neck.

Immediately Malkin, a Fox News "commentator" declared that Ray's choice of clothing:

"has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad. Popularized by Yasser Arafat and a regular adornment of Muslim terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking, the apparel has been mainstreamed by both ignorant -- and not-so-ignorant -- celebrities, and left-wing icons."

Oh. Celebrities and left-wing icons, like the many Ray has brought on her show -- Malkin was not invited, apparently.

Fearing a backlash in today's post-Sept. 11 world of hatred and its consequences, Dunkin Donuts pulled the advertisement, explaining meekly:

"In a recent online ad, Rachael Ray is wearing a black-and-white silk scarf with a paisley design. It was selected by her stylist for the advertising shoot [...] Absolutely no symbolism was intended. However, given the possibility of misperception, we are no longer using the commercial."

The "possibility of misperception?"

How about downright hate?

In today's post-Sept. 11 terrorized and traumatized American world, we don't tolerate the "symbols" of hatred.

But we do tolerate the hate.

Follow Ray Hanania on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rayhanania

Comments

[ElliotDiafono]

You wrote "after Sept. 11, 2001, some 14 people who 'looked' Middle Eastern were murdered [in backlash]." Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh man, was gunned down on Sept. 15, 2001 in Mesa, AZ.

Who are the other 13?

On Sept. 21, 2001, I told a co-worker: "Like most people in the US, I oppose threats and violence against innocent people [who] appear to be Muslim or Arabic." I'd stand shoulder-t­o-shoulder with any would-be victim. Thankfully, I've never encountered anyone who has expressed such hatred or bigotry.

On the contrary, I have been very pleased that in seven years there has not been a huge backlash against those perceived as Muslim, considering our population, the continued threats from terrorist spokesemen, and the number of other atrocities committed by Muslim terrorists around the world. I've seen a number of commentators—like Bill Maher—who have pointed out the very same. The number of Americans who engage in hostile activity towards those perceived as Muslim are, relatively speaking, a minuscule percent. I'd wager it's a small fraction of 1%. The vast majority of Americans, in my experience, give no quarter to people who do so. I couldn't even imagine any Americans murdering innocent bystanders because someone in another country published cartoons.

Instead of focusing on something which is not, relatively speaking, a major problem, you should focus on the war in Iraq and the government's support for tyrants around the world.

[gopindrag]

I am not proud of Malkin's America. Malkin's America is an embarassment, pathetically insecure, comically self absorbed. But great material for Colbert's writers. America rocks the pathetics!

[Hollyse]

Malkin indulges her bank account(s) using psychological manipulative embracing the emotional or character flaws of every American who hears or reads her words. Capitalists of our current White House war machine aren't just making dollars off military and extensions of military investments. Americans these days enjoy the pleasure of being fooled and will buy another ticket at the carnival to be fooled and thrilled again. Whatever was Rachel Ray's commitment to herself or Dunkin Doughnuts it's the intellect of a person who sees beyond the cover if there are other meanings to wearing an apparel's undercurrent mind control. When are people going to wise up? For the love of...whatever a person is into these days...a good judgement call is knowing that they know the difference between reality and truth to what falls between the two... fiction, the great escape, the lie or truth a garment of reality where no escape is possible. One problem is America has many societies so "Father, forgive them for they know not to which society they belong."

[Zogtastic]

I've never really cared for Rachael Ray... at all (unless she's cooking), I find her a bit annoying. So when I first saw "Dunkin Donuts pulls Rachael Ray ad..." I rejoiced! Then I continued to read why... hoping they revoked her contract or something... but found the reason being right wing nut jobs pressuring DD into pulling the ad. I can't say I'm now a Rachael Ray fan, but I find her a victim of pressure through hate so I have to say the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I'd like to see Rachael Ray stand up against them and tell them off though... I'll back her on that.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

It's simply amazing that an AD AGENCY, so steeped in the nuances of PR, would have allowed so ambiguous a cultural symbol even poss. to distract from the intended message of promoting DONUTS...... It raises the question: Was the placement intentional or is the DIRECTOR of the "commercial" some sort of anthropological LOON...?

[KonaGuy]

I never ate a Dunkin' Donut and never will eat one, and I find Rachael terminally perky. None the less, I find Malkin's characterization of the advertisement totally absurd. But, I guess it is quite in line with her wacky view of the world.

[IndependentMynd]

Well if Rachel Ray is a terrorist sympathizer, Laura and Jenna Bush must be terrorist sympathizers too because they *chose* to be guests on Rachel Ray's show. Guilt by association, no?

[willymanet]

Malkin as many neocons are hypocrites; if she want to help fight terrorist, she should not putting gas in her car....She buy an electric car or another alternative fuel car.

These are the same people who drive around with expensive SUVs.

Majority of our gas comes from the places where terrorist have called home, so a good and effect way to "take it to them" is to boycot oil, gas and all products made from oil and not a harmless scaff that was made in china and imported to US.

[Soule23]

If we could get Americans to boycott both Dunkin Donuts AND Fox News, we could check both epidemic obesity and epidemic ignorance at the same time.

[kappa08]

The people who still watch Fox news will never change that channel. Stupidity is NOT a curable disease.
Spot on with the "obesity" and "ignorance" reference. They go hand in hand. Lack of mental discipline has become an American value. Honestly have you ever seen a vehicle as vulgar and prolific as a Hummer in any other country or the epidemic of Juvenile diabetes as you do here. Our image to the world is of over weight pasty white flesh hell bent on cramming as much stuff in our pockets whether we NEED it or not.

[Hollyse]

You Made me smile! Thanks...

[nightprowler]

but she has'nt even joined the dixie chicks yet...

[CoulterIsASuccubus]

Imagine if poor Rachel had worn Birkenstocks. She would appear worse than a terrorist.­..possibly a liberal!!! EEEEK!!!

[bentenrai]

This is a deeply disturbing side of America. Gut churning hatred. I hardly can believe it.

[SwingingFromCenter]

Ganked. Yep, her, jumping out of a hole in one of the 'gan's, dressed in her Islamo-Facsist garb, holding not an AK47, but a dunkin donut in her left, and a grande decaf in her right - sends shivers up my spine.

What's next, Rach doin' the ninja out of a dark alley on some poor stiff, trying to get his 'jo at 5:30 am, and him dropping a load in his Levis?

[waywardson]

Here we go again ...the entire focus went away from FOX to Ray and DD. You can't blame DD - they did what they had to because they were PRESSURED by the most un-patriotic, un-American, hate and fear mongering, puppet of the RNC the FOX news network.

Isn't anybody paying attention??? FOX is a government controlled propaganda device. Unfortunately, CNN, NBC, and CBS also are becoming gelded under the ruling hand of the RNC.

Boycott FOX news if you're going to boycott anything.

PS Malkin is an unadulterated airhead- who the heck listens to her? Not even my conservative friends take her seriously.

[floydSmoot]

Not to worry... My guess is that the vast majority of us reading your post would never watch FOX news anyway.

I do disagree with one thing - you can always blame cowardice that facilitates intolerance.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. (Burke, not me)

[DonDavis]

Forget Rachael Ray, Michelle Malkin Claims Indy 500 Sold Out to Terrorists
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=1868

[carlgt1]

so this is the much lauded freedom that the troops are fighting for? hahahahaha