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Blame the USO

by Nicholas Barnard on May 23rd, 2008

I’m a member of MyPoints, its one of those ways I can get paid for receiving marketing, although I know the actual amount I make per transaction is pretty small.

But I got an advertisement from MyPoints for the USO that really annoyed me. It was dovetailing into Memorial Day and stated that “They don’t do this in Bagdad” take a peek:

An image of the MyPoints email that I received stating "They don't do this in Baghdad"

I unsubscribed from USO’s emails and sent MyPoints this email:

I received an Bonusmail for the USO. The tagline was “They don’t do this in Bagdad.” While I understand MyPoints does not completely control the content of advertisements, I believe this ad is racist and contrary to the American value that individuals are valuable. Denigrating any one person for who they are or where they live is morally repugnant and MyPoints as a publisher should not allow such advertising, even if it is from a reputable organization like the USO.

Respectfully,

Nicholas Barnard

This is hatred pure and simple. Its subtle and insidious, but the message is that Iraqis and by extension Muslims do not honor their dead or those who have serviced their country and community. Another way of stating this is that the email fosters the creation of a second class of world citizen. This line of thinking is harmful for both groups that are being created; I doubt division will be healed by a series of protests similar to the ones that were brought on by a bus boycott.

What I didn’t get into with MyPoints is that allowing this subtle insidious form of hate it makes it more acceptable for people to practice overt forms of hate. Here is the thing about the Koran shooting, that soldier is going to get all sorts of crap for it. But the blame lies at the feet of the leaders of society.

The blame lies at the feet of the USO.

The blame lies at the feet of Donald Rumsfeld.

The blame lies at the feet of General Petraeus.

The blame lies at the feet of John Kerry.

The blame lies at the feet of Hiliary Clinton.

The blame lies at the feet of George W. Bush.

The blame lies at your feet.

The blame lies at my feet.

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