LOL:American car dealership draws criticism for flip ad declaring 'jihad'

[directfiesta]

some guys have funny marketing ideas ....

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A car dealership's tongue-in-cheek radio advertisement declaring "a jihad on the automotive market," will not be changed, the company said, despite drawing sharp criticism that the ad's content is offensive to Muslims.

Several stations rejected the spot from Dennis Mitsubishi, which boasts that sales representatives wearing "burqas" - the head-to-toe traditional dress for some Islamic women - will sell vehicles that can "comfortably seat 12 jihadists in the back."

Jihad is a holy war waged by Muslims in defence of Islam.

"We firmly believe the ad does not in any way disrespect any religion or culture, but we feel, I guess, that maybe poking a little fun at radical extremists is fair game," dealership president Keith Dennis said on Saturday. "It was our intention to craft something around some of the buzzwords of the day and give everyone a good chuckle and be a little bit of a tension reliever."

While Dennis defended the ad as a harmless attempt to bring levity to a serious situation, the Columbus chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called it disrespectful.

"Using that as a promotional pitch when so many are dying from the criminal activity of suicide bombers, that's not funny," chapter president Asma Mobin-Uddin said. "I don't think it's appropriate when it causes real pain. It exploits or promotes misunderstanding in terms already misunderstood or misused."

In the ad, Dennis talks about "launching a jihad on the automotive market."

"Our prices are lower than the evil-doers' every day. Just ask the Pope!" the ad says. "Friday is fatwa Friday, with free rubber swords for the kiddies."

....

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/060923/K092308U.html

http://www.dennismitsubishi.com/

[Phoenix]

hey..like it or not..that car dealership is now on the map

[E$_manager]

I saw nothing offensive.

[Dragar]

was it a fleshlight?

[directfiesta]

UPDATE !!!! ( I know you all were waiting anxiously for it ... )

Car dealer pulls ?jihad? commercial
Proposed radio spot drew reaction even before it ever aired

CINCINNATI - A car dealership in Ohio has decided not to run a commercial proclaiming a ?jihad? on the U.S. auto market, a Muslim activist group said Monday.

The Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations released a letter from the dealership offering an apology and saying the radio ad, which had never been aired, was a misguided attempt at humor.

?We appreciate the dealership?s constructive reaction to feedback about the proposed advertisements,? said Adnan Mirza, director of the group?s Ohio?s office. ?We accept the apology ... and hope that it and the decision not to air the spots will bring this incident to a close.?

The statement from the dealership, Dennis Mitsubishi in Columbus, said ?A large number of people have contacted us. Lots of them have seen the humor we were trying to convey, but far too many were clearly bothered by it. This was simply an attempt at humor that fell short.?

It also offered a ?sincere apology to anyone who was offended.?

The group Sunday had complained publicly about plans for a commercial it said would have proclaimed a ?jihad? on the U.S. auto market offering ?Fatwa Fridays? with sales representatives giving play swords to children.

The radio spot would have also announced ?Fatwa Fridays? with free swords for children.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15003753/

Will probably make the Jay Leno Show ...

[AtlantisCash]

Damn... the guys are should be suiciding.

[rodney25]

I don't see any reason why the other party should feel violated on that.

[DamageX]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

hey..like it or not..that car dealership is now on the map

And suicide bombers have already located it.