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Reader comment on:
Catholic Group Threatens Battle With Miller Beer Over Racy Ad
in response to reader comment: What of free speech?

Submitted by Robert, Sep 27, 2007 17:03

Hypothetical: Instead of a depiction of the Last Supper what do you suppose would have happened to San Francisco and the Folsom Street Fair had they utilized an image with say the Prophet Mohammad?

It's free speech and expression correct? The news and the world would have come down upon all parties involved with furious anger. What is the difference here? Well Christians do not threaten to blow up innocent people.

I am reading a lot of opinions here most of which have merit in American society. The simple point is the intent of the image. In my opinion it was to elicit negative responses and draw attention to this group's opinion that Christian views on their life style are offensive to them.

Let's be clear here shall we, this was a pointed visual attack against who; Christians. To some like the hypothetical above this would cause unbelievable violence and hate toward the Folsom Street Fair and its sponsors. Fatwa's would sound much like they did with a simple cartoon not too long ago.

How fast we are to forget, how easily people attack the non violent dissention Christians take when offensive messages such as this occur.

It is their right to publish this image no matter how offensive. I agree with that right. It is your right to stand up and defend against it in a non violent manner and call for a boycott if you are offended by the ad.

Do you think that the Miller Brewing Company or its parent company SABMIller Group would have had their logo or financial sponsorship on any images like for example the cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad? I venture to say no, since that would offend a group of people and their beliefs. Somebody please explain to me why it is not ok for Christians to defend what they hold as their beliefs?

Until a company feels a financial impact to their decisions to sponsor or endorse events such as this when their message is "hateful" to another group they will continue to do so or worst. Like the Miller Brewing Company simply removing their logo, but still passing the dollars.

This is not a question of the rights of a group of people to hold their fair, it is about the rights of those supporting the event or opposed to it to voice their opinion through either support or boycott. That is the beauty of America, and the power of its people. I place my faith that if enough people stood up and said enough this has gone too far and hurt the financial bottom line for organizations which seek to inflame any group of people these types of messages would cease. (I do not cash in on this being cited as a hate crime, however I do hold the opinion that this is a message of hate voiced within their Constitutional rights.)

I challenge the organizers of this event to utilize other images such as my hypothetical scenario and see if they get any sponsorship with them. I wonder how much sponsorship they would secure for it, or if the fine city of San Francisco even issue a permit for the event?

Addressing this issue is plain and simple, BOYCOTT the Miller Brewing Company and SABMIller Group if you do not appreciate the message, or purchase tickets to San Francisco and buy a MGD.

God Bless America

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Reader comment on:
Catholic Group Threatens Battle With Miller Beer Over Racy Ad
in response to reader comment: What of free speech?

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Reader comment on:Catholic Group Threatens Battle With Miller Beer Over Racy Adin response to reader comment: What of free speech?

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Reader comment on:
Catholic Group Threatens Battle With Miller Beer Over Racy Ad
in response to reader comment: What of free speech?