Muni Tries to Teach Riders the Real Meaning of the Word "Jihad"
As much grief as Muni got over its "Defeat Jihad" ads it ran last summer, it's somewhat surprising to learn that the transit agency would want to risk starting a holy war in San Francisco. ![]()
Puts a whole new meaning to "building those guns"
According to ABC, for the next few weeks, buses in San Francisco will be carrying more than just passengers -- they're toting messages of jihad -- again. However, it's not ads that started the mess that entangled Muni before; rather, these ads are meant to help Bay Area residents accurately define the politically charged word.
See also: Muni Runs Pro-Israel Ad on Buses, Calling Palestinians "Savages"
The campaign to put a new spin on the word "jihad" started in Chicago and has made its way west to the Bay Area. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has put 35 ads on buses rolling through the streets of San Francisco, with messages such as: "My jihad is to stay fit despite my busy schedule. What's yours?"
"The proper meaning of jihad as many of us frequently describe it is to struggle. And that's it. For many, that is anything from building relationships with their neighbors to making it to work on time or doing better on their diets," said Zahra Billoo, the executive director of the Bay Area office for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
"A common misconception of the word "jihad" is that it means armed struggle or holy war, and that is something that has been perpetrated by many who've made careers out of pushing anti-Muslim sentiment," she added.
Well, if that's the case, then it's fair to say, under the new definition, Muni's jihad is trying to not run over people.
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