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You want firepower? We got firepower!!! From Little Beirut Bath Comes an arsenal of weapons that will make the most seasoned infantrymen jealous. Packed in this crate, is an assortment of scented 1:1 soap replicas. This weapons package is guaranteed to impress regardless the occasion. [Link]
The shop that sells those gun-shaped soaps is in Portland, Oregon and is owned by Drew Clifford. According to Blogger Jad Aoun, who initially posted about it, Oregon has been nicknamed “Little Beirut” by former US President George Bush Sr. following violent riots there in the 1990s, which could explain the shop’s name, but as Jad continues and I agree, he’s simply making use of Beirut to market his products.
I wonder if any legal action can be taken against this guy to force him to remove the name “Beirut” from his products, because it’s shameful to portray Beirut in that way, regardless of what’s been happening lately.
I understand the dislike of how Beirut/Lebanon is portrayed and I love what Jad does to bring these things to light. I do wonder what you mean by bringing legal action…this isn’t something that can be regulated by legal means, first there is no legal standing to address it and secondly I am sure the international aspect pretty much kills a legal option.
Why look for a legal answer, aren’t things generally litigious enough? Jad’s approach (education) would probably get the best response, followed by a “campaign” to boycott something.
MallyDobb,
I don’t know much about legal procedures but isn’t there a way to force the guy to take out “Beirut” from his products and stop marketing it in that way?
Isn’t that a defamation charge? Or whatever this is called since I believe defamation is directed towards people usually.
I am not a lawyer, so I can’t speak with complete authority on this, but in the US I don’t think there’s anything that can be done. Freedom of speech (parody, etc, etc) would probably be the basic way this couldn’t be touched. It wouldn’t be defamation as it isn’t directed towards a specific person. Even if he was making fun of a particular Lebanese individual (public figure or whatnot) that would probably still be covered under parody/freedom of speech. If a person wanted to bring suit I am sure they could (civilly, not criminally) but they’d have to have lawyers or be willing to travel to the States and deal with it, I can see that being cost prohibitive.
So from how I see it there isn’t anything that can be done other than contact him and say it is offensive, contact the “Store” (Etsy) and say its offensive, but little else. There’s a lot in the US and globally that different people groups will find offensive…people just need to get thicker skins and realize they cannot control what other people think or do all the time.
If it was a religious issue or a strong attack at race or a particular individual perhaps there might be something that could be done legally, or at least attract the interest of a special interest group.
The one problem is that while we know what Beirut and Lebanon are like today there was a period of time that this nation went through that gave it the reputation people still cling too…violent, explosions, current wars, and so on. Education and awareness will change that but those things cannot be legislated.
It’s called “freedom of speech” which exists in the U.S but not in the middle east ! People can think however they like and say whatever they want, and it’s up to you to believe it or disregard it.
You are absolutely correct @mallydobb ” people just need to get thicker skins and realize they cannot control what other people think or do all the time”!
“I wonder if any legal action can be taken against this guy to force him to remove the name “Beirut” from his products, because it’s shameful to portray Beirut in that way, regardless of what’s been happening lately.”
No offense but…
Are you flipping serious?! How about we have a normal and decent country first before we start suing people for defamation of character? I’m assuming you support the lawsuit that idiot Abboud wants to file against Homeland? 3ala 2ases ma 3enna hamm bel 7ayet other than the way Beirut’s name is being used in Portland… A) people need to get a life and b) work on improving the image of your country at large and among the people you know and your country will be ok.
I think the best way to fight this is to actually stop acting the way we do so people can change their perception of us … What do you expect people to think about us if just last month gun men were in the streets , people were being killed with snipers and many roads were closed .
How do you expect people to perceive us when you see 10 year old or 11 year old carrying Machine guns and in almost a monthly basis some violence erupts .
I say we should stop blaming others for our dysfunctional life and just accept the fact that stereotypes are hard to break and the Lebanese aren’t doing themselves any good by proving these stereotypes right
It seems the civil war is still embedded in people’s minds for such products to be sold.