Saturday, March 15, 2008

EEEEEK! CHICKPEAS!

I'm waiting for the right-wing freakout over this:

Wal-Mart Tweaks Store for Arab-Americans

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Faten Saad knew she wasn't in a typical Wal-Mart when she saw an end-of-the-aisle display featuring Mamool.

Boxes of the date-filled, whole wheat cookie from the Middle East welcomed the 21-year-old Lebanon native into the international aisle of the new Wal-Mart store in this Detroit suburb known as the capital of Arab America. Aisle 3, which also features Eastern European and Hispanic food, represents many of the 550 items geared toward Arab-American shoppers in the store that opened last week.

…The Dearborn store also sells Arabic music and plans to offer Muslim greeting cards. But the modifications go beyond merchandise: It has 35 employees who speak Arabic -- noted in Arabic script on their badges. The store also has hired a local Arab-American educator to teach the staff cultural sensitivity.

… a few women in hijabs -- traditional Muslim head scarves -- inspected produce. One spoke in Arabic to Mohamad Atwi, the developmental store manager….


OMIGOD! THEY'RE TAKING OVER! YOUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL PRAY TO MECCA!!!!!!!

Actually, I don't know what's going to bother the righties more -- the cultural outreach or this:

Bags of pita bread come from Dearborn-based New Yasmeen Bakery. Despite its "always low price" mantra, Wal-Mart vows it will not undercut the bakery or other local merchants who sell it. "You can go get it for $1.25, … we sell it for $1.32," said Raed Kildani, the store's co-food director. "We're not here to fight the guy; we're here to grow together."

What?! Wal-Mart isn't trying to grind small business into dust? And Arab-American small businesses at that?

Michelle Malkin is quietly sobbing even as we speak.

(Cross-posted at If I Ran the Zoo.)

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