What about the current 37c EID United States Postage Stamp?
Recently I received an email from one of my high school classmates that was a forward, forward, forward of an anti-Muslim message urging all receiptants to boycott the current EID commemorative postage stamp on sale at United States Post Offices. No doubt many readers have also seen one of these emails or have read letters to the editors urging boycott of this current stamp.
The instructions in the email and letters to the editors are to boycott this stamp, and to be vocal to postal clerks by expressing your opposition to this stamp. The tone and thinking of the writers classify them as promoting hate mail and a hate boycott.
It is a flaw of thinking to apply your response to the actions of a few people and applying as if they represented an entire group, class, race or country. This is the same thinking that urges people not eat French Fries, not to listen to Canadian radio broadcasts, and not to use Russian dressing on their salad. Hate can only be overcome with love and understanding. It can only happen one at a time in each person's mind.
This design was first issued as a 34c stamp on September 1, 2001, ten days prior to the attacks of 911. The stamp was designed by Mohammed Zakariya of Arlington, VA and features the phrase “Eid mubarak” in Arabic gold calligraphy on a blue background. The English text reads, “Eid Greetings.” This stamp commemorates two important Islamic festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide including the six to seven million Muslims living in the United States.
I have been a stamp collector for 63 years and a professional stamp dealer for 36 years. I am well aware of the various motives for stamp designs and use. They include, but are not limited to, commemorating a national hero, event or location. Stamps are also used to promote many causes of public merit, and of course for outright propaganda.
I will use the EID stamp this year in celebration of the 6 to 7 million Muslims living in peace in this country, and the many hundreds of millions of Muslims world wide who lead lives of peace, hope and love.
Would you join me?
I have made up a label on with my computer that I use with the EID stamps: “The sender is using this EID stamp to honor the Muslims worldwide who live in peace with their families and neighbors.” As my mail goes through the system and to the address maybe more people will be encouraged to use the EID stamps and labels.
Let’s promote peace among people in this simple way.
Henry Burt Stevens
6400 Taylor Rd Lot 108
Punta Gorda FL 33950 Phone 941 575 2470 hank330@hotmail.com
