Arabic Banner Flown From Lubbock Building

A banner with a huge red heart and Arabic writing on it was flown from the Omni building downtown sometime today or yesterday. This brought calls from the Mayor to have the City Manager immediately have it pulled down and to notify the Department of Homeland Security.

Photo courtesy: David Ewerz, KAMC

In addition, the mayor wanted the FBI and the Lubbock Sheriff's Office called in, according to Everything Lubbock.

Here's the email Mayor Robertson sent to City Manager James Loomis:

Mr. Loomis,
It has been brought to my attention that an Arabic flag has been hung from one of the upper floors of the Omni building. I am requesting that the flag be removed immediately, that we get an accurate translation of the flag, and that Chief Stevens notify the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and our Lubbock County Sheriff's Department. I am also requesting that we take whatever steps are necessary to secure the building and ensure that this does not happen again. I fully understand that we must gather more facts before we make a knee jerk reaction but I am concerned on several levels. Please keep me informed as we learn more about this situation.
Regards,
Glen Robertson

A Texas Tech professor was asked to translate the banner. He said the writing on it translated to: "Love Is For All."

I don't know if that means we should love each other regardless of religion (or lack thereof), or if this a pro-gay sentiment aimed at Arabic homosexuals.

But it's hilarious to me that anyone thought that we had some Jihad right here in good old West Texas. I just don't think terrorists are real big on giant hearts or proclaiming their intentions from abandoned buildings.

The building the flag was flown from is the former Omni, now known as Citizens Tower -- presumably because us citizens will be paying for its renovations for decades.

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