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BRENDAN KENNEDY, Canwest News Service
An Ottawa-area company that sold knives and flashlights to the Canadian Forces clarified controversial comments on its website yesterday, but offered no apology for content criticized as "Islamaphobic."
Stan Pioro, owner of Gear Up Motors, said yesterday the comments on his company's website were meant only as jokes and he did not intend to offend Muslims.
Until Sunday, the company's website included a photo of John Wayne holding a rifle with the caption: ''Jihad? I'll give you a jihad you miserable, rag-headed, heathen bastard!"
Pioro said the image was aimed at Islamic extremists and not ordinary Muslims. He said he has "absolutely no quarrel" with Muslims or their faith, and that he was simply supporting Canadian troops.
Still, Pioro removed the image from the website on Sunday and sent an email to the chairperson of the Canadian Islamic Congress "to clarify that I did not defame Muslims or Islam."
But Mohamed Elmasry, national president of the Congress, said Pioro's comments were unacceptable and Islamaphobic.
"It shows ignorance on the part of the writer," he said, adding that the comments would be offensive to any Muslim.
"He should educate himself on Canadian culture and he should abide by Canadian values of not spreading hate," said Elmasry.
After being taken down for a few hours yesterday morning, the company's website (www.maxus.ca) was back up in the afternoon, stating: "We are a proud supplier to the Canadian Armed Forces."
"Apparently, it is not politically correct to criticize terrorists. My failing is that I am a hard-core patriot, and I believe passionately about this country, our way of life, and our choices of religion," the site said yesterday.
"I care passionately about our armed forces personnel, and the great work they are doing, and the great sacrifices that they make to defend this country. I refuse to be railroaded any further by the liberal media.
"Anyone that believes that wars can be won by handing out love beads, and flashing peace signs, needs to remove their heads from their rectums."
Pioro said he sold knives to the Canadian Forces in 2006 and 2007, and sold them flashlights this year.
Neither the Department of National Defence nor the Canadian Forces would make a representative available to confirm the contracts.
On Sunday, Kory Teneycke, Stephen Harper's communications director, told the Canadian Press that since Gear Up Motors is a private company, there is little the government can do about the content of its website.
"I think the chances that this company will be doing business with the military in the future would be very much in question as a result of this," Teneycke said.
Pioro said it would not matter to him whether he got another contract with the Canadian Forces, saying they are only a "medium" customer.
Pioro said he took down the image by his own choice, but that a federal government employee did suggest to him on Sunday that some people may find portions of his website offensive.
In addition to military equipment, Gear Up Motors sells all-terrain vehicles, motorbikes, motorcycles and hunting rifles.
(c) The Gazette (Montreal) 2008
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