It's not clear exactly what the residents of Lubbock, Texas feared their wholesome town had been beset by when they spotted a flag with Arabic writing on it hanging from the Citizens Tower, but they apparently feared the worst.
The mayor of Lubbock summoned city work crews, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the local sheriff after the ominous and dubious flag was spotted.
From the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal:
After evaluating the situation and blocking traffic on a portion of nearby Avenue K, city crews cut down the flag shortly after noon, sending the flag and the two cinder blocks used to stabilize it crashing onto the red brick street near the dilapidated building.
The flag, noticed on the building early Monday, prompted [Mayor] Robertson to write a letter to City Manager James Loomis, requesting Lubbock police notify the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s.
And what did the writing on this fearsome, heart-bearing flag say?
Syrian native Hasan Almekdash, 35, is an Arabic language instructor at Texas Tech. Almekdash moved to this area in 2012; he said he has never experienced any type of Islamophobia, but he can see how the display did not go over well.
“Literally translated, it says ‘love is for all,’” he said.
Not in this corner of America.
We can only speculate what locals thought the Black Speech of Mordor said before seeking the harmless translation.