NEW YORK (CNN) -- You may find it hard to believe that this remains an issue in this campaign, but it does.
The candidates, both candidates, are still getting questions about Barack Obama's ethnicity and religion. If you are even semi-informed, then by now you already know that of course, Barack Obama is an American.
Of course, Barack Obama is a Christian. Yet just a few days ago, there was a woman at a rally for John McCain incorrectly calling Obama an Arab:
Woman at rally: I don't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's an Arab.
Sen. John McCain:No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That's what this campaign is all about. He's not, thank you.
Now, I commend Sen. McCain for correcting that woman, for setting the record straight. But I do have one question -- so what if he was?
So what if Obama was Arab or Muslim? So what if John McCain was Arab or Muslim? Would it matter?
When did that become a disqualifier for higher office in our country? When did Arab and Muslim become dirty words? The equivalent of dishonorable or radical?
Whenever this gets raised, the implication is that there is something wrong with being an Arab-American or a Muslim. And the media is complicit here, too.
We've all been too quick to accept the idea that calling someone Muslim is a slur.
I feel like I am stating the obvious here, but apparently it needs to be said: There is a difference between radical Muslims who support jihad against America and Muslims who want to practice their religion freely and have normal lives like anyone else.
There are more than 1.2 million Arab-Americans and about 7 million Muslim-Americans, former Cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, successful business people, normal average Americans from all walks of life.
These are the people being maligned here, and we can only imagine how this conversation plays in the Muslim world. We can't tolerate this ignorance -- not in the media, not on the campaign trail.
Of course, he's not an Arab. Of course, he's not a Muslim. But honestly, it shouldn't matter.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- You may find it hard to believe that this remains an issue in this campaign, but it does.
The candidates, both candidates, are still getting questions about Barack Obama's ethnicity and religion. If you are even semi-informed, then by now you already know that of course, Barack Obama is an American.
Of course, Barack Obama is a Christian. Yet just a few days ago, there was a woman at a rally for John McCain incorrectly calling Obama an Arab:
Woman at rally: I don't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's an Arab.
Sen. John McCain:No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That's what this campaign is all about. He's not, thank you.
Now, I commend Sen. McCain for correcting that woman, for setting the record straight. But I do have one question -- so what if he was?
So what if Obama was Arab or Muslim? So what if John McCain was Arab or Muslim? Would it matter?
When did that become a disqualifier for higher office in our country? When did Arab and Muslim become dirty words? The equivalent of dishonorable or radical?
Whenever this gets raised, the implication is that there is something wrong with being an Arab-American or a Muslim. And the media is complicit here, too.
We've all been too quick to accept the idea that calling someone Muslim is a slur.
I feel like I am stating the obvious here, but apparently it needs to be said: There is a difference between radical Muslims who support jihad against America and Muslims who want to practice their religion freely and have normal lives like anyone else.
There are more than 1.2 million Arab-Americans and about 7 million Muslim-Americans, former Cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, successful business people, normal average Americans from all walks of life.
These are the people being maligned here, and we can only imagine how this conversation plays in the Muslim world. We can't tolerate this ignorance -- not in the media, not on the campaign trail.
Of course, he's not an Arab. Of course, he's not a Muslim. But honestly, it shouldn't matter.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer.
i hate obama wether he's arab or not.
ppl say he's a jew, some say his mum's a jew, som say his dads a jew, some say parents jews, nd osama--i mean obama , is christian, some say he's muslim, well honestly i really dont giv...................what the hell he is, its his brain nd heart that anyone should care about, not the way he is.
but in ignorant ppls minds it goes like "if he's arab, he'll blo up america" "if he's jew, he'll kill our children" "if he's christian, we'll live in peace"
waatever...
i hate obama wether he's arab or not.
ppl say he's a jew, some say his mum's a jew, som say his dads a jew, some say parents jews, nd osama--i mean obama , is christian, some say he's muslim, well honestly i really dont giv...................what the hell he is, its his brain nd heart that anyone should care about, not the way he is.
but in ignorant ppls minds it goes like "if he's arab, he'll blo up america" "if he's jew, he'll kill our children" "if he's christian, we'll live in peace"
waatever...
What would you say if he was British?
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
doesnt matter.
ok i'll finally reveal why i hate british, its not coz ther gay accents, its coz what they did to palestine.
thats why i dont mind the muslim british
its just the ones supporting that
When did that become a disqualifier for higher office in our country?
Well, logically, in a christian nation, a muslim is obviously not going to win the elections. Similarly, how you will never see a christian leading any majority-muslim nation.
Because if He's an Arab he will fire all the nukes at his own cities!
That was a joke BTW.
Occupation: The term of control of a territory by foreign military forces: Iraq 2003-2005 Liberation:when something or someone is freed: Operation Telic 2003
According to wikipedia, the US is officially a secular nation. Furthermore, the US is democratic whereas Muslim-majority countries don't tend to be democracies - at least not true, sophisticated ones so I don't know if that's a fair comparison.
I think around 3/4 of Americans identify themselves as Christians but I don't see how religion should matter when it should surely be a matter of policies. Of course, not all the people who identify themselves as Christians would be practising anyway.
Even if Obama was a Muslim, he is clearly not a practising one. In fact, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) made it quite explicit that the dividing line between Islam and Kufr is the Salah and I strongly doubt that Barack Obama does the salah five times a day.
My apologies if I'm oversimplifying the issue. I'm only young and I'm learning! Work with me here people.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
According to wikipedia, the US is officially a secular nation. Furthermore, the US is democratic whereas Muslim-majority countries don't tend to be democracies - at least not true, sophisticated ones so I don't know if that's a fair comparison.
I think around 3/4 of Americans identify themselves as Christians but I don't see how religion should matter when it should surely be a matter of policies. Of course, not all the people who identify themselves as Christians would be practising anyway.
Even if Obama was a Muslim, he is clearly not a practising one. In fact, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) made it quite explicit that the dividing line between Islam and Kufr is the Salah and I strongly doubt that Barack Obama does the salah five times a day.
My apologies if I'm oversimplifying the issue. I'm only young and I'm learning! Work with me here people.
I don't believe I started a post with 'according to wikipedia'.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
So what if Obama was a muslim or Arab?
When Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Syria or Sudan has a christian president you can all ask questions like "So what if Obama was a muslim or Arab".
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
So what if Obama was a muslim or Arab?
When Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Syria or Sudan has a christian president you can all ask questions like "So what if Obama was a muslim or Arab".
US is officially secular whereas the countries you mentioned don't tend to be secular countries at all. Don't you think that's an important difference?
Regards
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
US is officially secular whereas the countries you mentioned don't tend to be secular countries at all. Don't you think that's an important difference?
Regards
The majority of the people, are not secular - and when the people decide who they elect - just because they have seperated (well, to some degree) religion from state, you'd be hardpressed to find, a majority christian nation, not favouring a christian president.
US is officially secular whereas the countries you mentioned don't tend to be secular countries at all. Don't you think that's an important difference?
Regards
So what that USA is secular. You think that Americans are so stupid to let muslims use their secularity. I have noticed that it is common attitude for muslims in West - to use secularity for their plans which are very very far from secularity.
The same old trick was used by communists, also in USA, they said -" Hey, how you wanna ban communist party of USA if this country is democratic and has freedom of speech".
And the irony is that the communists believed in democracy and fredom of speech just as much as muslims believe in secularity.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
The majority of the people, are not secular - and when the people decide who they elect - just because they have seperated (well, to some degree) religion from state, you'd be hardpressed to find, a majority christian nation, not favouring a christian president.
Of the 3/4 of people who identify themselves as Christian, what percentage would you say are practising and who would consider religion when choosing a president?
Regards
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
Of the 3/4 of people who identify themselves as Christian, what percentage would you say are practising and who would consider religion when choosing a president?
Regards
What percentage of muslims would you regard as practicing in this world? Now, take that percentage, who deem to have a muslim faith, but arn't practicing.
Ask them, if they had to elect a leader, would them being muslim be an advantage for the candidate? Pretty sure you know how that would end up. Atleast I know, I would prefer a muslim leader, over a christian.
Even if you arn't a practicing christian/muslim, you value the traditions so to speak of, and the philosophical outlook of the religion in your daily life. Its something as you been brought up, have come to like, or atleast not feel alien to. I understand fully, how alien Islam would be to a christian, and why a christian (even if they arn't practicing) may find a muslim less favourable than a christian.
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- You may find it hard to believe that this remains an issue in this campaign, but it does.
Mind explaining that for me or will it just kill the joke?
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