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“Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.” Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he’s a Christian. He’s always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer’s no, that’s not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, “He’s a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists.” This is not the way we should be doing it in America.
I feel strongly about this particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son’s grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards-Purple Heart, Bronze Star-showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn’t have a Christian cross, it didn’t have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life. Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourself in this way.Â
posted October 21, 2008 at 6:25 am
It must have taken some real guts for Colin Powell to make his endorsement of Barack Obama, and a lot of soul searching. He made so many good points in his interview about his reasoning – rock solid ones imo. Whilst McCain might make a good president, His party is somehow unable, increasingly so, to reach out to all americans. At least the Democrats are willing to try and correct that. In a democracy thats how it should be, All citizens should be represented, not only one particular demographic.
posted October 22, 2008 at 4:03 pm
For social conservatives, the only thing worse than being a Muslim in America is being a homosexual in America.
When did hating the ‘other’ (and wilfully discriminating against them) become an ‘American’ trait?
posted October 23, 2008 at 12:20 pm
i have been waiting along time for someone to say what Colin Powell said ,it was one of the things that everyone thought but no one had the heart to say ,being black and a muslim i felt that i had to be one of those back seat drivers so to speak.i wanted to volunteer and do what ever i could to help his campain,but knowning that this is the land of the free but not free religion if you are a muslim ,so this is why i took the stand to be a back seat supporter.and it hurt me much that my husband could go an volunteer because he doesnt look like a muslim and i who wear my islamic required clothes makes it harder for me to blend in .There are a million plus muslims in America what if we all can out to support John McCain how would that effect his change of nomination or better yet how would that read in tomorrows paper.(food for thought)i not only vote for myself i vote for my grandmother who died 21 years ago waiting for this day i vote for my unborn grandchild who will be born somewhere around 2023 thanks (one luv one world)
posted October 23, 2008 at 11:38 pm
What a terribly hard time to be a Muslim in America. I feel bad that elements in the Republican party made ignorance and hate seem patriotic.