Is Muslim The New Queer?

The U.S. presidential election has led to fairly significant debate on black-white race issues as well as gender politics. This campaign has triggered passionate hatred for Muslims and Arabs in this country, and yet that form of racism and prejudice has barely been discussed.

Just yesterday an elderly woman at a campaign event with John McCain rambled into the microphone about how she doesn't trust Barack Obama and then said, as if it were her kicker, "HE'S ARAB."

McCain took the microphone back, shook his head, and acting like he is suddenly better than gutter politics, said something along the lines of, "No, no, mam. He's a decent, family man."

What?! That old lady did not say Obama is a terrorist. She did not say he is a murderer or a rapist or a drug dealer to little children. She said he is "Arab." And yet, McCain automatically understood her point and equated "Arab" with "bad man."

Similar things have been happening on a regular basis throughout this campaign. Every time people spread emails and rumors that Obama is Muslim, they are not trying to inform voters of the man's religion. They are saying, Don't vote for him because he is Muslim. Every time some religious-right radio talkshow host uses Obama's middle name of Hussein, he is saying, Don't vote for Obama because he is Muslim.

Obama has on occasion said that it shouldn't matter if he were Muslim or not. But he has not done that enough. Usually, he just denies it, as if being called Muslim were an accusation. Wouldn't someone who wants to run on a mantle of hope and bring this country forward on race relations say over and over again, "There is nothing wrong with being Muslim. Muslims have the right to run for office. Muslims are not all terrorists."

When people accuse Obama of being Arab, he should similarly say, "There is nothing wrong with being Arab. We have many allies in the Arab world."

Step back a moment and think again about that old lady at the McCain event yesterday. Imagine her instead saying that she doesn't trust Obama and.... "HE"S JEWISH." Or she doesn't trust Obama and ... "HE'S CHRISTIAN." Or she doesn't trust Obama and .... "HE'S POLISH."

And then, imagine the man running on the Republican Party ticket to be president of the United States say, "No, no, man. He's a decent, family man."

Yes, of course, there is still plenty of hatred against Jews out there in the world. But a Republican presidential candidate would never say that because there would be a backlash from the Jewish community, and probably (hopefully) from many other communities.

So where's the backlash now? We hear a lot about this election getting "uglier" and politics getting "dirtier." We discuss those voters in the South or rural PA who say they'd never vote for a black man. So why don't we hear about the ongoing racism against Muslims and Arabs that has been coming out in this campaign?

I am Jewish and grew up learning about the Holocaust and the apocryphal story of the Danish king who wore the Star of David when the Nazis tried to round up the Jews. As the story goes, all the Danes then wore the Star of David, thereby protecting the real Jews from being sent to concentration camps. I grew up hearing stories about the German families who risked everything to hide Jews in their basement. And, of course, about the families who stood by and did nothing. To them, we said Never Again.

Now, in post-9/11 America, it is the Muslims and Arabs who are the object of racism. While there are so many Americans who are quick to correct the facts and make sure the public knows that Obama is not Arab or Muslim, where are the people speaking up and saying that the Arabs and Muslims are not evil, bad people? How come now almost nobody is saying it's not OK to hate?

Rather than correcting these lies by proving that Obama is Christian, we should be denouncing them. And, like the story of the Danish king, we should all be willing to say, I am Arab, I am Muslim.

*** Write for OffTheBus this weekend about this issue. Go out into your community and talk to Muslims about how this election has affected their view of the candidates and the United States. Visit local mosques and ask Muslim leaders what they think of the election. Which candidate do they support and why? How do they want McCain and Obama to respond to these slurs? Has this changed how they view this country? Do they feel targeted? What do they want the next president to do to address this form of racism in our society? Send your story (and headshot and brief bio) to [e-mail] by midnight on Tuesday, October 14.

Comments

[woodcut]

Queer San Franciscan man here - believe me, we don't have it so easy. Right across the Bay, the Mormons and other RELIGIOUS groups are waging a fierce battle against Prop 8 = gay marriage. People are stealing signs off of other's lawns -- all because of same-sex love. The hate comes from many faiths, not just Christians.
====
Re: article - my Mom in CT still says things like, "She's black, but she's nice". That's why I fled to SF 30 years ago!!!

[michelle955]

I am so glad someone is talking about this. IT IS RACISM and IT IS WRONG! I am an African American female who supports Obama, but the recent coverage of McCain's comment to the woman at his rally made me wonder how muslim/arab americans felt. As I've read the few articles out there covering racism towards muslims/arabs in America it makes me sad and quite frankly mad. If anyone, Obama knows what racism feels like; yet he's backed away from supporting the rights of ALL americans and the racism that divides this country. I won't be supporting McCain - he's worse, but I do feel the media should cover this topic more. Muslim/Arab Americans are citzens of this country and they deserve to be respected.

[michelle955]

P.S. I was elated to hear Powell's comments on meet the Press today. Awesome!

[paulita]

i am glad this post was written as I find this issue very troubling and in reality dangerous.

This gives Americans who are already in fear reasons to feel justified in acting on their fears. Moreover, the President of the United States is a servant of all the people (and let me emphasize servant as our leaders never seem to remember that); and most certainly should not not condone, tacitly or directly fear and hate mongering.

Obama probably feels he is in a bad position, I think the worse is Senator McCain, whose campaign rhetoric calls for this kind of hatred and I feel he should be compelled to put a stop to it.

[Frenchy9]

Good post, for sure. Ideally.

But there is an election to win (and improve many thing), or too loose.

We know where O stands. There will be time for everything.

[ptermagant]

We are all Georgians, but we are not all Muslims, apparently.
I agree that Obama's response to this has been lacking.
"Are you afraid of Muslims? Why?" is the best response.
Great post, thank you.

[Nia1999]

Thank you Ms. Win, it's about time someone stood up said something about this issue. I live in Michigan. Michigan has the largest Arab and Muslim population in the country. Not only that, almost all the Arab and Muslim PAC's here endorsed George W. Bush overwhelmingly. When he campaigned here, he spoke at the Muslim centers and Mosques and received great welcomes. Which is why I don't understand why Bush have told John McCain to hold back his terrorist rhetoric against Muslims because in the end, he's gonna need them. And believe me, they do vote. I also agree with the other posts in reference to Obama's case. Most of the Americans that McCain and Palin are speaking to do not understand the difference, and quite frankly, aren't trying to either. Obama cannot risk the ignorant backlash that would come from speaking about this issue. Ignorant folks like Sean Hannity and FoxNews, Rush Limbaugh, Karl Rove, etc. would have a field day. For them, that would be an early christmas present. This is unfortunate.

[MsMike]

Some reports do say that the woman called Obama "Arab terrorist". If that is the case, it does change the meaning of John McCain's reply.
But whether or not that is the case, I agree that the hate speech needs to stop. Hate speech interferes with the kind of discussion that makes democracy possible, and it sometimes incites people to commit terrible acts.
We are all Americans and citizens of the world. And I believe that we all need to do what we can to reduce the feelings of hatred and fear that people have. I have personally made it my priority in the few weeks remaining before the election to do what I can to have an impact on this. The inflammatory rhetoric needs to stop, and the emotions that have been stirred up need to be calmed down.
I know that Barack Obama has spoken out on this issue already, and I am sure that he will speak out more strongly in the very near future. I believe that after the election is over, and Barack Obama is our President-Elect, and then our President, we will have a national dialog on the subject of respecting each other no matter what our race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. America is ready for a vast amount of education and healing on these subjects, and I believe that we will become a better nation when that happens.

[derik]

yup, by McCain saying that Obama is a decent man as opposed to that he was not a muslim or arab and if he (Obama) was it should not matter. My inference is that for the most part any muslim or arab is latently considered as not American. By extension, it seems that all non-Christians and non-Europeans are latently considered as not American. Someway or another, I know the race, religion, etc in our constitution implied what an American is somewhat differently. I believe historically the German Jews (and others in countries that Hitler occupied ran into this and suffered greatly.
Suffice to say, it is a shame us voters have the likes of such a woman as a fellow voter. She obviously isn't really aware that there are Arab Christians too. ah, for an educated country full of educated voters. Albeit, our constitution gives the educated equal rights to vote too. Which makes total sense.

[UrbanRevolution]

We will say that after we get him in to the white house. unfortunately some of these knuckleheads cannot compute two thoughts at once so you have to just leave them with the one you need them to remember right now.

[shay74]

"I am Jewish and grew up learning about the Holocaust and the apocryphal story of the Danish king who wore the Star of David when the Nazis tried to round up the Jews. As the story goes, all the Danes then wore the Star of David, thereby protecting the real Jews from being sent to concentration camps."

The story is true except it was done by the MUSLIM Morrocan King. Dont expect to hear much about that in these Muslim hating times when Christians try and offload their anti-semitism onto Muslims who protected Jews for centuries.

"Morocco's leaders have always made the well-being of the Jewish people a top priority. During World War II, when the Vichy government of occupied France announced that it had prepared 200,000 yellow stars for the Jews of Morocco, King Mohammed V replied that he would need 50 more for him and his family. He refused to make any distinction between his citizens."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0109/p09s01-coop.html

[Hanna Ingber Win - Huffpost Blogger]

very interesting about the king of Morocco. thanks for sharing

[rcksgl]

When I heard the clip, I was shocked how McCain's answer intimated that we can trust Obama to be a terrorist because he's not an Arab.

I'm sure, or at least I choose to believe McCain didn't mean that all Arabs must be mistrusted. Given that, his response spotlights an inability to speak with the sophistication and diplomacy that we woefully need in our next President. I was actually going to blog on this if I not read anyone touch pointing this out.

[leahi1656]

Although I consider myself a left-leaning Liberal, I do have problems with Islam as it presents itself on the worldwide stage. The muslim world with its suppression of women, homosexuals, and minority religions leaves me cold and alienated. While I am absolutely tolerant of their right to exist, that does not mean that I have to bend over backwards to appear slavishly politically correct.

Islam's outrageous threats against freedom of speech and expression (Cf. the Danish publication of cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed as well as the fatwa against Salman Rushdie) repulse me. So long as women are not allowed to drive cars in Saudi Arabia or are forced to wear what Islam considers appropriately modest dress, just so long will I look upon Islam with a somewhat cynical eye.

I cannot forget the British school teacher in the Sudan who allowed her children to name the teddy bear "Mohammed" and the hue and cry of "Kill her!" which followed. Excuse meeeeee?

Islam needs to rehabilitate its own image in the eyes of the world. That is not our responsibility, imho.

[abdallac]

Hello - your perspective that there is something inherently wrong with Islam as a RELIGION, not with how governments and individuals have used my BEAUTIFUL faith for their own corrupt agendas.

If the Muslim world were to judge Christianity by the actions of the Chrisitians who bombed black churches and terrorized the black community of this country for centuries, sitting in John McCain's rallies, or Sarah Palin OR George Bush who has imposed sanctioned terror raining down from the sky on innocent nations.... I think you would rethink the words you write.

I understand what you are seeing, but are you so unaware of what the rest of the non White non Christian world is seeing as well. Do not equate that with Islam as I do not equate the continual legalized, militarized (hidden and open) attrocities of Christians with Christianity.

[Jane Devin - Huffpost Blogger]

I certainly agree with your point, which is that Muslims should not be the target of discrimination. At the same time, you say we have "many Arab allies" and this statement would seem to be wishful thinking. The "allies" we have historically had from Muslim countries came as a result of our political interference and economic power, rather than like-minded beliefs in freedom, democracy, and humanitarian efforts. An ally won through providing weaponry is shaky at best.

When America embraces the royal family of Saudi Arabia, it does so knowing that its an oppressive society, full of injustices and social disparities.

"Muslim" should be viewed as an individual religious preference, and not as a system of government or social policies, but unfortunately it has become equated with both. This alignment leaves many people wary about exactly what it is Islam stands for. To be fair, the records of these countries is not exactly stellar.

So no, "Muslim" is not the new queer. No queer countries have committed genocide, or let school girls burn in a building for lack of a headscarves, or shot women in the back of the head in a soccer stadium full of cheering queers.

Islam, like Christianity, is no doubt a religion of peace for millions of its adherents. But until those who run its institutions step up to the plate, and while governments are still allowed to pervert religion, it is unlikely that the term "Muslim" will become unattached to fear.

[ReneeZ]

"Islam, like Christianity, is no doubt a religion of peace for millions of its adherents. But until those who run its institutions step up to the plate, and while governments are still allowed to pervert religion, it is unlikely that the term "Muslim" will become unattached to fear."

I couldn't agree more with you, although I'm convinced that, when Ms. Win wrote "we have Arab allies" she didn't mean to defend certain values in Arab countries that our not those of the western world, but to show the fact that some apparently have no idea what the term "Arab" actually means.

McCain did himself and his campaign a huge disservice by not explaining properly how mistaken the woman was. His face spoke volumes, BTW. While speaking he knew he made a huge mistake. I'm convinced about that.

"Obama has on occasion said that it shouldn't matter if he were Muslim or not. But he has not done that enough"

I wish he'd do that more too, Ms. Win, as I wish that for a long time in my own country where sadly anti-Islam voices sound louder and louder. There's no way to make prejudices regarding religions disappear by reassuring people that their religion is best, and others, in fact, more or less threatening..

[seatea1967]

I was thinking the same thing as I read the story of McCain's response. When did being an Arab mean that someone is a bad person, or evil, or unfit to be president?

I'm not surprised... this is a country that in my grandfather's lifetime actually rounded up Japanese Americans and put them in camps... but I am disappointed in the extreme.

Apparently once we break through the barrier of having our first black president, and our first female president we'll have to set our sights on having our first middle-eastern president, etc.

So tedious. Why can't people judge others on character and not on genetics?

[Hanna Ingber Win - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for the note. I grew up believing in the story of the King of Denmark -- such a beautiful story, gives hope in humanity. and yet then I spent a semester studying abroad in Denmark and went to a museum about Danish history, and the museum exhibit suggested the story was not true. If it's not true, that would be pretty damn disappointing. But either way -- a good life lesson. May we all be as courageous.

[Decipherer]

I note that you were graduated from the Annenberg School of Journalism at USC. Since the Annenberg Foundation provided grants to certain Chicago-based community development organizations, like the one that Bill Ayers and Barack Obama had worked with, does that mean you must be a terrorist, too?

Hey, I'm just asking! (Note to readers: the foregoing was intended to be humorous.)

On a far more serious note, you wrote that the story about the King of Denmark's, and his subjects', courageous act of anti-Nazi defiance during WWII is "apocryphal," suggesting that it may never have happened. I have read multiple accounts of Danes, lf by their king, wearing the Star of David during the war, so if this is not true it would be very helpful to set the record straight.

Otherwise, yours is a great post, one that I hope is widely read and taken to heart.

[pons1595]

I understand your attempt at humor, but like the Mother's Day joke in an orphanage, it crashed and burned.