Now You Can Say It, President-Elect Obama: "So What If I Am a Muslim?"
Ever since President-Elect Barack Obama became a serious candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for the presidency, the right and the ultraright, the Fox News, and the ill-informed segment of the population which follows Fox's "fair and balanced" news and analysis used Mr. Obama's middle name and the fact that his grandfather was a Muslim against him. In such propaganda, being a Muslim is tantamount to being evil, having ill will towards the United States, and someone who could not be trusted, especially with the highest office of the land.
As a supporter of Mr. Obama, I was often disappointed that he did not confront such bigotry. His standard reaction to the accusation of being a Muslim - one also enforced by his camp - was always, "I am a Christian; I have never been a Muslim." It really bothered me and people like me when, for example, last June Mr. Obama's aids removed from the front row of a rally in Detroit a few Muslim women with their Islamic hejab - cover for their hair - because they did want them to be seen in photos with Mr. Obama.
Although people like me never liked the way our President-Elect handled the "issue" of his Islamic "heritage," and even though my like-minded friends and I have been apprehensive about what he may do in the Middle East and the Islamic world, we wanted, more than anything else and above all, Mr. Obama to be elected the 44th President of the United States. The thought of living in a Bush-3 regime under John McCain was just too painful and frightening, and the dream of breaking the racial barrier with all of its consequences was too enticing. Pragmatism and the realities of America in the post-9/11 era also dictated our silence. We put our worries and unease in the backburner.
Now, however, our candidate has won by a landslide. Now, he does not have to worry about the accusation of being a closet Muslim as a campaign issue. Now, the elections have shown that the people have moved, to a large extent, beyond race as a barrier to the highest office of the land. Now, our President-Elect has won a mandate for fundamental changes, part of which should be cultural.
Mr. Obama is not, of course, a Muslim. He believes in the Christian faith. As a practicing Muslim, I have the highest respect for his faith. In my mind, Jesus Christ is the all-time symbol of kindness, forgiveness, and sacrifice for the sake of others. Thus, as a follower of Christ, Mr. Obama should set the record straight about the injustice that has been done to true Islam in this country.
Mr. Obama should now use the same eloquence; the same type of powerful speeches, and the same cool, intelligent, deliberate manner with which he mesmerized us all, to lead the people beyond the bigotry of hating Muslims, simply because they are Muslim. He should simply declare:
So what if I am a Muslim?
Not only will this simple declaration go a long way towards healing the wounds of over a billion Muslims that have been inflicted upon them by the Bush administration, but also move America in a progressive direction, and do wonders for its distorted image among the 1.3 billion Muslims, the very population that the U.S. needs in order to defeat the terrorists.
The reality is that, the true Islam has been incredibly distorted in the West, and the United States, under George W. Bush, has done its share. Our President-Elect can take an important step to correct the injustice done to the true Islam.
You see, unlike the common propaganda, the Qur'an - Muslims' holy book - advocates understanding of, and open exchange of opinion with, the Jews and Christians. After all, the three religions share common principles inherited from their common Abrahimic roots. The Qur'an's views towards the followers of what it calls the "People of the Book" (Christians and Jews) are nothing but peaceful, compassionate, and respectful.
God told Prophet Muhammad to inform "the People of the Book" that,
O People of the Book! Ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord.
In instructing Muslims to show respect to the people of the previous religions (Christianity and Judaism), the Qur'an informs them that,
If only they [Jews and Christians] had stood fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from their Lord, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side.
A theme repeated many times in the Qur'an is that, Muslims must join in friendship with the followers of other religions, and refrain from discussing subjects that may cause division. The Qur'an instructs Muslims to emphasize the common themes, and to clearly declare that,
We believe in God [Allah], and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in [the Books] given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them.
The Qur'an orders Muslims that they should "not argue with the followers of earlier revelation, except in a most kindly manner."
These are not what only people like the author extract from Qur'an, nor are people like the author the only ones who interpret Qur'anic teachings in an enlightened way.
Voltaire, the great French philosopher, was initially anti-Islam. But, after studying the Qur'an, he wrote very highly of Prophet Muhammad.
Johannes Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany's "greatest man of letters," declared himself indebted to the great Persian and Muslim poet, Hafez (the word Hafez means someone who has memorized the Qur'an completely), and said,
If this is Islam, are we not all Muslims?
Gustav Leberecht Flugel, the eminent German Orientalist, published an edition of the Qur'an in 1834 (which was again published in 1893 after his death). Theodor Noldeke, the "extraordinary professor" (as he was called in Germany) of Semitic studies, published several books on Islam and Qur'an. Both scholars praised the excellence of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.
Karen Armstrong, the British renowned religious scholar and author of several books on Muslims and Islam, has spoken very highly of Islam, particularly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She has declared that,
All the great traditions [religions] are saying the same thing in much the same way, despite their surface differences....They each have in common an emphasis upon the overriding importance of compassion.
True, Islamic teachings have been abused by the fringe of the fringe Islamic groups to "justify" crimes against humanity, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks and other crimes. But, such abuses have happened, and are still happening, with all religions, not just Islam. George W. Bush, an evangelical Christian, claimed that God told him to attack Iraq.
We must remember that both "reason" and "light" are repeated exactly 49 times in the Qur'an - and often together - indicating that the Qur'an believes that it is only through reason that one finds light and enlightenment.
So, President-Elect Obama, at the dawn of a new era in the history of this great nation, please help instill a spirit of understanding between the West and Muslims. Please lead the nation move beyond religion-based bigotry by simply declaring that,
So what if I am a Muslim?
Please lead the effort to change the culture of bigotry and hate.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Mr. Sahimi:
The first rule of power is simply to GET power. The second is to hold onto it. For Barack Obama to have said something along the lines you suggest would have been politically foolhardy. The Rabid Right would have pounced on it and thrown it as red meat to the rabble.
It seems to me that it is not Obama's responsibility to rehabilitate the image of Islam. Moderate Muslims have had ample opportunity to lift their voices against the discrimination against women and homosexuals which seems to prevail in the Muslim world. Until such time as that happens, it seems to me that Islam is its own worst enemy. A recent brilliant article here in Huffington Post posited that the most pressing civil rights issue coming to the fore is the granting of full citizenship and the liberation of Muslim women.
I have read the Glorious Kur'an, btw, and respect it as a marvelous work of spirit and literature. However, I would no more care to live in literal adherence to its teachings than I would care to do the same for the literal teachings of the Bible.
I urge all Muslims to take this opportunity to demonstrate by their own lives and their own voices that they have been spiritually liberated and transformed by their adherence to their faith. This would mean spirited condemnation of the radical elements of Islam, just as we condemn the radical elements of far-right Christianity.
What’s In a Name?
There are people who spread fear of the new president elect based on his middle name. Hussein. The name was given to him more than forty years ago when he was born to a Chris-tian mother from Kansas and a man from Kenya. The implications are obvious. Named Hussein, he must be both a secret Muslim and a follower of Saddam Hussein, late of Iraq.
Such nonsense did not resonate with the millions who elected Barack Hussein Obama. But there are still those, who otherwise seem almost rational beings at times, using the middle name to imply we should be afraid, very afraid.
I woke with a start about four this morning and said to myself, “Self, what if they are right?
What if names are evidence of our true natures?” I lay thinking about it. The theory explains so much.
Adolf Menjou, the 1940s actor, must have been a secret Nazi. Senator Joseph, “Joe” McCarthy was actually a Joe Stalinist communist! The country had better re-think Joe, the plumber, and anyone named “Rush” has to be a druggie. It makes real sense. Pass it on.
You are the ones afraid of his middle name. Why don't you say it with pride?
I am jacqui the Electrician. Sarah palin 2012
Many do say it with pride. And quite a few added "Hussein" to their blog names as a symbol of pride and of defiance at those on the far right who were always saying in an accusatory tone "Barack HUSSEIN Obama" ... but for some odd reason, never "John SIDNEY McCain" . Hmmmmm....
I consider it a great source of pride in this country that the majority of American voters were able to look past not only skin color but an Arabic middle name and the ridiculous, widely circulated e-mails claiming Obama was some kind of stealth Islamist extremist and secretly planning to introduce Sharia law.
"Hussein" is a very common name shared by not only the reprehensible dictator Saddam but by our ally King Hussein to whom I personally feel thankful for his donation to make possible a home for cancer patients to stay at Mayo Clinic while getting treatments, when it would be hard for them to afford weeks in a hotel. My parents were able to stay there when my mom was treated.
I fervently pray to the Goddess no way, no how.
One of the biggest obstacles to the American center (not the wingnuts) coming to accept Islam as a legitimate "American" religion has been the unwillingness of its leaders to strongly and publicly oppose the religion's extremist elements, both here and abroad, who claim to speak on behalf of Islam. As long as American's most visible Muslim leader is someone like Louis Farrakhan, it will be impossible for Mr. Sahimi's dream to be realized.
No, as for now, it is because there are too many people who like to cling to the myth of an Islamic threat to civilization.
Visible is what we, consumers of mass media, collectively decide to MAKE visible. Rev. Wright was for a couple of weeks the most visible black pastor in the US; does that mean I, as an outsider, have to assume all black pastors in the US are like him?
6.000 Muslim clerics from all around the world came together in India last week and collectively condemned terrorism; I have never heard of a meeting of anything like that number of Muslim clerics SUPPORTING terrorism, but I have no doubts that throughout the world, people will continue to overwhelmingly believe that Islam is inherently violent.
What about Christian and Jewish extremists? Seems like a double standard to me. Far as I know Farrakhan has not been responsible for the death of one innocent man, woman or child (nor of one guilty one either) - Christian and Jewish extremists however, seem to delight in blowing up, torturing and generally making life difficult for folks.
I worry every time I a board a plane where some of the other passengers are nuns.
Cont'd
So, that should be over with since the man on top cleared it, yet it seems you're still holding it against him. It also saddens me, the short memory that people have for what I mentioned above were the initial answers Obama gave to this question. After that, he was too busy running for President to protect the rights of ALL ethnicities and religions, and singling out the "Muslim" one for special protection would not have been fair to the other ones, with all due respect.
First of all the question should be " What if I WERE, a Muslim", and not "AM", since he obviously isn't.
Second, I couldn't find them on Youtube, for lack of not knowing what words to use in the search, but I distinctly remember Obama in the beginning of the campaign in 2007, when, in every interview he gave, confronted with this question, his answer ALWAYS started with words like "with all due respect to those who are, but no, I'm a Christian.
Just last night Larry King showed a segment of an interview with Obama where he addresses this very issue and remarks that while he has sometimes been remiss in emphasizing this, he wanted to point out that it was inappropriate to use the Muslim faith as a basis of attacking him and he talked about how important it was to respect the Muslim faith and American Muslims. So he has addressed it publicly, and quite recently. I don't know that he has to call a major press conference and give an entire speech on it.
I was just going to point this out. Obama DID say it shouldn't matter on Larry King Live, on 07/15/2008. Transcript avaiable: http://tra
"One last point I want to -- I do want to make about these e- mails, though. And I think this has an impact on this "New Yorker" cover. You know, this is actually an insult against Muslim-Americans, something that we don't spend a lot of time talking about. And sometimes I've been derelict in pointing that out.
You know, there are wonderful Muslim-Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things. And for this to be used as sort of an insult or to raise suspicions about me I think is unfortunate. And it's not what America is all about."
Colin Powell's statement was excellent and this column as well. But we must go further. We must say, "What does my religion have to do with anything?" Anyone can win over an atheist? That's not religious freedom. It will be a bright day indeed when candidates and elected officials stop saying "God bless you and God bless America." That, to me, isn't separation of church and state, with its implication that everyone listening thinks God exists. Nor is continuing to insist that "America is the greatest country in the world" anything short of nationalism. It would be nice to see more egalitariarism under Obama's presidency.
Yes Expatessa, I think that this gets to the heart of the issue. Why should Barack Obama need to acknowledge any religion? Unfortunately, to not subscribe to some form of Christianity or Judaism in the US is tantamount to political suicide. I believe that this excuses his continual Christian admissions. Why, therefore, would he now show support for Islam? To prop up a movement for increased acceptance of an intolerant and misogynistic religion, which doesn't represent the ideals of his successful presidential campaign? I find this logic highly unlikely. I, for one, suspect Barack to be an atheist, like his campaign reported his father, and more than likely his mother, to be. In that regard, I hope to see less pandering to the religious during this administration, reference to Bush's sole support of ineffective faith based initiatives and reduction in scientific funding over the past eight years. Not one more moment should be wasted upon these discussions. If the American people thought religion and religious exclusivity was of importance now, they would have elected John McCain and Sarah Palin.
I couldn't agree with you more Imwilliamsphd, and I get so dreadfully tired listening to the "victimized" religious, positing their "morally superior" messages of slander and discrimination against the rest of the world, whilst decrying that, perceived as aimed at them.
And, why is criticism against Islam "racist"? The last Muslim that I met, was a white Canadian woman who had been brought up Lutheran, on the prairies. (This did not stop her from asserting that she was a victim of discrimination, and assuming the party line of "we Muslims are all oppressed" by society). Islam encompasses many races who all have wildly divergent interpretations of the Koran. Splinter groups, factions, sects; you name it, abound. The internecine warfare within the groups is mind boggling.
Criticising and rambunctiously debating whether god exists, is a time honoured practice that must not cease because of fear. Cartoons of Mohammed, Jesus, Buddha or whomever, have contributed to a spirited discussion of religion. And can demonstrate intellectual truisms that scare the dogmatic, dark-age leadership to death.
I myself think that all religion is hocus pocus nonsense, but if individuals choose to participate in one or another, do so, but please keep it out of the public arena and stop yammering about unfair treatment.
There are a great many of us who have never blamed all Muslims for 9/11 and know that Muslim terrorists are a very small minority.
I really would like to be able to sit down with someone like you and have you explain why Muslim women are treated so very badly in every single predominately Muslim nation on earth. I honestly just want to know. This has been on my mind since long before 9/11. Is it something in the Qur'an that justifies this? Is it tradition, and if so why does it persist? I must admit that when I see Muslim women, even in the U.S., bundled up in lumpy clothing and wearing heavy head scarves even in summer it offends me. It makes me shudder to think that under other circumstances it could be me or my daughter. Does the Qur'an demand this? If not, then why can Muslim women be beaten to death if they let an inch of skin show in most Muslim countries?
In the spirit of greater understanding, I really wish someone would explain what seems to be a major disconnect between one of the world's great religions and the cruelty to women underneath.
Injustice to women is something that is not characteristic of Islam (those who are familiar with the exemplary Prophet Muhammad or even the Constitution of Medina would assert this). However, there is an undeniable correlation between Muslim nations and female subjugation. The religious regimes have gone far right extreme due to the aversion to social fears of the West and a loss of moral standard. No justification, but these are simply cultural phenomenons exploiting Islam to guise their own injustice. Let's also not forget that conventional western standards of oppression often do not apply in Muslim countries. Although not all, many women find the 'lumpy clothing' and head scarves (which are not usually heavy) to be symbolic of their spiritual dedication to God, modesty, and a simple beauty. The hijab has certainly found a renaissance in Modern, Post 9/11 Islam. It has created debate such as your questions here and hopefully will reveal the truly positive basis of this tradition.
what about the stoning of women who are raped?????????
As a believer in Christ and a friend who loves both Muslims and Jews, I couldn't agree with you more. I am outraged at the attacks and violence against all Islamists for the rabid acts of a few. Now NY is become the intolerant capital with young men going on sprees of violence against people of color - it will not be long until it becomes worse - unless something drastic is done to stop it.
Peace be with you.
The big three all worssip the same God in different ways, all have been hijacked by different governments and individuals for personal advantage!
Religion should be kept out of politics and not used to attempt to justify wars or terrorist violence!
At risk of perhaps being a bit OT, they don't worship the same God - although they are all rooted in the same Abrahamic tradition.
No follower of Islam (that I know) would agree that Al-lah is a trinitarian combination of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. Likewise, no Christian would believe that Christ was a "mere" prophet.
I think that it is up to more than just Barack to do the work or make the statements.
Muslims need to be the example of whatever it is they want the Muslim face to exemplify.
That is true of Jews, Christians, Mormons, Quakers, and every other group.
He made his points already, as noted in other comments:
Larry King, 7/15/08:
KING: ...A "Newsweek" poll shows that 12 percent of America believes that you're a Muslim and ... 26 percent believe you were raised in a Muslim home -- a lot of misinformation. How do you fight that?
OBAMA: Well, you know, by getting on LARRY KING and telling everybody I'm a Christian and I wasn't raised in a Muslim home and I pledge allegiance to the flag ...
One last point I want to -- I do want to make about these e- mails, though. And I think this has an impact on this "New Yorker" cover. You know, this is actually an insult against Muslim-Americans, something that we don't spend a lot of time talking about. And sometimes I've been derelict in pointing that out.
You know, there are wonderful Muslim-Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things. And for this to be used as sort of an insult or to raise suspicions about me I think is unfortunate. And it's not what America is all about.
See sddfa7a post above about Obama's interview with Larry King. I also saw it.
Great post, Mr. Sahimi! Thank you so much!
I expect Colin Powell to be selected as Secretary of Education. His stature in the military, and his own rather profound eloquence will do more than even Obama could do to put the issue into it's proper perspective.
The conflation of Muslim faith and un-Americanism is the real problem. It will take more than a speech to correct this negative stereotype, it will take nothing less than a war on ignorance.
When it comes to "overwhelming force", Powell is name that comes to mind.
I agree 100% that Obama should show more leadership on this, but until I saw CNN tonight, I assumed he'd been completely silent.
Larry King, 7/15/08:
KING: ...A "Newsweek" poll shows that 12 percent of America believes that you're a Muslim and ... 26 percent believe you were raised in a Muslim home -- a lot of misinformation. How do you fight that?
OBAMA: Well, you know, by getting on LARRY KING and telling everybody I'm a Christian and I wasn't raised in a Muslim home and I pledge allegiance to the flag and, you know, all the things that have been reported in these e-mails are completely untrue and have been debunked again and again and again. So, hey, all you can do is just tell the truth and trust in the American people that, over time, they're going to know what the truth is.
One last point I want to -- I do want to make about these e- mails, though. And I think this has an impact on this "New Yorker" cover. You know, this is actually an insult against Muslim-Americans, something that we don't spend a lot of time talking about. And sometimes I've been derelict in pointing that out.
You know, there are wonderful Muslim-Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things. And for this to be used as sort of an insult or to raise suspicions about me I think is unfortunate. And it's not what America is all about.
I can say,... as an intentionally lapsed Catholic,.
There is nothing inherently wronger about being a practicing Muslim than being a practicing part of any other mainstream religion. The individuals within any group make the difference.
They problem isn't religion - whatever that religion may be. The problem is intolerence of the 'other', black & white belief sytems in a grey world, and the fact that all organized religions are mostly a political and power control sytem.
I can honestly say,... among my personal good friends are Egyptian Christain and Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Hindu, Catholic, and Methodists. The common denominator isn't religion. It is intellegence, tolerance for each other, and good humor.
That makes all the difference - in America or elsewhere.
Actually, he DID state, during an interview with Larry King, that it was an insult to Muslim Americans to use that as a smear!
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
