OTB Writers Respond to Anti-Muslim, Anti-Arab Slurs

From smear email campaigns and hectoring rally audiences to hateful YouTubes and candidate equivocations, slurs against Muslims and Arabs have become increasingly prevalent this election season. Yet this culturally toxic component of the campaigns has only fully entered the mainstream over the last couple of weeks, being covered at major media outlets and addressed openly by the candidates themselves.

OffTheBus writers have gone out into their communities and interviewed people about how this hate speech has affected them and their view of the candidates. They have asked Muslim Americans and Arab Americans if they feel targeted, and what they would like to see the next administration do to combat this form of bigotry in the U.S.

"Hani Bawardi, a professor at University of Michigan-Dearborn who studies Arab Americans, remains cynical about the impact of the Arab American vote in part because of such divisions. He said Arab Americans also are not well organized, and they tend to engage in local politics rather than in national elections. He added that he does not expect Obama or McCain to publicly seek Arab support on radio or television stations.

'No (presidential candidate) would say that they think Arab Americans are upstanding citizens and that they want their vote,' Bawardi said."

--Arab American Community Shifting to Democrats, Not Targeted by Either Campaign by Jonathan Partridge

"West, who was born into his Islamic faith, says the Arab slur is a cover for their true beliefs.

'It's no longer politically palatable for people to openly admit that they don't favor a candidate because of his skin color. [African Americans] have gone through a long hard battle in this country to win the right of dignity and respect, at least in the public square.'

West attributes the veiled use of the word, Arab or Muslim, as a code word for "other" or an even more derogatory word used against Black people.

'It's more convenient and less controversial for someone to call Obama a Muslim then it would be to call him the n-word.' That's how the coding works."

--Slurs Against Muslims a Cover for Racism Against Blacks by Brooke-Sidney Gavins

" 'I am almost sure Obama will get assassinated if he becomes president. What gets to me is that what people think is simply untrue. Oh Gosh. Stupid people, at least know what you are talking about; he is not Muslim neither Arab. Also, being black does not mean he will oppress whites ... So there you have it, the most powerful nation in the world is still full of hatred, injustice, and racism. It was hidden, but now it slowly is coming out. Scary.' "

--Middle Eastern Bloggers Disgusted by Slurs Against Muslims, Arabs and Blacks by Amira Al Hussaini

"The left has cried foul over the use of Obama's full name, while the right has attempted to use it as a fear-inducer. My question is, when are we -- as progressives and liberals -- going to stop pandering to the obvious racism of others and stand up in defense of our candidate's full name? When are we going to feel strong enough in numbers, and fortified enough in our own anti-racist beliefs, to say that there is nothing wrong with the name Hussein, or any name, of any origin? When are we going to be able to say Barack Obama's full name with pride, and not with trepidation?"

--We Should Embrace Obama's Middle Name by Jane Devin

"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.'?"

--Is Muslim The New Queer? by Hanna Ingber Win

"The highly charged rhetoric used by McCain and Palin to tie Obama to terrorism and Islam is once again an affront to all Muslim Americans. We saw this type of fear and backlash just after 9/11. We see it also in the McCarthy-like invocations of Michele Bachmann. I challenge Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin to tell this grieving mother that her son is anti-American because of his faith.

The answer to who is evil is NEVER as neat, clean, and easy as a label. Thank you, Colin Powell, for reminding America that those who serve in our military represent the awesome diversity of faithful and patriotic Americans."

--Powell Honors Fallen Muslim American Soldier by Michelle Gross

" 'I find the growing vitriolic anti-Muslim heckling that has found its way into the presidential campaign deeply troubling. It speaks to efforts by certain right wing elements of society that take advantage of the ignorance of the large segment of the American public that know little of the of Islam except the sensational headlines depicting violence by radicals that act under the guise of the religion, to paint the entire religion with a broad demonic brush.' "

--Anti-Muslim Heckling Deeply Troubling by E. Joyce Moore

"Past interviews show Senator McCain is not likely to speak up for his fellow Muslim Americans as he seems to prefer Christians in positions of leadership. In a 2007 interview posted on the New York Times, McCain indicated he felt a Christian president would be better choice because this nation was found on Christian principles according to the New York Times he said, " the Constitution established the United States as a Christian nation and that his faith is probably of better spiritual guidance than that of a Muslim candidate for president." So is he saying a Jewish, Hindu or Atheist President would also be bad off hand because they are not Christian? I don't know but it clearly seems we cannot count on Senator McCain to do the right thing and champion the cause of Muslim Americans."
--Next President Must Show Support For Muslim Americans by Paula Mays

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Photo by Brett Marty.

Comments

[honestpolitician]

"In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo. In one week, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once more choose our better history. That's what's at stake. That's what we're fighting for." - Barack Obama's closing argument speech on October 27th, 2008 - Make history and GO VOTE!

http://politicaladattacks.blogspot.com/

[Hopeington]

Being black does not mean you will oppress whites, that statement is so to the point as being what whites are so fearful of. They believe they know what THEY would do if the situation was reversed, and cannot believe people of color are not going to want to reciprocate the abuses whites subjected on many of them....Th­ey have a lot to learn, and hopefully.­. while he might not jump as high, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks....­.Assassina­tion is not an option we like to consider.
One other thing.... I like HuffPo because it puts me in touch with Arabs and people of the Muslim faith and their experiences that I so seldom get a glimmer of. So unfortunat­e... they are treated like invisible citizens during the crucial times of this country's struggle to become the UNITED States of America. It must include everyone.
And I for one always say... I PROUDLY vote for Barack Hussein Obama!!..O­wn it!!

[Puzes]

Lou Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul Jabbar ... Casious Clay changed his to Mohammed Ali ... when they converted to the Muslim faith ...

Obama was given his name at birth by his parents ... He didn't choose it himself. And, he is a Christian.

[SydneyS]

I did check with the “US Patent and Trademark Office”, and could not find the patent number the Christian-right have on “God™” (patented and trademarked).

If anyone knows, please let me know when these people patented god as theirs, and when the registration got approved. I always thought that god was a public domain, and can’t be patented by anyone or any group. Am I wrong?

Proud Independent voter, who has no problem with god, but is frightened to death by these so called “god’s fan-club”.

[paulita]

I´m a past US Patent Office lawyer, (actually looking for a new position after 13 years at the PTO if anyone of you know of a need for an excellent Trademark Lawyer in the Washington D.C. fake Virgnia area), but anyway, it would be a Trademark or possibly a copyright as I don´t think they could have invented god, a requirement for a Patent.

Of course, maybe I´m wrong, because they actually do try to re-invent God to suit their purpose, so maybe it was under International Patents when you looked.

I also had a piece which indicates how Muslim Americans people desire the next President show them the respect they deserve. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-mays/next-president-must-show_b_134786.html

[SydneyS]

The closer we get to the election, the more erratic and irrational McCain campaign is becoming.

Please keep it up McDesperate, as the off the wall comments, expressed directly or blabbered in a bizarre way by your surrogates, is energizing our base like never before.

So thank you so much Senator McCain! Please keep on doing the same, and please don’t change a thing!

Proud Independent voter, voting for Obama for President

[Dupree]

Instead of loving people into the possibility of Christ....­we badger them ...we persecute them...we block them from even seeing the light of Christ that if allowed to shine...th­rough us...perha­ps those same people would run to him instead of running from Christianity. For Genuine Christianity begans and ends with love and hate has no place in its ranks. Those counterfeits and perpretators are doing more to malign the name of Christ than any Muslim could ever do.

[Dupree]

I personally doubt that these so called Christians are in fact Christians. They look nor sound anything like Jesus Christ who deliberately engaged conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well, who at that time were considered the "despised" group in that era in history. This is why the disciples were surprised to see him talking to her for the Jews thought it was a disgrace to talk to a woman of that "group" in that time of history. Let me tell these so called Christians who espoused these erroroneous ideas about other people of whom God created...­that Jesus Christ died for the Muslim, Atheist and every other faction of humanity ...that is why HE said to whomever will come. The door is open for every soul that walks this earth regardless of where he or she stands at that time in life...as long as they have breath in their bodies...t­he invitation is extended. Christians do more to convert atheist than add to the body of Christ for their own brand of the Gospel is flawed from its conception. They have taken spiritual truths and reduced it to a long list of rules and regulations that they cherry pick and place on that list. They care more about their ideas than they care about humanity of whom Christ died for and continually throughout the Scripture insists he loves.

[JT16682]

Jesus of Nazareth is a Pales tinian.

[robbor]

Regarding the sign in the picture, it doesn't sound like anything an authentic christian would say

[indepavoter9]

They better remove it unless they want a boycott. With this economy, people will do their shopping with the Mom & Pops stores they trust instead online. BE CAREFUL AMAZON, YOU CANT AFFORD IT.

[Roschelle]

Just when you thought it couldn't get any sleezier Amazon.comcom has Obama Halloween mask listed under TERRORIST COSTUMES!!!

http://roschellenelson.blogspot.com/2008/10/obama-halloween-mask-listed-under.html

[Puzes]

Could not find that category on Amazon ... must have been added by a user not an employee of Amazon ... Hope the user finds a new hobby. This sort of sleaze is never a good thing.

[etcetc]

One fundamental teaching of Jesus was that his followers should not be righteous.

There is nothing more righteous, and add to it, hateful, than these signs.

[poco767c]

Christians for Americans regardless of race.

[veggiehead]

Ah, more "good christians" at their best. Jesus must be really be weeping.

[Adam11]

I wonder what the IRAQ ppl, the Insurgens and the IRANIANS thinking of when they see that picture on ALJAZEERA.­?.

[medi22]

Civil rights should be a nonpartisan issue. Although the Republicans and the McCain campaign have more overtly incited hate speech, and are way out of bounds, the Democrats have unfortunately contributed to this atmosphere, too. During the Democratic primaries there were the attempts to racialize Obama's campaign, and link him to "black anger" and Islam. And for the most part, whenever Obama has been "accused" of "being a Muslim," the campaign has been timid in challenging the assumptions behind this kind of tactic, and in defending the rights of Muslim and Arab Americans to fully participate in the political process. The Republicans are way more extreme, but everybody needs to be held accountable since these forces are so powerful. Civil rights are universal, or should be.