Seriously, though. When Obama was still running against Hillary, I was talking to a student of mine who was a 19 year old Persian girl. Her family was Muslim, she identified herself as Muslim, but explained to me that she wasn't convinced of any particular religion. She also told me that she wouldn't vote because she was disgusted with system, which she perceived to be controlled by the hands of those in power rather than the votes of the citizens they represent. She felt that after the 2004 election, voting lost its meaning.
I tried to inspire her to vote, saying "You can't give up your vote, that is surrender!" My coworker chimed in, bringing up his idea that this time might be different, that this is the first election where there is true hope for the underrepresented because for the first time in history we have a candidate who just might be in the game for the right reason.
My little student friend responded with "I can't support Obama. He so quickly dismissed any affiliation with being Muslim that I can't trust him. What if he is or was a Muslim, why does he have to be so ashamed of that? Why can't he be honest and admit his history?"
I have to say, I don't believe Obama is a Muslim, but I see her point. Why should he have to work so hard to distance himself with the Muslim religion? I know the reason why, it is because the fear of the "everyman" the "Average Joe Six-Pack" is so great that if Obama didn't outright deny any affiliation with Islam, he would be viewed as a puppet of the terrorists we pretend to be fighting.
I do think that the most evolutionary response Obama could have authored would be "I do not consider myself a Muslim. I consider myself a Christian, but should anyone wish to challenge me on this, let it be known, I did go to school in Africa in a predominately Muslim region. I am familiar with the day to day existence of some Muslims peoples...."
Followed by any amount of appreciation, respect, and disagreements he might feel toward the Muslim peoples he has encountered.
Just saying,
I am speaking as an Obama supporter, a supporter of freedom of religion, and a realist, who understands what Obama has at stake if he exposes any sympathy at all to Muslim people anywhere.
So What if Obama is a Muslim?
By turtlesuds - Posted on October 7th, 2008
Tagged: Personal freedom
In defense of Obama, the country has a pretty strong prejudice against Muslims at the moment, so it would be logical for someone aspiring to lead the country to deny any relation with this particular group. However, I have to agree with you. Being or not being Muslim is nothing to hide. I also don't think he's a muslim, by the way. But I understand his decision.
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
It really doesn't matter that Obama may have muslim background. We should just look at his actions rather than his background. Most muslims are not terrorist and do not want to harm anyone. It is absolutely irrelvant to bring up the matter that Obama has a muslim background. Second one of his priorities in foreign policy is to crack down on terrorism in Afghanistan. Obama doesnt have any terrorist sympathies.