LETTER: Diagonsing "Islamophobia"

Broadside Letter to the Editor

The way Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. has run his campaign should disappoint everyone who has ever regarded his/herself as different from others. In Sen. Barack Obama, D–Ill., we should all see a little bit of ourselves. Who would have guessed that there would be an opportunity for a “Barack Hussein Obama” to lead the United States? All of the views that Obama cannot lead because he is different could very well be about you, me, or anyone else that is unlike the next person. This election is showing everyone how being different is actually viewed by the general population. Everyone has a different story, struggle or experience and different values, which does not make one incapable of guiding a nation.

Are we that low, that anyone who is considered different cannot have a chance to run for president? The Republican Party and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D–N.Y., during the primaries, have made zealous efforts to point at Obama’s middle name—“Hussein”—and tie it to the Islamic faith, the implication being that Islam is a negative thing. It is a given that “Islamophobia” is not a recent trend, but to denounce an entire faith (or Arab ethnicity) in the name of one’s own election is downright wicked. How inconsiderate, how selfish, how racist can they be?

You see, Obama’s name is my first, your middle, and that guy-you-sit-next-to-in-class’s last. It is a symbol for all variations of people, the diversity of this nation and the distinctions of one’s beliefs. Does that make anyone any less American than you, Sen. McCain? Sen. Clinton?

A person’s ethnicity or religion should in no way lead anyone to believe that someone will not strive for issues such as global awareness, equality, education, coexistence and utilize any given opportunity to his advantage—that is the true definition of the “American Dream.” However, this election leads one to believe that being different is un-American, unpatriotic, and that these people do not know how to live out the “American Dream.” These politics of division lead us to the conclusion that no Muslim youth, including myself, should ever dream of serving in public office. Where in that is there equality?

At a recent Meet the Press interview, Colin Powell spoke of the implications of the Anti-Arab and Islamophobic messages of this election. Top Republican officials (and they are not alone) have tried to portray Sen. Obama as a Muslim or an Arab—although he is neither. But what if he was? Powell goes on to talk about a purple heart fallen soldier, and seeing his mother crying over his grave—a grave headed by an Islamic crescent moon and star. An admirable Muslim-American who gave his life for the freedoms that those repulsive officials do not deserve. The notion that there would be something wrong with Sen. Obama if he was Muslim is the notion that there is something wrong with you and me alike. Something un-American and unpatriotic, that is letting that American soldier die in vain.

At a McCain rally a few weeks ago, a woman told McCain, “I can’t trust Obama. I have read about him and he’s not, he’s not uh—he’s an Arab.” McCain responded, “No, ma’am. He’s a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that’s what this campaign’s all about. He’s not [an Arab].” McCain defended Obama’s background. No, he is not, in fact, an Arab. Where people get this notion (since Obama lived in Indonesia and his family is from Kenya—both of which are not Arab countries), is beyond me. Yes, it is great that McCain defended him, but he completely avoided the implication of her statement. It may be a stretch to say McCain implied that Arabs are untrustworthy while Obama is not, but that is the way it came out. McCain is completely wrong for not addressing her insinuation that Arabs are dangerous. Are these the ignorant people who will be voting in this election?

Would it have been different if the woman had said she was scared of Obama because he is a black man? Would McCain have then said, “Yes, he is a black man, but there is no reason to be scared of that, we are beyond that sort of bigotry”? There is a similarity between the discrimination of blacks, women, and now Muslims and Arabs in this country. Because the notion that not everyone has equal opportunity to pursue anything they desire, to allow pure discrimination towards a religion or a race to be politically correct and to advance the status of one's candidacy, to hypocritically ignore the fact that our country was founded on religious freedom and fights for political justice and equality—that is what is unpatriotic. That is what is really un-American.

Sabrina Ahmed
Sophomore, Government and International Politics