OBAMA
I recently received a very disturbing e-mail at work. It is one that has been forwarded several times to countless people, stating not only lies, but the politics and racism of the person sending it. The e-mail stated some urban myths about U.S. Presidential candidate Barack Obama’s “Muslim” background. Obama never claimed to be Muslim and is a practicing Christian.
The e-mailer asks “who is Barack Obama?” and “Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States, one of their own!!!!” The signs off with “Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country?...... NOT ME!!!
Obviously, none of the “facts” stated by the e-mailer were checked, none of her statements were true, any bit of reality or research would prove that. More research would expose this e-mailer as a racist who just copied an e-mail that has been circulating the internet ever since Obama began his campaign.
I’m not alarmed by the misleading or blatantly false information, it is this person’s and many other’s ability to propagate this information without repercussions and with the intent of demeaning others, that is what I find so alarming.
What I find even more alarming is the implication that any Muslim is a threat to American and is by default a terrorist.
I’m not an Obama supporter, and this is not an attack on him, it is an attack on Muslims.
DEMONIZING MUSLIMS
Although alarming, this should not have surprised me, other candidates for President of the United States of America are just as racist. If my fears were not elevated during the current administration, they certainly will be if one of these guys wins.
Rudy Giuliani is running his campaign based on 9/11. He is running the “Ready” campaign using images of Muslims screaming in a commercial with the voice-over calling them “A people perverted”
Mike Huckabee uses the expression “Islamofascism” wherever he can and states on his website “Radical Islamic Facists have declared war on our country and our way of life”
John McCain when asked about religion and the presidency he stated that only Christians should be president.
Mitt Romney said that he will never appoint a Muslim as a cabinet minister.
Fred Thompson when the “clash” between Iranian boats and US naval ships apparently occurred said “I think one more step and” the Iranians “would have been introduced to those virgins that they look forward to seeing”
BUSH
Speaking of that clash…the administration is out to find a reason to attack Iran.
Reports of the incident conflict, the voice threatening the US ships did not come from Iranian boats and the boat that approached the US ships was unarmed.
Bush met with Olmert this past week telling him that even though US intelligence states that Iran does not have a hostile nuclear program, he doubts it and his beliefs lead him to think otherwise. Bush is going against his country’s intelligence and making dangerous statements to a foreign leader. What beliefs is Bush acting on?
It sounds too much like the build up to Iraq. The betting odds are 18-to-1 that Bush starts a war with Iran before leaving office.
THE AMERICAN WAY
So, why is it so easy to label all Muslims as terrorists, attack other countries based on a hunch, and say anything without repercussion? I do have my theories, but each one is scarier than the other.
