Arab/Muslim Americans should NOT vote for Barak Obama
September 3rd, 2008The candidacy of Senator Barrack Obama is a remarkable one by all accounts, from a historical perspective it is an unprecedented feat that an African American stands for the highest office in America and a candidate who was not born into wealth or political family.
For Arab American and Muslim voters, however, an Obama-Biden ticket seems like good news for they have had to endure a long arduous 8 year journey of the Republican rule of Bush-Cheney administration that wrecked havoc in their personal lives, eroded their civil rights, a futile war in Iraq, and vehemently supporting Israeli’ s occupation and destruction of Palestinian lands and peoples.
Arab and Muslim voters thought in Obama that they were witnessing a candidate with a shot of wining, that he was not part of the pro-Israeli establishment that fills the halls of power in Washington who usually go out of their way to support Israel at expense of Arab and Palestinian rights.
But Arab and Muslims voters did not have wait for too long for their disappointment to arrive when they felt that Obama had increasingly started treating them like a plague avoiding them at all costs so as not to upset the racists and bigots in this country.
In Detroit, last June, Obama’s staff made sure to remove two Muslim American women from the seats behind Obama so as not to “ offend” American voters, as if Muslims voters are not “fully” Americans.
This insult to Muslims is too deep to let it go so easily, it also speaks volumes about the hatred and racism in the American society where Arab and Muslim Americans are usually at the receiving end of its repeated blows, and with no end in sight.
It appears to be that Obama candidacy feels that it has to go along with the racist sentiments against Muslims because, in America today, it is not a bad policy to discriminate against Muslims or disrespect them and demean their faith and value system and there will no political ramifications because of it. Except at the ballot box.
Obama went even further in his attempts to appease the right wing racists by repeatedly denying that he is not a Muslims, and he is not, but why does it being a Muslim or not has to be an issue in a country that the faith of the candidate is besides the point, not the point.
As for the Middle East, Obama’s trip to Israel last month as part of his world tour, was pilgrimage American politicians seemingly had to make in order to garner t he Jewish vote and financial support in this country. There, Obama visited an Israeli Synagogue a Christian Church, and, yet again, he had to show his anti-Muslims credentials by not bothering to visit a Muslim mosque. Therefore, Obama’s message to the Muslim American voters is that, “ I don’t care about you, I don’t care about your issues, and I don’t care about your vote.
Moreover, in Israel, Obama was quick to issue the now classic policy proclamation assuring Israeli politicians that if he was to be elected president he will continue America’s policy of ensuring Israel superiority and domination over the lives of all of its Arab and Muslim neighbors, a policy that defies the logic peace in the region and from the perspective America’s interests in that part of the world, it is an irresponsible policy to say the very least.
Arab and Muslim Americans should return the favor to Obama and give their support to a third candidate who albeit his or her chances of wining is next to impossible, but at least they should not support a candidate who does not care about them or about their issues.
(Ali Alarabi is an awa rd winning journalist and columnist and member of Arab writers group syndicate. You can reach him here.)
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Arab/Muslim Americans should not vote for Obama.. hmm.. okay.. But lets assess the other option. We have John McCaine, a candidate who said, when talking about the American military presence in Iraq, “Make it a hundred years. We’ve been in Japan for 60 years”; a candidate who recently voted against HR 2082, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which included provisions that would have prevented the CIA from waterboarding prisoners (Waterboarding: A torture method; Look it up!!). Not to mention, his recent VP pick, Mrs. Sarah Palin, who considered the Iraq war as “Gods Plan” (All those quotes and actions were very recent; the oldest being from January 2008). With all due respects to Mr. McCain and Mrs. Palin, I just don’t completely agree with their Political positions.
Eight years ago, during the 2000 US Presidential Elections, most of the Arab American community threw their support and votes to Bush, just because the other candidate’s VP pick was “Jewish”, which led to Bush defeating the other candidate by a close margin. What happened in the following eight years under Bush, we all know. But what about the other candidate? The Other Candidate, Al Gore, went on to create a critically acclaimed documentary about global warming AND received a Nobel Peace Prize for his Environmental Activism. WHY?!?!?! IF ONLY WE HAD THAT GUY RUNNING THE US INSTEAD OF BUSH!! EVERYTHING WOULD BE GREEN!!
About Obama , the removal of the two Muslim women attending the ceremony was done, UNBEKNOWN TO OBAMA, by his staff; And even if Obama was aware of what happened, Muslims in the United States are seen in the same way that the Baha’is and other Non-Muslim sects are seen over here; We would always try to keep a distance from them so as not to be attacked by the wrath of the dominant community. Personally, I see both actions as completely wrong, but I would still understand why other people would do it. And about his denial of being a “Muslim”, what do you expect of him?? Do you expect him to say “Ya, I’m a Muslim”??
To everyone else who’s reading this, unlike my dear friend over here, I’m not trying to dictate that “Arab/Muslim Americans should vote for Barak Obama”, I’m just trying to defend him and state my reasons on why Id vote for Obama (That is if I was an American; I’m just an 18 year old Emirati University Freshman who lives in Abu Dhabi). People are always free to vote for whomever you see fit to be a president. Therefore, don’t listen to other people’s opinions, especially when its as important as politics or economy, just make your own opinions according to our own interests (Like Me =D).
Lol.. I’m sorry for the last line, but I was writing it in a rush.
**People are always free to vote for whomever they see fit to be a president. Therefore, don’t listen to other people’s opinions, especially when its as important as politics or economy, just make your own opinions according to your own interests.
Again Sorry =P, I hope I got my message clear.
I don’t like this idea “Don’t vote for Obama! we should return him the favor by ignoring him … ” This is really bad … is it a matter of revenge or something ? why should we always make our choices based on some “pride” considerations … I’m sorry to say that, but when Obama avoids the “arab/muslim issue”, it is not because he doesn’t care (obviously, everybody cares, but some have bad ideas) , it is because he doesn’t want this subject to be used against him by extremist conservatives during the campaign. It is a choice he had to make, and i’m not saying this is the best choice, i’m just saying it is understandable. Now, if arabs/muslims don’t vote for Obama, they help McCain win the election. Is this a better thing for them ? this guy is worse then Bush. If Bush is the dumb one surrounded by bad influences, McCain is a bad influence himself. He won’t need help to go further on the same road …
Yes master. What else should I do or do not.
First off, your writing sucks. Second off, don’t tell Arab/Muslims what to do. Third, as mentioned, Obama/Biden is about a million times better than McPain. Fourth, don’t tell me what to do.
And how about some facts other than recycling a story that I actually think might not be true.
I agree with the responses. Mr Obama is a very good man and I think his candidate status is a million times preferable to that of McCain. Instead of condemning Mr Obama Arab/Muslims should recognize him for the figure of hope that he is and support him in the face of the hateful right wing attacks on his personality.
And also on the fact that he actually recognizes people as humans and is willing to negotiate instead of suggesting so calmly of attacking other countries merely to satisfy the utterly delusional nationalists.
i agree with this article….arabs/muslims need to stop “settling” for a candidate that is pro-israel. Obama may be better then McCain, but so what. that’s like comparing a D vs. an F, i’d rather not support either as they’re basically the same when it comes to foreign policy/support of Israel.
i’m voting Ralph Nader just to make a stand against the same old same BS in Washington politics.
One crucial difference, however. McCain and his VP are both warriors, in the sense that you can expect a war against Iran in the same manner that a war on Iraq was launched, or Afghanistan and any other country in the area, without even a real strategy at hand. At least Obama is significantly less harsher in that field.
Where is the outrage? An American tortures another human being and he is free in America…
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5841873&page=1http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5841873&page=1
Here is where you can send your comment to the International Criminal Court in the Hague
http://www.icc-cpi.int/about/ICC_contact.htmlhttp://www.icc-cpi.int/about/ICC_contact.html
I believe in “Liberty and Justice” for all…
Mark,
There is no outrage because this isn’t an example of a violation of human rights. A person committed a crime, and he was tried and punished for that crime. According to the ABC story you linked to Idema “was later convicted by an Afghan court and sentenced to prison there.”
A fair trial and punishment not only supported by the laws of the country where the crime took place, but also a punishment that is not in violation of any international laws? The ICC would rejoice! One less case for them to deal with!
These two videos might help you decide who to vote for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRmB93McZeI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
Asalam o Alaikum brothers and sisters
I totally agree with not voting.
Kaafir country i willnot vote for any president especially if they are endagering a muslim.
Kaafir cannot be your friends.
I do not understand the issue with wether the president is muslim or not. This is America, based on the belief of God. Now, I am Christian and I do have Muslim and Jewish friends but I do not understand how this can be such an issue. The president for America must be Christian, and that will be the only way to win, no exceptions! Almost everyone in the Senate and general goverment are Christian faith so good luck ever seeing the day and a Muslim based relion is voted in as President. No offense to anyone I am just making a clear fact. Now Obama may not have any faith at all and all a hokes, but I do not think he is just ignoring any race, he just understands the facts that a Muslim American would not be accepted as a President at this time, and all of the articles out about him makes him self councious stating that Obama is Muslim. (Now you great people of Muslim religon must know that America is founded on God and most are of Christian faith.)Just like if someone started a rumer that you were gay, at all of the parties you attended with your friends you would make sure you talked to all of the women at the party and no men, not even to sit by you. Not that you don’t like men its just that you don’t want everyone to think your gay even though your not, people might “assume” and talk about you more.
I think a good way to show displeasure in the current system is to VOTE, but vote for a 3rd party. Go with Nader or Green Party, or some other candidate.
At least you’re voting and making your vote “count” for something.
I can’t see supporting either Candidate as they both have undivided love for Israel!
Jamal