AYOOB: Anti-Arab sentiment

Mr. Ayoob, Islam differs from other religions in that the Koran is the ultimate "rule book" and a nation's laws are tertiary, at best. American's have a right to know if a candidate for President is a follower of Islam; it is only fair. Most Americans think Islam is like any other "God"-following religion and it is not, as you must know. There are no other "religions" that admonish the followers to do one of three things to "non-believers": Convert to Islam, Pay the Jizra (poll tax) or to Kill the non-beliver. It is very simple, really. One isn't a bigot if he/she is knowledgable of the subject matter and rejects Islam because strict Islam is antithetical to Western Civilization and seeks to destroy the West as we know it. Not that it matters, I reject Senator Obama for President because his IDEAS are bad for America. God Bless America. Army Airborne Ranger & American Nationalist

In response to the comment below. I am a Christian. But this comment below illustrates the problem with the internet. People put a word in google read a couple sentences on a couple web pages then think they're an expert on a topic. Sometimes they even go to Wikipedia, then they think they've earned a PHD. It is honorable to serve ones country, as you do, but we all know the Army doesn't teach you anything about Islam (we can tell from the stereotypes and actions done at Abu Graib) so don't try to quote the Quran (notice its not "Koran"). Don't make generalizations about religions you know nothing about. Do you know the place of Judaism in Israel? or the place of Hinduism in India? I doubt it. Like any religion thats ever been created, from Christianity to Scientology, there is nothing "simple" about Islam. There isn't even a category called "strict Islam". Perhaps you were referring to fundamentalist Islamic teachings, the teachings that are shared with about 2% of all Islamic people. Well guess what buddy? Islamic people outnumber us 20-40 yr old Caucasian guys by a lot. So I would suggest learning something about Islam outside of the army barracks, the internet, like in a BOOK!

To acoll1. You say "I am a Christian" and then launch a diatribe of invective. For the lips of Christ, the Redeemer: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Matt. 7:1 And "…And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 Learn these and you may become a Christian.

It is easy to stop all the wars in the middle east, including the war in Iraq. Just convert the United States to ISLAM !!!! Then we can bring our islamic armies home. Then we can bring our islamic airplanes home. Sharia Law will rule our land and we will be observant of the new rules. We will burn the Constitution and our koran will be the law. We will remove and destroy all monuments in the District of Columbia and in all parts of our land. We will yield all churches and synagogues to islam to convert to mosques. We will remove the President and an iman will take over rule. We will dissolve Congress and recognize new islamic councils. All holidays will be removed and a calender faithful to mohammed will be used. Our schools will be reorganized for boys and men only. Girls and women will remain at home until authorized otherwise. Infractions of the law of the koran will be dealt with by lashing or beheading.

What in the world do these others comments have to do with the author's point? Can't we see that all the author is trying to say is that bigotry based on ethnicity is wrong? It was and is wrong when practiced against the Jews, the Irish, African-Americans, and yes, Arab-Americans. This seems to me to be an unassailable principle and yet the author points out that it has been violated on the national stage in front of the national media and yet very few voices rose against it. There's lots of things to disagree about in politics, but anti-Arab bigotry should not be one of them.

Frankly, I have to strongly disagree with the author. After Obama was nominated, I expected this to be a much bigger issue than it has been. In a country where racial segregation existed until relatively recently, the few instances of anti-Arab bigotry as a result of Barack Obama's name cited by the author have been a fringe issue of this election. This is especially amazing considering that the country was attacked by Arabs seven years ago and is currently at war in an Arab country. A greater observation to make is that Barack Obama is on the verge of winning the election - despite his name! This really is amazing and shows just how different this country is now than what it was 40 years ago.

The man is hypersensitive, Obama is playing the race card and this combined with his policies are driving people away from him. Besides why is giving someones full name racist or religous profiling. Me thinks the man doeth protest too much.

What Senator Obama believes in his heart of hearts is far more important than anything we could possibly learn from his middle name. Most of the influences that formed his world view and political philosophy during the formative years remain under wraps. What little we can see, his parents, the Alinskys and Wrights and Rezkos, etc., paint a very scary picture that has nothing to do with race.

I think lphardy is right to note that racism is on the decline generally, but misses the author's essential point about this specific form of racism. The quantity of the bigoted statements is not the real issue - I happen to think that one reason we don't hear more anti-Arab bigotry with regard to Sen. Obama is becausen HE IS NOT AN ARAB - but rather the "quality" of the bigotry. You can say things about Arabs in polite company or even at enormous campaign rallies that you would dare not say about any other group. The talking heads would not excuse a protester calling Sen. Obama the n-word on the grouds that it was just one guy and, geez, that's alot less than would have yelled such filth a few decades ago. No, it would be roundly and rightly condemned. The nedia let this slip, not out of malice, but out of ignorance. And where ignorance exists, bigtory thrives.

Arabs are, like their Jewish cousins, Semites. Those who indulge in racist comment against Arabs are presumably anti-semites. The day before yesterday this newspaper published a column by the commentator, Frank Gaffney. I invite readers of the WT to read Mr. Gaffneys column and mentally replace the word Arab with Jew and the word Moslem with Judiasm. Nasty and disgusting stuff, I'm sure you will agree. Yet this newspaper deliberately and knowingly published Mr Gaffney's anti-semitic bile. What now distinguishes the WT from the pre WWII German press that was so compliant in promulgating Nazi anti-semitic propaganda? Search me!

By: acoll1(October 16, 2008 at 3:15 a.m.) earlier today: In response to the comment below. I am a Christian. But this comment below illustrates the problem with the internet. People put a word in google read a couple sentences on a couple web pages then think they're an expert on a topic. Sometimes they even go to Wikipedia, then they think they've earned a PHD. It is honorable to serve ones country, as you do, but we all know the Army doesn't teach you anything about Islam (we can tell from the stereotypes and actions done at Abu Graib) so don't try to quote the Quran (notice its not "Koran"). Don't make generalizations about religions you know nothing about. Do you know the place of Judaism in Israel? or the place of Hinduism in India? I doubt it. Like any religion thats ever been created, from Christianity to Scientology, there is nothing "simple" about Islam. There isn't even a category called "strict Islam". Perhaps you were referring to fundamentalist Islamic teachings, the teachings that are shared with about 2% of all Islamic people. Well guess what buddy? Islamic people outnumber us 20-40 yr old Caucasian guys by a lot. So I would suggest learning something about Islam outside of the army barracks, the internet, like in a BOOK! ********************** Karl in Phoenix responds: You seem to be one of the Islamic apologists we read about on occasion and that is OK; however, CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) is the professional Islam apologist organization and they do a far better job of it. As you know, Islam was started by Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Abd al-Muttalib (570-632). Muhammed began preaching "Islam" in the year 610, after the angel Gabriel provided Muhammed with certain "revelations from Allah". Muhammed was a warrior caravan robber bandit who killed his captives and enslaved the wives and children that he didn't kill outright. Muhammed raped women and children and, in the minds of the members of the Cult of Death (Islam), was a great man that all Islamic men strive to emulate. Read about the Battle of Badr to find the "forgiving" nature of Muhammed, who "smite the necks" of hundreds of unarmed captives. The Islamic terrorists that want to destroy Western Civilization follow the Koran, as the Koran teaches (as the Word is written), as it's direct or most strict instruction is written. Simple. acoll1, do not presume to "know" what someone knows or does not know. Have a nice day. Army Airborne Ranger & American Nationalist (Professional Engineer & business owner)

Mr. Ayoob makes an excellent point. So much of America is based on unfounded fears. Fear of Communists, fear of Socialists, fear of Jews, fear of Arabs, fear of blacks, fear of gays, fear of women, etc. Couple this with the vapid nature of our political discourse and you have "arab" looking people in Obama's campaign being covered up. It's politically prudent though repugnant. Notice the hystreria that occurred around Obama wearing traditional African clothing and a turbin. Fox News and other racists used this immage to play on our paranoia. I give Obama marks for not thinking his name is a liability but persisting in running with it for president. He never changed his name to something less "arab" such as Barry O'Bama. Remember, before Kennedy, it was assumed that someone of Irish/catholic decent could not be president. If Obama wins, it will not only show that a black man can be president but one also with an "arab" sounding name. McCain cut this woman off inelegantly because he's a prisoner of these hatreds and fears also. He is as startled as the poor "arab" fearing lady that a person with the middle name Hussein is wipping him in the polls. McCain is as passe as is that poor woman. We should not run America on fear; we've got to stop this sickness. There are many more "arabs" in the world than "Americans". Picking stupid ill informed fights with "arabs" is against America's best interests. Come on America wise up.

Mr. Ayoob makes an excellent point. So much of America is based on unfounded fears. Fear of Communists, fear of Socialists, fear of Jews, fear of Arabs, fear of blacks, fear of gays, fear of women, etc. Couple this with the vapid nature of our political discourse and you have "arab" looking people in Obama's campaign being covered up. It's politically prudent though repugnant. Notice the hysteria that occurred around Obama wearing traditional African clothing and a turban. Fox News and other racists used this image to play on our paranoia. I give Obama marks for not thinking his name is a liability but persisting in running with it for president. He never changed his name to something less "arab" such as Barry O'Bama. Remember, before Kennedy, it was assumed that someone of Irish/catholic decent could not be president. If Obama wins, it will not only show that a black man can be president but one also with an "arab" sounding name. McCain cut this woman off inelegantly because he's a prisoner of these hatreds and fears also. He is as startled as the poor "arab" fearing lady that a person with the middle name Hussein is whipping him in the polls. McCain is as passé as is that poor woman. We should not run America on fear; we've got to stop this sickness. There are many more "arabs" in the world than "Americans". Picking stupid ill informed fights with "arabs" is against America's best interests. Come on America wise up.

I agree.