The other day my friend’s boyfriend told her he finally figured out whom to vote for.
“John McCain”, he proudly announces.
“JOHN McCAIN!!!” My friend was in shock. “Why????”
“Because Obama is a Muslim.” Her boyfriend had been listening to some ranting radio show where truth and fiction seem to morph on a regular basis.
My friend wanted to tear her hair out, but calmly explained that Barack Obama is actually a devout Christian. He embraces the faith completely as well as the very Christian beliefs of acting to help the poor, seeing value in all men and women, and dedicating himself to taking care of this good earth. By the time she was done matching fact to fiction and explaining the truly important differences between the two candidates, her boyfriend looked at her sheepishly and agreed Obama was getting his vote after all.
As the old saying goes…each one, reach one.
But since there are still bunches of people spreading lies and rumors (and I have no doubt Team McCain is fanning the flames), and even though it makes me sick to think a person’s religion alone is enough reason to reject a talented and caring leader, I think it’s time we fight back with our own rumors using a new approach: the truth.
Obama is a Christian. He is a compassionate leader with no tricks up his sleeve. He actually, hard as it is for many to believe, cares about the average person and how hard life can be for all of us sometimes. And, unlike the erratic McCain who has shown he will bend with the wind to say what he thinks will get him your vote, Barack Obama is a steady, intelligent leader who wants to make a real difference. And with all my heart, I believe he can.
Pass it on!
JABG
October 8, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Again the ignorance of this country! First, Obama is not a Muslim, and has always been a Christian. Second, even if he was a Muslim, so what?!
What about the First Amendment of the Constitution, what about the right to separate religion from government?
Thank you, JABG, (and your friend!) for doing what you can to educate the people of this country who JUST DON’T GET IT!!
October 8, 2008 at 3:07 pm
And thank you culturepress for your kind heart and strong voice!
JABG
October 8, 2008 at 3:21 pm
It says something about Obama that his campaign hasn’t focused their responses to the claims of Obama being Muslim in the manner that Culturepress has.
Instead Obama hides from Muslims and any association with Muslims. Does trying to get elected trump Constitutional values? If so, that’s an odd position for a man who used to teach Constitutional Law.
October 8, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I wholeheartedly agree with your underlying point that we all need to respect each other’s religion. Quite honestly, I too would like to hear not only Obama speak out about what it means to try to denegrate a person solely on the basis of their culture or religion (or race), but I’d also sure like to hear McCain and Palin step forward and decry the outrage. Maybe one day we’ll live in a world where that’s possible. But Team McCain won’t get us any closer to that day. And although I understand you probably disagree and although I know Barack Obama isn’t perfect (who is?) and is after all in the middle of a campaign, I believe Obama has a far better chance of getting us there for oh so many reasons.
Appreciate your very important comment, jonolan.
JABG
October 8, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Off topic: What area of BK are you in? I’m over on the west edge of Bedstuy.
October 8, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Aah! Hi neighbor, relatively speaking that is. I’m closer to the bridge. I’m sure you can understand that’s all I prefer to say on a public blog.
October 8, 2008 at 5:09 pm
jonolan — obama should not have to defend his religion, and to staunchly declare himself over and over again as a christian stigmatizes the muslim religion. it’s best that he leaves it alone. it’s to the shame of the mccan’t campaign that they find this a means of “attack” in a country where religious freedom is written into the constitution which they claim to want to uphold and enforce.
October 8, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I don’t frankly think he’s a true christian or a true muslim. In all likelihood, he’s probably just another self-worshipping autotheist, just like every other politician. Either way, he’s not getting my vote.
October 8, 2008 at 5:49 pm
angelica1,
The McCain campaign has never to my knowledge attacked Obama’s religion. McCain actually publically denounced a conservative commentator’s continued use of Obama’s middle name, Hussein since it was being used the purpose of discrimination.
The “Obama is a Muslim” cantos started within the Hillary camp during the primaries. Some of the Right are still doing it, and still believe it and that if true would be horrible, but it’s not coming from the McCain camp.
October 8, 2008 at 6:16 pm
How come you always hear people worried about Obama being a Muslim but you never hear a peep about the possibility of McCain being a lizard-man? It’s weird.
October 8, 2008 at 6:52 pm
mkhblink,
That would be Lacertilian-American to you, Sir or Madam.
LOL
October 8, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Well dear one, well. Hmmm, should I say I am surprised? I’m not, because to be frank, I don’t care whether Mr. Obama is a Muslim or a Christian. Muslims, the ones I have come to known, through reading or otherwise, are God loving, family loving, neighbor, brother/sister loving people. What the media has done to the word Muslim I think may be unkind.
Peace.
Surface Earth
October 9, 2008 at 1:41 am
jonolan, I apologize. Sometimes I’m not politically correct. I must do better. And it’s sir, not that it really matters to the lizard people. There I go again.
October 9, 2008 at 11:03 am
I’m going to have to stay away from my computer more often. Really enjoyed the exchange if ideas as well as the great word of the day.
Thanks all.
JABG
October 9, 2008 at 11:41 pm
JABG – thanks for giving voice to this issue. Clearly, the whispers and tactic smear campaign of the ultra Right has been effective in planting the lie that Barack is a Muslim. What is equally disturbing is that so many Americans are so ignorant of Islam that it has become taboo to be a Muslim in the US, let alone be a candidate for the highest office in the land. This places us in a volatile position to exert our leadership in diplomacy on the world stage going forward. If the inflammatory rhetoric of the McPalin campaign continues, we run the risk of creating even further isolation and xenophobia at a time when we need to be pulling together and reaching out to each other – and to others around the globe.
October 13, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Thanks for the GREAT comment la811! Beautifully said.
JABG
October 15, 2008 at 10:30 am
Hi JABG! Sorry for the rant but this subject of religion in politics truly saddens me. I feel everyone is entitled to have whatever religion – or no religion – at their own choosing. There is no one right or wrong way. But committing acts of violence and intolerance under the auspice of “religion” – no matter what that religion it is – not only exploits the notion of spirituality which is SUPPOSED to inspire the best in humanity (by the way), but it also endangers the fabric of diversity we “Americans” are supposed to stand for.
My 2 cents: religion has NO place in politics and I for one am tired of religious wars and cannot help but laugh at the hypocrisy I see in McCain and Palin both in terms of their clearly intolerant views and their entire campaign which has been driven by inciting violence, aggression and hate. At rallies many of us throughout the country have heard first hand the “n” word called out, threats of murder, one man shot for wearing an Obama t-shirt. These kinds of tactics are abhorrent – they are NOT the marks of the “evolved and progressive” leadership McCain/Palin claim to espouse.
And as for Palin particularly, why is it that she is intolerant of all other views, but get’s on numerous videos claiming her “salvation” (VIDEO: http://vimeo.com/1679097) and funding radical organizations that assert dangerous societal agendas (http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/10/13/171018/17)— all based of course on her “King James Bible” and absolutely zero knowledge of actual original text in Aramaic, Hebrew and then Greek where only CENTURIES LATER after innumerable transliterations arriving to become our canonized and highly “anglicized” version of “the bible” that bears little resemblance to the original writings and which was also liberally edited by “Romanized” Papal’s that felt anything that didn’t support profiteering agendas should be outright omitted and stricken).
Pullease. Neither Jesus, Buddha, Zoroaster or any other spiritual teachers in past ever advocated this kind of behavior. And history has proven from ancient religious warfare to the “Crusaders” fighting the “cause of Christ” (apparently Jesus their justification for pillaging villages and killing commoners)—and on into the future- haven’t we learned yet that religion in terms of politics does nothing more than split nations into factions; a vehicle to incite the masses? And it has proven to do no good in terms of establishing our common ground as a nation of humanity.
October 15, 2008 at 11:07 am
Thanks for the GREAT comment Sib! So wonderfully said. Your rants are welcome any time! And of course I would never ever have mentioned Barack Obama’s religion is it weren’t for the horrible whisper campaign trying to use lies about religion and the awful prejudice associated with those lies to attack a good man.
All I can say to your commnent is…AMEN!
JABG
November 2, 2008 at 4:18 pm
It worries me that Obama sat in such a hate filled church for 20 years. I have never been in a church where a preacher cussed and screamed. I don’t think people say he is muslim. It always seems his campaign says things about his faith and race trying to act like others have said it. God is not necessarily on the side or the winner. We may have to go through some bad times to get to where we need to be. There is evil in the world. His associations that are at least questionable are a real consern for many so hopefully his excuses and lack of knowledge about all these characters are at least an over sight and not a wondow to his character. But he did make some odd choices. Those swept away by his charisma can’t see any fault. All men have faults, McCain included but he does have some situations in his life that give proof to his character. I see very little proof with Obama. He has not worked across the isle in the senate and voted “present” more times than not. The vote against the “Born Alive Protection Act” is something I can not even fathom.
November 2, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Clearly we disagree, but I respect your opinions. I wish you had read Barack’s first book that talks about the way he lives his life and the way he helps and cares about people on a day to day basis. This whole thing about “his associations” may be hard for some people to understand, but in the world of community politics – especially on the left – we come into contact with all kinds of people. (Of course, there are weirdos on the right too.) The majority of whom believe in the basic idea of helping those among us who can’t help themselves but also standing up for our rights and liberties. This brings together strange bedfellows. I myself have known many. But I am still a good decent person.
John McCain’s own transition leader worked FOR Saddam Hussein. And John McCain himself worked with the notorious Keating Five who helped do to so many people what the current economic crisis is doing to so many more now. And…speaking of strange and dangerous bedfellows… until a few years ago, Sarah Palin’s own husband belonged to an anti-United States group advocating the secession of Alaska. Lots of stories on both sides. There is no black or white here.
But what I can say fully and from my heart is that Barack Obama truly cares about this country and about getting more of us involved in our future. And I know he is inclusive of different points of views and will include Republicans in his cabinet. There are even people voting for him who do not agree with a woman’s right to choose for herself because they know he is about much more than that and our country needs a new vision now – not lots of scare tactics.
This election itself has been the biggest leadership contest. Obama has led from hope and sound ideas and McCain from fear-mongering and policies that changes all the time. That’s not leadership.
I know many people are afraid (even though many of the stories have been proven to be bogus or overblown), but I am more afraid of continuing the same policies. And although John McCain says he is for change, when I read his actual policies it’s just more of the same. They didn’t work before and they will work less now. This time, let’s act from hope and not from fear, ok?
JABG
November 2, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Oh…and the born alive protection act was a name given the bill to make it highly political. But Obama, who is not a fan of abortion by the way, only voted agianst it because it did not include a clause that would protect the life of the mother. The bill was constructed and sold to force opponents to look bad – but the bill itself could have been rewritten to be a better bill. This is just same old Washington trickery. I bet if you and I sat down and wrote the bill together, we could have had one that would have passed with majorities from both sides. They do this as a political move so they can brand people, not as pure good-hearted policy. And to me…that stinks.
JABG
November 3, 2008 at 6:47 am
JABG,
I think you’re confused. The born alive act had no verbiage covering the health of the mother solely because it didn’t address abortive procedures or processes; it solely addressed care for infants who survived – at least in the short term – being aborted.
Obama himself said he voted against it because he didn’t want to “burden” the mother or the doctors with further decision. The mothers’ health was never part of the equation.
Obama is against the partial birth ban because it had no provision for the health of the mother.
November 3, 2008 at 11:32 am
Sorry Jonolan. Thanks for the correction. I did conflate the two. It’s just the way these things are named so emotionally that gets me. I’ve found from speaking with people I know on the other side that we are not so far away. These are tough decisions and I respect anyone who looks at them from all sides. But the way these bills are named and framed makes it easy to turn people into total villains. Thanks again!
Ronnie Ann