So what if Obama were an Arab?

[MrsAmera 41]

This is the first mainstream piece I've seen that serves to point out that Arab/ Muslim are not derogatory words...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/13/cam...tml#cnnSTCVideo

Edited October 15, 2008 by MrsAmera

[SaadBell 0]

If I hear one more word from some stupid person thinking Obama is an Arab I think my head will just explode. You are right, his heritage, his religion should not make any difference to the campaign. I thought we had separate church and state, but I am one of the few that think we should stick by that. The far right is desperate and now the nasty things start to fly, I am with you, so what if he is Arab, Muslim, but it looks like we are still in the dark ages.

[reeses16 8]

It should not matter if he was Muslim or Arab. I heard an interesting opinion the other day, all this Arab/Muslim talk might be a proxy for 'he's Black.' Clearly, neither should be used in a derogatory way. I think its much more acceptable now in the US to publicly talk of fear, dislike, mistrust for Arabs than it is for Blacks. People still think it, just less likely to say it.

[AlHayatZween 2]

yes, thank you!!

i've been thinking this all along!

[star_dragon 0]

On a funny note, if you hear people say that, just tell them to go to this website:

Is Obama Muslim

[allousa 1]

OMG!!!! When I read this piece on CNN's website the other day, I practically gave a standing ovation at my desk!!!!

I'm sad to say that my grandmother is really caught up in the "race" factor. She has been a life long Democrat but she has also bought into the whole Rev. Wright/Jesse Jackson/Acorn thing. She hates the Republican party, so she's saying she just won't vote. I've come to the sad realization that she is a product of her "raising" in a time when racism was acceptable.

Needless to say, Hicham wasn't welcomed with open arms by her.

[MrsAmera 41]

That's my grandma too...sad really.

[sereia 0]

very well said! *claps*

[HLM 1]

[bhajishah 4]

and he sure goes out of his way to deny any affiliation with Islam ...hmphhh

[Pooky 3,680]

Denial is not just a river in Egypt.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Why is the news that Campbell Brown defended Arabs and Muslims? Why didn't Obama do it himself?

[MrsAmera 41]

It's news because the media has contributed hugely to the portrayal of Arabs and Muslims. Obama has said that although he is not Arab or Muslim those words should not be used to degrade anyone.

[bhajishah 4]

Why would it be derogatory..like in same respect as you love an Arab ..thats not derogatory

[MrsAmera 41]

The term in itself is not derogatory it's how it is used. People say "Obama is an Arab or Obama is a Muslim" as a way of saying "This is someone who can't be trusted because he is Arab or he is Muslim" that in someway if he were either of those things he should be feared.