Dear Senator McCain,
Last night at a town hall rally you finally did the human thing, the moral thing, and put your people in their place. To a man who relayed fears for his future child to grow up under an Obama presidency, you said:
“I have to tell you. Sen. Obama is a decent person and a person you don’t have to be scared of as president of the United States,”
And later when a woman stood and told you that she can’t trust Obama because she has read about him and he’s an Arab, you took the microphone and told her,
No ma’am, he is a decent family man, a citizen, who I happen to have disagreements with.
Senator McCain, thank you. Thank you for rising above your ignorant, racist, hate-mongering Base attending your rallies and spewing their filth and for finally doing the right thing.
Almost.
Actually come to think of it, no. I must be quite the idealist but you know what? I’m still not so happy with you, Sen. McCain.
Because here’s the thing. Arabic people are decent family people too. There are approximately 4 million Americans who are of Arabic descent. Arab Americans are not terrorists. They are Patriotic, God-loving Americans - just like YOU Senator! By tolerating the use of the word “Arab” as if it is dirty, derogatory or inflammatory you are contributing to hate and bigotry.
And before it comes up in the future, can we talk about being Muslim? Maybe you didn’t know, Senator, but not all Arabs are Muslim. In fact, the MINORITY (23%) of Arab Americans practice the Muslim faith. The VAST majority of Arab Americans are Catholic or Christian.
There are 6-7 million American citizens who practice the Muslim faith. And here’s a secret you might want to memorize, Senator: Of the three major ethnic groups with members praticing the Muslim Faith (Americans of South Asian descent, African Americans and Arabic Americans) Arabic Americans are the SMALLEST ethnic group practicing the Muslim faith. And no, African Americans are not the largest! That trophy belongs to the South Asian Americans.
But maybe you don’t really know a lot about the Muslim religion. I’m not a Muslim, I’m no expert myself. But I spent all of my life living within miles of the largest Arabic population in this country, maybe I have been exposed to more Muslim culture than you have? I have counted as friends throughout my life people of Arabic descent, many of whom were Muslim. I have been inspired, loved, welcomed, mentored and educated by Arab Americans, many of whom were Muslim. I have shared church, school, community and neighborhood with Arab Americans, many of whom were Muslim. Some of my children’s closest friends are Muslim. My kindest and most friendly and outreaching neighbor is Muslim. Never have I witnessed hatred, terrorism, anti-American sentiment or hostility from a person of Muslim faith or of Arabic descent. I probably don’t need to clue you in, however, to how many times I’ve seen or heard such awfulness from Christians, do I? I would be happy to, though, if you want further details! But all you have to do is look into your crowd to see that! There is, as you know from your VP pick, extremism in ALL religions but those views do not represent the vast VAST majority of people who identify with that religion. Please do not perpetuate the bigoted view that Muslims OR Arabs are unpatriotic, freedom-hating, hate-spewing terrorists. Because by doing so, that makes you the worst kind of Christian there is. The irony is not lost on me that the ticket that talks, ad nauseum, about “preventing a second Holocaust” is also the ticket that perpetuates religious bigotry and hatred.
And another thing about Arab Americans, Senator. Unlike Muslims, who traditionally vote Democrat, an equal distribution of Arab American citizens support the Republican ticket as support the Democrats. You might want to consider that before you support hatred against Arabs. They make up up to 4.5% of the voters and wouldn’t it be a shame if they cost you the election because of your blind bigotry?
So thank you, again, for reeling in your fanatical hate-mongering supporters. I hope you’ll continue doing that until your base gets that hatred and divisiveness is not something that ANY patriotic US candidate for president will ever support or tolerate. But you haven’t REALLY taken a stand against bigotry and hatred yet, have you Senator? Haven’t you just, in fact, condoned it and defended the bigoted and misguided idea that Arabs (and by the ignorant extension of so many, Muslims) are the enemy? You might have done the politically correct thing by defending Obama the only bigoted way you know how but I think you put the cart before the horse by not realizing that it is bigotry and hatred and divisiveness that we won’t tolerate….not just against Obama but against ANYONE!
How embarrassing. How unpresidential. How disgraceful. How intolerable.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:57 am
“…your ignorant, racist, hate-mongering Base…”
Oh, Nicki… I’m deeply touched, you sweet-talker, you.
Once again, I feel I must encourage you to come out of your shell and start saying what you really think. Stop worrying about offending people so much, honey, and be bold. Come on, you can do it! I believe in you!
With love,
An ignorant, racist, hate monger (apparently)
Nicki reply on October 11th, 2008 8:11 am:
ha. I’m specifically pointing to the people who are showing up and spewing hate at rallies. Is that you? Please say no.
Michelle reply on October 11th, 2008 8:20 am:
Hee hee… NO. I try to contain my hate-spewing to blogs only. That way, when I do show up at rallies, it’s already out of my system.
Nicki reply on October 11th, 2008 8:33 am:
So then you can put yourself in the shoes of an Arabic family in America and imagine how awful and horrible hearing comments like that would be? And let’s face it, that comment yesterday was not an anomaly. Seriously, how do these Christians justify the hate, the racism, the bigotry and intolerance against other races and religions? I just don’t understand it!
October 11th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I saw the clips of the rally you were referring to…I’m not sure I see how he was tolerating and participating in bigotry. I’m certainly not a McCain supporter, but I feel like he handled the situation pretty well…
Nicki reply on October 11th, 2008 10:07 am:
Heck, I think it’s long overdue that he said anything at all. But I thought the way he responded to the word “arab” just perpetuated negative stereotypes and bigotry toward Arabs. I don’t think it was intentional, of course (bigotry rarely is). But I just wonder….was the goal to stop slams against Obama or to stop the hate entirely? Because he had an opportunity to education and do you think that lady will go home hating Arabs any less? I’m guessing….no!
Angel reply on October 11th, 2008 1:59 pm:
I can see your point there. But I also feel like that maybe he did what he thought was right in the moment. He had to respond quickly, I’m sure without much time to think out a well thought out response. He put a stop to what was being said about Obama. And while you are right in that he had a chance to talk about racism and bigotry, I don’t know that many people, be it democrat or republican, would have handled the situation differently.
I do think its sad that in this day and age this is still an issue.
Nicki reply on October 11th, 2008 2:07 pm:
Yeah it wasn’t scripted and I do think you are right - he answered spontaneously and the fact that he answered at all is a sigh of relief. And you probably are very right that it would not have been handled any better by anyone else on the national stage. Sad, but true.
October 11th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Nicki,
I’m struggling over how to respond to your questions… I went back and read your post again, because I really want to see your position and understand your POV. But, I’m having a hard time. Tell me, how EXACTLY did McCain “condone it and defend the bigoted and misguided idea that Arabs (and by the ignorant extension of so many, Muslims) are the enemy?” What EXACTLY do you think McCain should have said? Is there anything he could have said that would have been satisfactory to you, or do you think you would have found fault with anything he would have tried to say in response?
To answer your question… Yes, as a Christian who is often judged unfairly and called every evil name in the book, I can totally understand what it’s like to hear those comments. I’m called stupid, ignorant, intolerant, racist, hateful, closed-minded, bigot, and on and on by people who don’t know me. I’m labeled without justification by people who hate what they think I believe. Isn’t that exactly what you’re angry about? Why does it anger you so terribly when it’s directed at Arabs, but you feel it’s justified when directed towards Christians? Do you not see the double-standard here in your own words? Seriously?
In closing, I totally agree with Angel’s comment… Not a McCain fan, but Nicki, this time I’m just not seeing it. Sorry, hon.
I’ve got to go clean out my girls’ closet- believe me, I would sooooo rather spend the day debating with you! You’re more fun! ;P
Nicki reply on October 11th, 2008 10:05 am:
It would be nice for not just McCain but ANYONE to say “You know, Obama is not a Muslim or an Arab as a matter of fact. But there is NOTHING wrong with being an Arab OR a Muslim. Arabs are not Terrorists. Muslims are not Terrorists. They believe in the same God that you and I do! By speaking in such divided and hate-filled terms, we only stand to mirror that which we claim we are trying to do away with.”
I don’t think bigotry should be tolerated or justified by ANYONE toward ANYONE. Calling someone a bigot isn’t bigotry
Calling someone intolerant for being a racist isn’t racist. Calling someone hateful for screaming out “Kill him” isn’t hateful. I went back and clarified the one sentence you quoted because I can sort of see how you might think i was referring to anyone who supported Mccain but that’s not the context in which I said it and in fact I have NEVER said (or thought) such things. My comments and emotions are directly about specific people who have demonstrated specific beliefs and attitudes at rallies. No one called *you* anything.
And it will be a cold day when someone EVER stands on a national stage and treats the word Christian as if it is vile and stands for terrorism just like no one is going to stand on the national stage and accuse someone of being Caucasian!! I’m not going to get into a religious debate about it but although I trust that you feel persecuted because you say so, I think it’s outrageous to assume that the level of persecution you feel is even remotely on par with Arab Americans or Muslims in this country right now.
But if you resemble the type of people who would go to a rally and tell the black camera guy to “sit down, boy” or if you use the word Arab as if it is an insult then every last word I have said about those people also applies to you, yes. If not then I’m not really sure why you’d suppose I was referring to you.
Michelle reply on October 11th, 2008 10:55 am:
Re: “No one called *you* anything…” “…I’m not really sure why you’d suppose I was referring to you.”
No, you didn’t call me anything personally, and I didn’t say I thought you were referring to me on a personal level. I was trying to make a point.
Re: “I think it’s outrageous to assume that the level of persecution you feel is even remotely on par with Arab Americans or Muslims in this country right now.”
I did not say I feel persecuted, nor did I say my experiences are on par with Arabs or Muslims. You said to me, “So then you can put yourself in the shoes of an Arabic family in America and imagine how awful and horrible hearing comments like that would be?” And I agreed that, yes, as a Christian, I can totally see how awful hearing hateful comments would be, and I don’t have to imagine it. Neither does any other Christian. We hear it all the time. No one is trying to make this into a contest of who has it worse. You asked me a question and I answered it, based on my own personal experience, which is what you were asking me to do, I felt, by asking me to put myself in those shoes.
Nicki reply on October 11th, 2008 11:14 am:
So then you agree with my post?! LOL
Tony Bradley reply on October 11th, 2008 11:49 am:
I think it is offensive to anyone who has ever been actually discriminated against or persecuted in any way to even hint that what Christians experience in America is even remotely on par with any other discrimination or persecution.
Here is the thing. One view is inclusive and the other is exclusive.
The Pro Choice movement *includes* within it the inherent right to CHOOSE life (as Sarah and Bristol Palin were entitled to do). However, the Pro Life movement is exclusive and takes away anyone’s right to an opposing point of view.
The liberal or left movement includes in the right for anyone to be what they want and follow the faith that they want. The conservative or right wing movement is exclusive and seeks to eliminate options and enforce a specific ideology.
When other ethnicities, races, or religions feel discriminated or persecuted, it is because there are attempts by groups, organizations, and sometimes even government entities to impede or prevent them from doing so.
When the Christian right feels ‘discriminated’ or ‘persecuted’ it is because the world won’t bow to their ideology and we want to have choice and diversity.
Nobody in the United States is running around saying Christians are bad, or evil, or terrorists, or whatever. People will say that they disagree with the Christian agenda. They disagree with Christianity trying to make itself into a government sponsored religion. They disagree with the Christian point-of-view that Christianity somehow has some moral high ground or is any way superior to other faiths.
That isn’t discrimination or persecution. Christians are free to believe and practice as they wish. It doesn’t need to be amended to the Constitution or written into law. The rest of the faiths and ethnicities in this country should also be afforded the same rights without one religion- the religion predominantly in power and in control of the entire political establishment- trying to make religious philosophy into a political ideology and playing the discrimination or persecution card when the citizens of the country that don’t hold that minority view speak out.
Tony Bradley reply on October 11th, 2008 10:06 am:
Maybe I can help.
I am exceptionally grateful that at least half of the Republican ticket finally decided to say something rather than just continuing to fan the flames of hatred at these rallies - or worse yet try to turn it around as if these audience reactions are just normal ‘Joe Sixpack’ responses to their anger about the state of the world and that it is perfectly normal for Joe Sixpack to spew vitriolic racist epithets in response to what the Bush administration has done to the world.
However, I think it does silently condone bigotry against people of Arabic descent or of the Muslim faith to stop at saying “No- Obama is not a Arab” or “No - Obama is not a Muslim”. Because even if he *WAS* of Arabic descent, and even if he *WAS* a follower of the Musim faith it wouldn’t make him any less of a candidate for President or any less of a patriotic American citizen.
And- this isn’t just an attack on McCain. This goes for everyone at every level of politics and the press. They repeatedly respond to the claim by saying “No- Obama is not a Muslim”, rather than saying “Muslims are also tax-paying, God-loving, patriotic American citizens as well and there is nothing about being Muslim that would impede someone from being President….other than the bigotry of the electorate.”
The country is changing. By 2040 whites will not be a majority. We are a country of mixed and diverse background. The Constitution specifies that to be President you must be at least 35 years old and be a natural-born America citizen. There are millions of second-generation immigrants who are of varying ethnic and religious backgrounds who all have a perfectly valid right to run for President or any other office.
So - Yes, Sen. Obama is a decent person and a person you don’t have to be scared of as president of the United States, and yes, he is a decent family man, a citizen, who McCain happens to have disagreements with. But, the rest of that statement is that Arabs and Muslims are people too. They are citizens too. They are neighbors too. They are decent people that you don’t have to be afraid of. They have families. They vote. They are not the enemy.
A small, radical group of Muslims of Arab descent who were armed, funded, and trained by the United States of America under Reagan’s watch attacked us. That doesn’t give anyone the right to condemn or vilify entire ethnicities, races, or religious faiths.
October 11th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Tony-
The pro-life movement takes away peoples rights?? Did I read that right? What about the right to live?? I am sorry, but maybe I am trying to give a voice to those who don’t yet have one, but what rights are those new born babies given when they are killed? I understand that some people try and justify this by saying the Pro choice movement includes the choice of life, but it goes a little deeper than that. To think any truth in that, is to think that God makes mistakes. Or, like obama, do you think babies are a punishment?
October 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Tara, Do you have a direct quote from Barack Obama stating that he thinks babies are a punishment? Is this something he actually said and has been verified? Can you please clarify. Since he is the father of 2 daughters, I’d be surprised he thinks that but I am willing to view facts if you have them. I’m not here to argue pro-choice vs anti-choice with you, just wondering where it is you got that statement from.
Nicki reply on October 12th, 2008 10:32 am:
I know the quote she’s talking about and it was directly related to his own two daughters, iir. Let me see if I can find it….
“Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old,” he said. “I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby. I don’t want them punished with an STD at age 16, so it doesn’t make sense to not give them information.”
You can see the video here with the entire context of the quote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNbaig-D5pk
I think the choice of the word “baby” was inappropriate. Replace baby with parenthood and I think you get the crux of his point. Anyone who believes that teen parenthood never punishes the teen involved, no matter how much the baby is loved, is in serious denial. No one would argue that teen parenthood is ideal, optimal or a preferred option. isn’t it agreed upon by ALL sides of this issue that we should be doing all we can to reduce teen pregnancies, even if we can’t agree on HOW to do that?!?!? I’ve never really understood why some folks can’t both understand that a baby’s appearance in a parent’s life can be both a blessing and a serious challenge - especially when that parent is a 14 year old! We can pretend that it isn’t the case and that each child is born into loving, mature, capable, wealthy, emotionally stable arms but unless we want to step back to 1950’s Babyscoop Era days, we’d better think twice.
Nicki reply on October 12th, 2008 10:33 am:
Oh and if it isn’t obvious from the quote - his statement has NOTHING to do with abortion and EVERYTHING to do with sex education and prevention. Ironic, huh?
October 12th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Ellen-
Really, I almost fell off my chair as well. To say it simply, I like Obama…Sure there are some issues that I think he could handle differently, but I hardly think that anyone agrees 100% with everything that comes out of someones mouth. I did not see this clip of Obamas statement Live, but did see it being discussed on the news. The only way that I know how to show you that is from someone that captured the moment and put it on youtube. If this is a false video, I would love to know!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYFhVCXna58&feature=related
Nicki reply on October 12th, 2008 10:34 am:
But like I said to Ellen - you do see that his statement was in advocacy of education and not abortion right?
October 12th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Hmm, for some reason, your statements didn’t show up. So I wrote mine before I saw what you had said. Even when I first heard that statement, i said to myself, “surely, he must have miss-used his words” I can understand it, and I think some people take words like that too seriously. The first video I saw did not have the entire speech that he gave, but when you hear what he says at the end, it is obvious that he is talking about education. And I completely understand that babies are born into unsafe homes, and to parents that are incapable. Its a sad fact. I would LOVE to figure out a way for this to not happen. I would LOVE to be able to somehow prevent this. I don’t think that there is a possible way to completely put an end to unwanted pregnancies, but, in my friendly opinion, I think there are better options, and adoption happens to be one of them.
Nicki reply on October 12th, 2008 11:28 am:
I agree and I think we really REALLY should stop talking abut eliminating abortion as an option and instead talk about ways and programs and methods to prevent pregnancy in situations where it can and should be prevented. I don’t have all the answers but I have loved that Obama has focused so heavily on education and prevention. I haven’t heard similar from McCain/Palin. They have lots of ideas about limiting and outlawing abortion but no mention at all about how to reduce or eliminate the pregnancies to begin with.
October 13th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
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