Let America Be America Again
I saw this post over on ijtema.net and my curiosity was piqued. Yes, it’s true, I’ve felt alienated by Obama lately. I have to agree with Amal’s disappointment here:
But what I find most amazing is the way in which Obama considers the Muslim connotations to be a smear. Let’s just be clear on this, because Obama has a lot riding on this point: he is not, nor has he ever been, a Muslim. He really isn’t. Anyone who says otherwise is tarnishing his image, discrediting him, sullying his name.
What struck me most about this post, though, was actually the comment included on ijtema. Karla said:
By distancing himself from Muslims in America, Barack Obama is marginalizing the Muslim-American population. . . If we are truly a nation that practices freedom of religion, then why all the fuss over a politician’s religious preference? Why? Because while the concept of freedom of religion is a great one, it has never reached full fruition here. In relation, Langston Hughes once wrote,
“Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
America never was America to me.”
It is disappointing that for many Americans, Hughes’ words still ring true. I am hopeful that there will come a day when politician’s seeking any office, no matter how high, will not have to fear their political demise due to the beliefs they hold and those associated with them.
(These comments are abridged. Please go here to see the full text.)
Why is it that the freedom this country was founded to protect only exist for Christian citizens and are tolerated for others as long as they’re not Muslim? What is it about Islam that is so scary? Is it the sheer number of Muslims in the world? Because the violence that is attributed to Muslims has very little to do with religion and more to do with culture, location and situation. Or is this just another facet of age-old racism? Many Muslims have darker skin (If Obama were White, would it even be an issue? I think not. ) and the White world has a rich history of hating and mistreating the backward/primitive person of color.
July 10, 2008 9:06 pm 
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