What if Obama is Muslim? Powell
Making a strong case for endorsing Democratic Barak Obama as a president, America's highly-decorated former general and secretary of state Collin Powell criticized Republicans for propagating claims that Obama is a Muslim in disguise.
"I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, "He's a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists." This is not the way we should be doing it in America," Powell told NBC's Meet The Press on Sunday, October 19.
"Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian."
Obama, aspiring to be America's first ever black president, is the son of a Muslim-turned-atheist Kenyan father and a white American mother that did not practice religion.
Born in Hawaii, he lived from ages 6 to 10 in Indonesia with his mother and Muslim stepfather.
The Illinois senator, who describes himself as a proud follower of the Trinity United Church of Christ, has gone miles in refuting rumors describing him as a Muslim in disguise.
American Muslims, estimated to number between six to seven million, have been disappointed that in the process Obama has not once said that being a Muslim is no crime.
This is exactly what Powell, a former national security advisor, did.
"But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America," he said empathically.
Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president?
Also Americans
Powell, who made history twice as the first black secretary of state and first African-American chief of the US military, insisted that Muslims are as American as everybody else.
He recalled seeing a photo essay about troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan with one picture showing a grieving mother putting her head on the headstone of her son's grave in Arlington Cemetery.
Powell said the dead soldier was a 20-year-old who had the Purple Heart and Bronze Star military decorations.
"And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American."
The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Khan was born in New Jersey and was 14 at the time of 9/11 attacks.
"He waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life."
Muslims in the US have become sensitized to the erosion of their civil rights since the 9/11 attacks.
Many Muslims have complained of facing discrimination and stereotypes because of their Islamic attires or identities.
"Now, we have got to stop polarizing yourself in this way," said Powell.
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=12240891340...
Darth Vader was hanged in Iraq.
All different, all equal
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
You are probably thinking of Jabar the Hut...
I think the force is with Barack at the moment, but there is no way he is a friend of the Muslims..
He will become Emperor and the Storm troopers will leave Iraq to take their battles to other regions of the world..
The Rebels are in disarray and Master Yoda is hiding somewhere in Pakistan or Afghanistan..
that would be completely true but this is a world that is far from perfect....
just to remember, religions i a world apart politics r another world
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
Has made a comment here, this is coming from an African American who grew up in the south(North Carolina)and listened to my grandmother and grandfather talk about the racism and segregation that they dealt with growing up and then seeing those same things happening when i was growing up. Senator Obama is actually extremely smart for not saying he is Muslim(if he is) when he was first "accused" because honestly in my opinion he would not be in the great position he is in now to hopefully help all races and religions.
This is because the American public is still very blind and ignorant to things and people which they do not know much about. It is a shame but it is how it works there. There is still much hatred to Americans in America and for an African American to be in a position of becoming the next President scares the hell out of alot of Americans let alone if he announced that he is Muslim he would be seen as a "terrorist" as he has already been called.
"But the really right answer is, what if he is?"
Those were the words I'd hoped Obama would have said months ago, when his detractors first "accused" him of being Muslim.
Sadly, I do understand that it would have been the end of the road for him if he'd done that.
Good for Colin Powell for speaking up!
Lol, i already stated that i support him even if i ain't american :)
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
as far as i know obama,was an early opponent of the Bush administration's policies on Iraq. He open a diplomatic dialogue with Syria and Iran. Obama, does not want War instead he talks diplomacy for in behalf of our muslim brothers. Muslim or any religion is not a part of the politics, yes i agree to you but let us give him a chance. I believe in Him that he can reconcile both beliefs in turn, He believes also to ONE GOD we do.
Las Vegas: Don't scare me, is it possible to exist someone worst than GW Bush?
ALL RUN 4 YOUR LIFES ;)
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
Ruphil: Pro-muslim? Or you mean that he isn't anti-muslim?
None of the candidates is pro/against muslims, religion isn't part of politics.
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
Last time America had a Christian President, half a million people were killed in Iraq because of his deception and criminal action.
What is wrong with a Muslim President (assuming that he is a Muslim), let us give a chance and see what comes out of it, it can't get any worse than it is right now?
Barack Hussein Obama II is the first afro-american, running for U.S presidency. His origin is from somewhere in Kenya, He lives in indonesia for several years of his life (1967 ), but He is not a MUSLIM but he is PRO MUslim...
Lol Pieman
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
Beware even more of Jaba the Hut.
I´m sure I sat next to Jaba on a flight from Jeddah to Dahran a few years back
just eat another pie
Brit: Who is?
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
beware of yoda britexpat, he's still got some fight left in him.
Yes.. Remember , the Return of the Jedi...
Its a prophesy fulfilled..
isn't he a practicing Jedi?
Colin Powell is a liar.. misguiding the world into to unfair war, which have killed many, orphaned many and more widowed. The smoking guns will chase the war propagators to the hell... Never believe.. one who had openly lied to the world.
No more war and war well wishers
----------------
|Re@ltor Q@t@r |
----------------
Brit: Yes, that's important, maybe it can also help to end with the religious excuses presented on another countries to fight the ones that are different.
I dream with the day, as someone usually signs, "a chicken can crosse a road without having to explain why"
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
One thing that Powell has highlighted is the "giving of one's life" for his country..
If more of these cases were highlighted , then the anti Muslims, neocons may begin to be turned around..
Brit: You are right, lets be positive and belive that even those americans will change.
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
Kudos to Powell for speaking up.
The problem is that this stigma will always be there for Obama and many will remain anti-Muslim in America.
Hes not coz he didnt say it...though he leave in a muslim country like Indonesia.
"""U See only the tip on an iceberg ,,, dont be confident it might hit you badly """
lol Majnoon
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
I can say that Collin Powell said what i already thought, religion shouldn't be a tabu in any matter, as pointed, a young 20y muslim gave his life for his country showing that this isn't a religious war and that we should all live as a Brotherhood of Man (Humans, not descriminating women), never forget the song "Imagine" by John Lennon.
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
he's half black and half white, is the glass half empty or half full?
He who dies with the most toys wins.
Scarlett I even thought about that sometimes but maybe its not the right time for him since he is republican and McCain is running, i think Obama is more impressive and more charming as an African American candidate.
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
seriously speaking...I wish Colin Powell had run for President. He would have been incredible.
Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked,the good fortune to run into the ones I do,and the eyesight to tell the difference.
This is actually what i always wanted to hear from an American leader, so its good point made by Collin Powell.
Poverty is not for the sake of hardship. No, it is there because nothing exists but God. Poverty unlocks the door -- what a blessed key!
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
he was a Jehovah's Witness...then he'd always be on our doorstep!!
Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked,the good fortune to run into the ones I do,and the eyesight to tell the difference.