Obama’s Real Muslim Issue
Filed under: 2008 elections, Barack Obama, Islam — marc moore on December 31, 2007 @ 4:20 pm CET
The question of whether Barack Obama was a Muslim as a boy is still lurking around in some people’s minds, as demonstrated by Daniel Pipes’ Christmas Eve questions about Obama’s potential apostasy and Ben Smith’s reply calling the article a smear tactic.
In a country of John Smiths, Barack Obama’s name carries with it an inherent liability, one that is not necessarily deserved but does raise questions - including some legitimate ones - in the minds of Christian voters.
Smith says that this paragraph penned by Pipes is a xenophobic smear based solely on Obama’s name:
“If I were a Muslim I would let you know,” Barack Obama has said, and I believe him. In fact, he is a practicing Christian, a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ. He is not now a Muslim.
It sounds like an accurate, matter-of-fact statement to me. It is also the basis for Pipes’ article and a very interesting question, namely whether Obama might be categorized as an apostate and marked for death by radical Muslim terrorists.
Pipes’ summary of Obama’s youth:
Summarized, available evidence suggests Obama was born a Muslim to a non-practicing Muslim father and for some years had a reasonably Muslim upbringing under the auspices of his Indonesian step-father. At some point, he converted to Christianity. It appears false to state, as Obama does, “I’ve always been a Christian” and “I’ve never practiced Islam.” The campaign appears to be either ignorant or fabricating when it states that “Obama never prayed in a mosque.”
This has the feel of truth about it. As far as justifying ultra-Christian fears about Obama being a Muslim mole, Pipes’ interpretation of the evidence does nothing. Much as I went to Christian churches and went through the motions as a boy without being a Christian (then), Obama did the same in the places he was raised in. I think he’s right to say that it gives him a certain insight into the character of Islam, though it is necessarily the insight of a child and of questionable value.
So I don’t see Pipes’ comments as a smear, merely as a lead-in to the bigger question: Would Obama be assassinated by Muslims if elected president?
Pipes wonders:
More importantly, how would more mainstream Muslims respond to him, would they be angry at what they would consider his apostasy? That reaction is a real possibility, one that could undermine his initiatives toward the Muslim world.
While this is a possibility, I believe that it’s irrelevant. Consider the level of discourse that would take place if Rudy Guiliani were to be elected president. Could the Muslim reaction to Obama be any less civil? I think not.
The more interesting aspect to the issue is this:
On the positive side, were Obama prominently charged with apostasy, that would uniquely raise the issue of a Muslim’s right to change religion, taking a topic on the perpetual back-burner and placing it front and center, perhaps to the great future benefit of those Muslims who seek to declare themselves atheists or to convert to another religion.
Pipes does not examine this thread further, unfortunately. But if a President Barack Obama were to stand tall on the American stage, acknowledge his childhood relationship with Islam, and declare that, like him, all people of all faiths have the inalienable right to choose their own religion or renounce the same, what would the outcome be?
Such an act could very well bring the wrath of Islam down on Obama. It could also set a billion people free.
h/t memeorandum
1 Rudi666
December 31, 2007 @ 5:27 pm CETYes, the Muslims were responsible for the multiple assignations and attempts during the 1960’s and 1970’s in the US. Oswald and Bremer were really Manchurian plants from the precursor of al-Qaeda.
What I just siad is as absurd as Pipes, but I was spoofing. Pipes does have a history of disliking smelly, dirty Arabs.
2 Michael van der Galien
December 31, 2007 @ 5:42 pm CETSo, Rudi? What’s your point. Darn man, I’m this close to deleting your comment for being utterly ludicrous. You’ve got one chance to lose the snark, otherwise your comments will be deleted and you will be banned. Do I make myself clear?
3 Rudi666
December 31, 2007 @ 6:34 pm CETEdited by MvdG: I think I made myself clear.
4 Bob A
December 31, 2007 @ 6:48 pm CETHow unfortunate that a candidates religion is being questioned time after time. The idea that only a Christian can be qualified is ludicrous…make that a Protestant Christian because Mormons and Catholics apparently need to "explain" their denomination. Is it me, or is this the most ridiculous form of political fear mongering ever contrived? The fact that Obama grew up a Muslim should be irrelevant… when I think of an American Muslim..I think of Mohammad Ali (whose best friend and ally was an American Jew). I don’t care if a candidate prays in a White Church, a Synagogue, or faces Mecca five times a day.. isn’t this a secular nation?
5 Rudi666
December 31, 2007 @ 7:08 pm CETEdited by MvdG: do you actually read posts, or do you just jump to the comment sections instantly. And no, don’t bother replying to the question.
6 Rudi666
December 31, 2007 @ 7:45 pm CETOT But Dearborn Michigans racist history relates to Obamas apostate threat. If Arab radicals are such a threat, why wasn’t former Dearborn mayor Guido ever threatened or attacked. His political beginnings addressed the "Arab problem" and near the time of his death to cancer he snapped, "If your organization wanted to do something, you should work on trying to train the new immigrants to this country on personal hygiene and habits of cleanliness." I am keenly aware of Dearborn’s history, and Guido never feared for his life.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/23/us/23dearborn.html
http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/sac/mi0501/ch2.htm
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E3DD1539F936A35752C0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200511/profile.asp
What is different between Guido and Obama?
7 Lynx
December 31, 2007 @ 8:39 pm CETThis is a simply ludicrous statement, on it’s face. A child is no more born a Muslim as he is born a Communist, or born a Yankees fan. A child is a child. His father was, by accounts, agnostic or atheist, and credible evidence suggests he was raised in a basically non-religious atmosphere.
The article is just like many that came before it, one pretending sympathy towards Obama while trying to pin a "Muslim" sign on his forehead. It’s unfortunate that this is considered a smear, but it is. In today’s politics this reads like an article saying "Mrs. Clinton’s sexuality is of no concern of anyone. Yes, there is credible evidence pointing to her having lesbian affairs, but that is something that is strictly between her and her family. But imagine if President Clinton came out of the closet? She would give a swell of pride to millions of closeted young people"
Same tactic, it’s mud with a bow on top.
8 liz
May 14, 2008 @ 2:12 pm CESTOBAMA IS MUSLIM!!! NO MATTER HOW YOU WANNA CANDY THINGS UP………….HE IS!
9 Claudia
May 14, 2008 @ 2:39 pm CESTliz, brilliant analysis. Where did you learn such razor sharp analytical skills and such impressive argumentation? Surely Harvard and Yale are fighting it out to get you on their staff.
These people vote. Be afraid.