March 15, 2007
Obama and Islam: A Caution
The Los Angeles Times makes some provocative points this morning about a five-year old Sen. Barack Obama "bow[ing] to Allah," about how, though his mother went to Church, "Barry Obama" would often choose to attend mosque, about how he was registered as a Muslim at school.
Campaign spokesman Bill Burton sent a listering, bolded, underlined response: "Barack Obama Is Not and Has Never Been a Muslim."
Depends on what the meaning of the word "is," is, but really: how many young children have fully formed religious identities -- especially young children in mixed religion families? Do we really know why Obama liked to hang out at the mosque? The Times article suggests that the mosque served as a communal gathering place for him and his friends.
A more interesting question is why Obama so forcefully takes exception to having his childhood labeled as such. Certainly, if it's not true, he has a right to object. It could be that, as a Christian, he is offended by those who claim that he once inhabited a different moral universe. It could also be that he knows a general prejudice against Islam exists in America today, and that his identification with that religion could hurt him politically. (A recent poll found that seven percent of those surveyed thought Obama was Muslim -- that can't be helpful in a general election). Or maybe Obama, already a precocious autobiographer, objects to a different interpretation of his history. [MARC AMBINDER]
Editorial side note: I attended a small high school affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Every Wednesday, all students attended a mandatory prayer service. When the students stood, I stood. When they bowed their heads, mine inched down. You might have even caught me mouthing of a few of the hymns. But I was Jewish, as were about fifteen percent of my classmates. We weren't Christians. We didn't become Christians because we sat through the services. Attendence was required; it was a prerequisite -- a community standard.
Posted at 11:19 AM
Comments
"It could be that, as a Christian, he is offended by those who claim that he once inhabited a different moral universe."
"a different moral universe"; that's an interesting perspective. Actually it's a twisted perspective. Islam and Christianity share the same moral foundation. It would be sad to think that Marc didn't know the difference between mainstream Islam and the radical ideas of al-Qaeda.
Steve Lydolph | 03.15.07 11:46 AM
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One cannot be a "Christian child" or a "Jewish child" or a "Muslim child" -- especially not if we're talking about 5 year olds.
One can be a "child of Christian parents" or a "child of Jewish parents", etc, but at 5 one cannot possibly understand and therefore cannot possibly accept any religion.
Seth | 03.15.07 12:47 PM
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Following up on Steve's post - don't forget that Judaism can be included as well. Christians, Muslims and Jews are all "people of the book," believers in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
Nick Sheehan | 03.15.07 01:14 PM
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What was totally hilarious about this article was the statement that 'bugs ate the records' at BOTH grade schools, a strange and unbelievable explanation of why any 'proof' that Obama was ever actually registered as a Muslim child by his parents will forever be 'missing'. But, yes, the idea of a six year old deciding on religion instead of just being part of a circle of friends that went to a mosque for social reasons is ludicrous.
Donna | 03.15.07 02:34 PM
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> A more interesting question is why Obama so
> forcefully takes exception to having his
> childhood labeled as such.
Is that really a more interesting question, Mr. unsigned-blog-poster? The answer is probably similar to the reason that Guiliani doesn't want to be identified as a transvestite just because he dressed in women's clothing a few times.
A truly more interesting question is why the press toolishly encourages this kind of Drudge-style whispering campaign, Swiftboat tactics instead of political discourse.
Scott Z | 03.15.07 02:42 PM
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exactly, Scott Z.
Why does the press insist on pursuing this crap? A little more reporting and a little less gossip mongering please...
theshelldog | 03.15.07 05:31 PM
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I wouldnt believe any of this crap till there is full blown proof and the fact that the media has lied to us several times prolly just means theres a few racists in the greenroom
David | 02.11.08 07:11 PM
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I wouldnt believe any of this crap till there is full blown proof and the fact that the media has lied to us several times prolly just means theres a few racists in the greenroom
David | 02.11.08 07:12 PM
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