More hypocrisy from Palin
Also, let me clear this off my chest. I’ve had a few people who I think very highly of end up in the “Obama is a scary Muslim” camp. This makes me sad because these people are normally pretty forward thinking, open minded people. These people are claiming that Obama makes fun of the Bible and other assorted nonsense based on this video:
I watched the video a couple of times and I reread the Sermon on the Mount and I’m sorry, but I don’t see the problem here. I have never met anyone from any Christian denomination that lives literally by the Bible which, I think, was Obama’s point about Leviticus. The Sermon on the Mount part I see as him saying that the soldiers wouldn’t last very long b/c of the part where Jesus said don’t murder people and if you have an enemy you should forgive him. I love Jesus, I do. Even people I know who don’t necessarily believe He is the son of God admire Him for his humanitarian acts. The 10 Commandments and the things Jesus says about how humans should treat one another are your basic tenents for pretty much every major religion. I don’t get into the whole organized religion scene because I think so much is routinely misinterpreted and taken out of context. I’ve been to too many Christian church services where Jesus is never mentioned and the larger chunk of time is spent talking about church budget. I personally would rather stay at home and worship in my own way. I don’t particularly care what church or god my government leaders are loyal to as long as it’s not extremist and as long as they don’t attempt to force their beliefs on me, especially by changing laws and the Constitution. (I’m looking at YOU, Sarah Palin.) Honestly, to me, if we were to compare modern government and clergy to the Bible, they more closely resemble the Pharisees. There that is, take it however you want.
I’d love some input on this, particular from Republicans.
The original article can be found here
On “Meet the Press” today, Colin L. Powell concluded his endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama by referring to the death of a Muslim soldier, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan of Manahawkin, N.J., who was killed in Iraq on Aug. 6, 2007, and whose remains were buried in Arlington.
Mr. Khan graduated from Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin in 2005, and enlisted in the Army a few months later, spurred by his memories of the 9/11 terror attacks. “His Muslim faith did not make him not want to go. It never stopped him,” his father, Feroze Khan, told the Gannett News Service in a story printed shortly after his death. “He looked at it that he’s American and he has a job to do.”
Kareem Rashad Sultan KhanHe and three other soldiers, including a corporal from Washington Heights, were killed in Baquba after a bomb detonated while they were checking abandoned houses for explosives. They served in the Stryker Brigade combat team of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, based in Ft. Lewis, Washington.
What I want to know from McCain supporters and in particular, people who are “scared” of Obama b/c of the popular misconception that he is a Muslim (which the above article is a great reason why that should be a non-issue if he were) is how does this article make you feel? If you have been rallying against Obama for being a Muslim and if you believe all Muslims are terrorists, how does it make you feel to know that this man, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, died fighting for America? Does it give you pause? Does it make you rethink some of the ignorance that has been so popular in the last few weeks? Does it make you realize that ALL American citizens are “REAL Americans”? Really, I’m just curious. I think the NYTimes piece is an incredible way of reminding us, particularly the xenophobic racists, that America is a melting pot and that religion, race, or economic status should not divide us. As I’ve said before, America was populated by immigrants. Unless you are a Native American, you are a decendent of an immigrant. We all are. Freedom OF and freedom FROM religion, guys. This man, Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, DIED fighting for AMERICA. Just think about that for a while. Also, please watch the following video, I’d like to know if after hearing General Colin Powell’s logical and well-stated endorsement of Barack Obama and reading the article about Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan fighting and dying on the side of AMERICA and then watching this attached video makes you feel differently. I’m serious. I would really love to hear some honest replies about why or why not your mind was changed, even if you still don’t intend to vote for Obama due to political disagreements or what have you. Thank you in advance.
I thought we were better than this…
I was devastatingly wrong. I am so embarrassed for America right now. The entire world is watching. This nation is supposed to be the greatest nation in the world. We are supposed to be leaders, progressive, and intelligent. THIS is what we look like to the rest of the world. I, for one, do not support McCain & Palin and I most definitely do NOT support ignorance, racism, and xenophobia. When people get their information about candidates from chain emails, this is what happens. Wake up people, don’t be one of the ignorant embarrassments. This is 2008, not 1958. Oh, and BTW, Muslim does not equal terrorist. Obama isn’t Muslim, but if he were, it should NOT matter. There are millions of Muslim Americans in this country, perhaps you know a few. Al Qaeda is a group of RADICAL Muslim EXTREMISTS. Kinda sorta like Sarah Palin is a RADICAL Christian EXTREMIST. Extremists from ANY group have the potential to be dangerous. Just because someone calls themselves a Christian, doesn’t mean they’re good people. Remember, Jesus said love your neighbor as thyself. I don’t see any evidence of this happening in the Palin rallies, do you?? I am scared of what I’m seeing happening. I’m scared some of these angry, ignorant people will hurt Obama or his family. He is a human being. His little girls are exposed to all this hatred. It’s not fair and I’m pissed off about it. I saw an old friend yesterday who was shocked I support Obama. He assumed that I would vote for McCain because I’m white. There’s been talk of a culture war after the election. Am I in danger for supporting Obama? Will I be labelled a “baby killer” or a “terrorist lover”? Dammit, this is beyond ridiculous. I don’t profess to know what Jesus thinks, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s shaking his head and saying “You guys are doing it all wrong, that is NOT what I said.” If I were Jesus, I’d be pretty pissed off. Jesus didn’t surround himself with people just like Him. We shouldn’t either. Christian means “Christ-like”. Remember, Jesus hung out with tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers. I think Jesus was pretty liberal. I didn’t read anything about Jesus telling anyone they weren’t good enough for him. I’m tired of this attitude that white Evangelical Christian = good American and everything else is wrong and bad and evil or “terrorist”. Get it together, America.
Jezebel’s Megan wrote an amazing article
Jezebel.com is one of my favorite blogs to read. Between Jezebel and Huffington Post I have LOTS to read. This piece that I’m posting is written by Megan, one of the Jezebel editors. Please, enjoy and consider the words carefully. Also, if it resonates with you, please repost and spread around.
Dear McCainiacs: Racism Should Not Be An Accepted American Attribute
Here’s an excerpt from the article. Really, though, please read the whole thing.
And, what’s even more horrifying, that they think they can openly say racist shit because being at a Republican rally — the Republican party, notably, being the party responsible for the aforementioned Emancipation Proclamation and 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments — means that they are among “their” kind. And, given that neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin — the new heirs to the leadership of the party of motherfucking Lincoln — could take a minute, a second, to chide a supporter and say, “That language has no place in this party,” they might be right. This is what Nixon wrought on this country and his party, this is what Rovian politics brings. There’s no courage in ignoring who your supporters are. There’s no honor in taking their votes if you can’t take a minute to chide them for their racism. There would be honor and there would be courage in saying, “If you are voting for us because Obama is black, or because you think he is Muslim, we don’t want your votes. Vote for us on the issues, or don’t vote for us at all.” But John McCain and Sarah Palin will take their support and their attendance at rallies with a wink and a well-coiffed nod and everyone will pretend that they didn’t hear what was said and the racists will think they have someone who agrees with them in the White House and the rest of us will march happily on by like little lemmings and believe, as we want to believe, that they don’t.
