Let's play a word game. I say a word, and you say a word that rhymes. Ready? Obama … Osama? Barack ... Iraq?
Yes, you heard right. The media has been playing the same word game for weeks, and now they have decided to get dirtier.
When I first heard "Barack Obama," I immediately went to my computer and tried to do a little research on his background. The name Barack is very similar to the Arabic word "baraka," which means "blessing." After doing some research I found the link. His stepfather was a Muslim from Kenya.
Barack Obama himself is a Christian. But, the media jump at any opportunity to interrogate people who want to hold public office and are linked to Islam.
CNN did a report on Barack Hussein Obama's name. Some know him, but he remains unknown to others. So is it possible that when one says Obama's name another will think they mean Osama? Apparently so, as it has happened, with names "accidentally" being switched around a couple of times, even on major news networks like CNN.
Radio talk show host Chip Franklin asked callers if they thought that Barack Obama was a threat to the United States. One caller answered, "Sure. He's still out there; he's still plotting."
Yahoo News once used a picture of Senator Barack Obama in a story talking about Osama bin Laden. CNN then used the caption "Where's Obama?" in a story also about bin Laden. Coincidence? I don't think so.
I'm not one of those people who love to think of everything as a conspiracy theory. I don't think everyone is out to get Muslims. But, I will call out any instances of agenda-setting as I see them.
As if that isn't enough, Fox News, the nucleus for the spreading of ignorance, recently did a report in which they condemned Obama for allegedly hiding that he was raised as a Muslim by his stepfather and attending a madrasa, or school, in Indonesia. The reporter said, "What have we heard about people coming out of madrasa schools in Indonesia? This is huge!"
My problem isn't with the name switch up or with reporters saying he went to a madrasa. My problem is when being linked to anything Islamic becomes "unfortunate."
Madrasa is the Arabic word for school. So hats off to the reporter from "FOX & Friends" who said, "People coming out of school schools …" You're really at the height of intellectual speech there, buddy.
People often associate madrasas with terror when, in fact, it could be farthest from the truth. Usually, these schools are places in which kids learn about Islam and the Quran. But, the word madrasa is commonly used in the Arab world to mean grade school.
Sure, there have been instances in which some madrasas in various parts of the world have taught extremist views, but they are only a handful of the thousands of madrasas in the world.
Also, what is the big deal if his middle name is Hussein? Because there was one wrong-doing dictator by that name it automatically becomes a bad name? I actually think that it's sad the name Hussein is automatically linked to Saddam Hussein in the West whereas most Muslims link the name Hussein to the grandson of The Prophet Muhammad and his righteousness.
The fact that the name in the West isn't also linked to The Prophet's grandson reflects a greater ignorance towards Muslims. The Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein is a figure at the center of any dialogue regarding the differences between Sunnis and Shia.
The fact that our media is playing these games in dissuading people from voting for a person because he has links to Islam sets back the process of breaking barriers.
If the information you are getting about Islam comes from people constantly trying to attach a negative image with the peaceful religion, does that not sow the seeds of prejudice in your hearts?
What about Virgil Goode, R-Va? He created controversy when he made public that he could not stand that Minnesota representative Keith Ellison, who happened to be Muslim, was elected to Congress and wanted to be sworn in on the Quran.
Goode said, "If Americans don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration, there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding use of the Quran."
Has it become so bad that people don't even hide their prejudices anymore? What is wrong with more Muslims being elected to office? I don't know about you, but I don't feel comfortable in knowing that ignorant and prejudice people are running our country and making the laws.
Imagine how much better the world would be if reporters and elected officials actually studied Islam. With the prevailing message of peace and personal progress, perhaps when they open their mouths to speak it will no longer reek from the garbage they put into the world for others to come and collect.
----- Contact Shirien Elmasraya at selmasraya@lsureveille.com
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