Smear of Obama reflects faults of society

This past week's incident of the Muslim "smearing" of Senator Barak Obama speaks volumes about society. A picture was distributed through the media of Obama wearing traditional Kenyan clothes. The picture is believed to have come from the Clinton campaign.

I would like everyone to sit back for a minute and think what this reveals about our society.

There have been rumors and doubt as to what religion Obama belongs to, even though he stated several times he is a Christian.

In this case, both sides are blameworthy. The Clinton campaign is blameworthy in trying to dissuade people from voting for Obama by associating him with Islam.

Obama is blameworthy for seeing it as something negative and taking offense to it.

So what does this say exactly about society?

It tells kids that being culturally diverse is a problem. If kids wear traditional clothes from their culture then they can never be president.

It tells Muslim kids that being anything they want to be is a lie, no matter how hard they try.

I don't want to make this into a column that complains and whines. I want people to be aware of the bigger issues and not pretend that everything is OK.

Our generation, without a doubt, is a generation taught to think. While most of us will never think twice about whites sitting next to blacks like our parents' and grandparents' generation, we still have prejudice inside of us just geared toward a different group of people.

This isn't about politics. I could care less about political figures. In 2000, many people in the Muslim community supported President Bush. "Surely, anything was better than Al Gore," we thought. I don't think I need to state the obvious results of that prejudgment.

This is about an issue bigger than politics and childish games the political campaigns play. This is about a wide spread prejudice that is silently approved of yet most people are oblivious to it.

I'm actually tired of politics and I'm tired of Obamamania and HillBilly. It all sounds very promising and anyone is better than Bush at this point. But aren't all presidential campaigns like this? Isn't it the same old rhetoric we've been hearing all our lives?

It kind of actually reminds me of high school class elections where the best public speakers with the most glittery of words are the ones who win. In the end you're left with a highly charismatic, popular bum.

In order to really impress me these people need to give me substance. Don't talk about closing down Guantanamo Bay Prison without telling us what you're going to do with the prisoners.

Don't tell us that you have a peace plan for the Middle East without admitting what the Israeli's are doing to the Palestinians right now in Gaza is terrorism.

Don't speak of wanting to give a message to all Muslims around the world that the war is not a war on Islam but a war on terrorism and then create the "Muslim smear."

Our generation has a great deal of hope. And perhaps our parents' generation needs to start paying more attention to it. Ron Paul was a popular candidate among college students for a reason.

And the fact that he was so popular shows that our mentality is vastly different because we knew Ron Paul would have brought change because he was vastly different from the other candidates.

I'm not endorsing Ron Paul, Obama, Clinton or McCain. I'm endorsing awareness. Don't become oblivious to the prejudices and injustices out there promoted by the very people who are to lead us into a so-called change. Our job is to make sure they lead us into the right change, not one that leads to more violence and stereotypes.

---- Contact Shirien Elmasraya at selmasraya@lsureveille.com