Question re: people you know who believe Obama is a Muslim

[OneGrassRoot]

Last edited Sat Sep 19, 2015, 08:21 AM - Edit history (1)

Informal poll: Do any of you know any US citizens who believe Obama is a Muslim but DO NOT view that as a negative thing? Do they believe he is a Muslim but don't equate that with him being a radical Islamist terrorist or at least a terrorist sympathizer?

A discussion with a good friend prompts this question. I made what I feel is a very logical leap but I could be wrong in my assumption. He said that people who think Obama is Muslim don't necessarily also believe that makes him a terrorist/sympathizer.

Maybe people can dislike Muslims -- but I mean more than simply disagree on a religious basis -- yet not think all Muslims support radical Islam? I don't know. Hence, my question.

What follows is my (long) note posted on FB, prompting this discussion:

* * *

As far as large groups of people in the US go, the only ones who seem to want although simultaneously fear war -- race war, religious war, territorial war, ideological war -- are the people who feel most Muslims are terrorists or terrorist sympathizers; who feel that most black people are lazy and/or thugs; who feel that most brown people are here illegally and aren't truly citizens.

That large group of people is predominantly white, Christian, conservative and Republican (i.e. key demographic for Fox News & Company). That's who I'm speaking to here. Note that I say predominantly, not ALL.

If this does apply to you, and if you're honest with yourself, I really believe you'll find you're afraid of people who are different...people who don't have white skin, who aren't Christian, who don't hold the same worldview you do. Any anger or dislike you feel is actually fueled by fear. Unfortunately, these fearful views of "the other" often results in people convincing themselves -- or, rather, allowing themselves to be convinced -- that you as a group of people are the victims and that everyone else is at war against you and others like you.

The thing is, most people just want to live as safely and peacefully and productively as possible, without living in fear or poverty; without feeling constantly denigrated or attacked by the group of people which, for now, comprise the majority of citizens, or demeaned or worse by our institutions and systems, many of which continue treat groups of people differently...some better than, others less than. When people who belong to groups which continue to be treated as "less than" in many ways in our society speak up, demanding justice and to be inherently valued as much as anyone else in our society, it does not mean that they are at war with you or those like you.

They want to live and work alongside you without feeling you're afraid of them or hate them without even knowing them. I would hope you want the same, when you really contemplate this.

If you step back and think about it for a minute, that is the common theme at Fox and always has been...fomenting the idea that their viewers are being attacked and are at war with anyone who isn't white, Christian, conservative or Republican.

You know, pretty much every poll about this subject shows that a significant number of Republicans say they believe Obama is a Muslim (which, to me, means they feel he's a radical Islamist terrorist or a terrorist sympathizer since they don't view being Muslim as a positive thing and feel all Muslims are radical), and a significant number also don't believe Obama was born in the US. 43% and 29%, respectively, are what is generally reported.

( ^^^ This is my comment to which a friend said I should be very careful painting all who believe Obama is a Muslim also believe he is a radical Islamist terrorist or terrorist sympathizer. )

That is LOT of people. They don't only disagree with his policies, they view him with fear and hatred (or extreeeeeeme dislike) because they believe he is Muslim, and being Muslim is "bad" to them. The "othering" of Obama also comes down to many people feeling that a black person should not be in the White House. That's the bottom line here and it's useless to deny it, so please don't even try. When people disagree with his policies that is one thing; when people say he's a Muslim and not born here, they're saying he "isn't like us." BTW, have you stopped to consider that there are many Muslims and people of color in the military...the same military you are so vocal and visible about supporting as a whole?

The white, Christian, conservative Republicans who do NOT believe most Muslims are terrorists, who do NOT believe most black people are lazy and/or thugs, and who do NOT feel most brown people are here illegally need to stand up and speak out more against the pervasive bigotry in their collective midst, don't you agree?

I can hear some of you thinking: "I don't act like that or believe that about others based on their religion or skin color or where they're from, so I have nothing to apologize for."

Well, the same is true of everyone else. A small number of Muslim people don't represent ALL Muslims, so people need to quit demanding every single Muslim somehow express their dismay publicly, so you can hear it for yourself, whenever another Muslim does something awful. A small number of black people who commit crimes or threaten violence against white people or police don't represent ALL black people, so quit assuming all black people feel the same way and quit demanding they all feel responsible for the actions of other people who happen to have dark skin. And so on and so on.
More than anything, I ask you to stop being so afraid of other people based on things we as a nation decided long ago are not reasons to hate or be afraid or to discriminate against other people.

I ask you to allow yourself to open your heart to care about their well-being and try harder to live the message of Jesus and not live in fear. Many of us who are not religious greatly appreciate the messages of love, compassion and justice attributed to Jesus. We believe the world would be a much kinder, more peaceful place if we all -- people of all faiths and those who don't identify with any faith -- could embrace what is referred to as the Perennial Truth of all religions: The oneness of all life and our interconnectedness.

With care comes trust;
with trust come compassion and empathy;
with compassion and empathy come justice and healing;
with justice and healing comes peace;
with peace we can create meaningful, sustainable lives and societies.
But, first, we must care.

‪#‎inthistogether‬

[hollysmom]

1. I know one, FOX is always on her TV.

other than that she is a nice person. Ignorant, but with a big heart.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. So, you're saying she believes he's Muslim...

but she doesn't feel that's a negative thing? She does not equate being Muslim with being a terrorist or terrorist sympathizer?

[hollysmom]

5. I an not sure about that,

But I have a history of knowing people who are bad but good. Like my M-In-Law who would say the most bigoted things, but at the same time she worked with people of all races and religions and when she died, so many showed up at the funeral telling stories about who they were sick and she would take two buses to get to their house and clean for them. SO, despite saying all the obnoxious things others in her family said, she still would help any and everyone and she would always bring a cake when it was someone's birthday or bake cakes for them when it was their kid's birthday and ask nothing.

This particular woman has a Muslim friend that she hangs out with, they have gone on vacation together and has never really said anything horrible about Obama except that she does not like him, and she drops it there. When we get into talk about abortion, she does not go on about baby killing but about how wonderful children are and what a blessing they are in her life, she wishes she could take in every one.

People are weird.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. I agree. People are weird. :) n/t

[mainer]

3. Yes. She even believes he was born in Kenya.

And she's an otherwise intelligent R.N.

We agreed not to talk about it.

But I haven't heard her say anything about him being a terrorist, so I guess I can't answer the second half of your questions.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. I'll repeat my question just above your comment:

So, you're saying she believes he's Muslim but she doesn't feel that's a negative thing? She does not equate being Muslim with being a terrorist or terrorist sympathizer?

[BigDemVoter]

6. Anybody I've heard talking about President Obama being a Muslim talk about it as if it

were the most negative thing in the world. They just don't get it.

First of all, he's not a Muslim. Secondly, if he WERE a Muslim, so what???

[OneGrassRoot]

8. That's my experience as well.

But I paused when I was told that people thinking he's Muslim doesn't mean they also think he's a terrorist/sympathizer.

Maybe people can dislike Muslims -- but I mean more than simply disagree on a religious basis -- yet not think all Muslims support radical Islam?



I don't know. Hence, my question.

[BigDemVoter]

9. Ah got it. . .

I sincerely believe they DO equate all Muslims with terrorism. . . .

I love when people do say negative things, as I respond, "Well, that's insulting, as my sister-in-law is Palestinian and a Muslim, and she's not a terrorist."

[MisterP]

10. oddly intriguing question--most of them don't know any actual Muslims, either

they studied the nativist movements 1840s-1920s and noted that their headquarters were always the most immigrant-free areas of the country--the Irish-baiters headquartered in counties with like 0.05% Papists