U.S. Muslim Leaders Denounce al Qaeda's Slur Toward Obama

[Hissyspit]

Source: CNN

updated 1 hour, 7 minutes ago

U.S. Muslim leaders denounce al Qaeda's slur toward Obama

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Spiritual leaders of New York's African-American Muslim communities lashed out Friday at a purported al Qaeda message attacking President-elect Barack Obama and, using racist language, comparing him unfavorably to the late Malcolm X. Ayman al-Zawahiri said Obama was the "direct opposite of honorable black Americans" like Malcolm X.

The imams called the recorded comments from al Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri, "an insult" from people who have "historically been disconnected from the African-American community generally and Muslim African-Americans in particular."

"We find it insulting when anyone speaks for our community instead of giving us the dignity and the honor of speaking for ourselves," they said in a statement read during a news conference at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial, Educational and Cultural Center. The al Qaeda statement, an 11-minute, 23-second audio message in Arabic with subtitles in English, appeared on the Internet on Wednesday. Its authenticity has not been confirmed.

The speaker also said Obama, former and current secretaries of state Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice and "your likes," fit Malcolm X's description of "house slaves." An English translation of the message used the term "house Negroes," Malcolm X's term for blacks who were subservient to whites. The term refers to slaves who worked in white masters' houses. Malcolm X said those slaves were docile compared to those who labored in the fields. iReport.com: Should Obama react to comments?

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/11/21/obama.muslim.remark/

[FrenchieCat]

1. Little does Ayman al-Zawahiri know that Obama has been out

laboring in the fields.

Someone should contact him and let him know.

[ohio2007]

8. "those people" still keep slaves

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_slavery

wonder where he picked up the term 'house negro'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znQe9nUKzvQ



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwKIUMbi9Jk&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ3rSXw5Rbo&feature=related

[Ispy]

2. Well, then they are the only ones who don't like Obama

I guess it is just natural that Al Qaeda doesn't approve Obama. I read somewhere that he wants to meet with Ahmadinedjad and talk. This would of course break down the 'axis of evil' and Al Qaeda would miss an enemy. Me, personally, I think it is great that Obama wants to approach the world. I just read this article: http://theworldspeaks.info/archives/201 , where the former Chess world champion Kasparov (Wow!) comments about Obama and his politics. And he speaks in the nicest tone you can imagine. What a hope! The first time since year I am a proud of being American!

[qwlauren35]

9. Welcome to DU.

I hope you will be proud for years to com.

[DeSwiss]

3. K&R

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Ironically, they picked the wrong person to identify with that term

Clarence Thomas, Allen Keyes, Michael Steele, Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, Ward Connerly, and the rest of that RW ilk are who they should have referenced. :rofl:

[onager]

14. Clarence "Lawn-Judge" Thomas?

:hi:

[jaysunb]

15. You forgot, Larry Elders

:evilfrown:

[wellst0nev0ter]

5. Why Do Muslims Feel They Have To Answer Every Time Al Qaeda Opens It's Mouth?

Do Christians ever apologize for Bush?

[qwlauren35]

10. We're Minorities - So, it's expected of us.

Specifically, it was the African-American Muslim community that responded, and specifically, the ones who follow El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X).

It's a community that is frequently considered "guilty by association". Heck, they don't even follow Farrakhan, but people think that all African-American Muslims do. (There's a split between those who do and those who don't.)

BTW, the Jewish community frequently weighs in whenever sweeping statements are made, and especially those that don't represent them well.

It's one of the most fun parts of being a minority group. If you don't
repudiate someone else's comment, everyone blames you for what someone else says because it look connected.

Don't you remember how often OBAMA had to do it over the last 15+ months... even though hardly anyone else did? (Admittedly, Gramm had to go after the "whiners" comment.)

Trust me, it gets old, fast.

[Gullvann]

11. They should not have to.

But, when they have chosen to do it?

More power to them.

Another thing though, the comparison between Al Qaeda and Bush is not exactly perfect.

Though, as a Christian and part time Pastafarian.

I apologize :toast:

[amdezurik]

12. if it was not done up front

there would be (and with short memories so common will be) demands for that very statement on FAUX and other hate outlets

[Kolesar]

6. Too bad the New Yorkers busted on Colin Powell

Colin Powell is a changed man and he is trying to make up for actions when he should have known better. His endorsement of Obama was a beautiful statement.

[Phred42]

7. US Muslim leaders in support of Obama?

that will drive the Reich-wing noise machine out of their little minds

[McCamy Taylor]

13. Bin Laden's family is a member of Saudi elite that still keeps African slaves.

Al Qaeda is a joint US-Saudi venture to keep oil prices high and Sunni Muslim faith the orthodoxy in order to prop up the Saud Royal Family.

[Orrin_73]

16. The Saudi royal family is Wahhabi

Wahhabi's do not always consider themselves as sunni. Most sunni muslims like me dont consider wahhabi's as sunni. They are different then us.