Here is something that has been grinding my beans for a couple of days. John Zogby writes about it on Huffpo
[...]on Friday, after a supporter called Senator Barak Obama "an Arab", Senator John McCain came to the defense of of his political opponent by saying, "No, ma'am. He's a decent family man and citizen..." From this we are left to infer that an Arab man is less then a "decent family man."
I picked up on this as soon as I read about and it sent me into a ballistic rage. Zogby writes:
"Enough is enough! From the beginning of this campaign there have been those who have used Muslim and Arab in an effort to smear Barak Obama. This exploitation of bigotry and the stoking of racist fires to forward an agenda is reprehensible. This is not only offensive to the Arab Americans, but to all Americans. As any ethnic group who has ever been used to scare the electorate knows, this is a dangerous game that tragically can ends with innocent people being hurt.
Indeed!
I think that canvassers and phone bankers may run into this. I am overseas so I won't have the opportunity or the pleasure to encounter such bigotry. But for those of you back home who do, I suggest this...
Simply ask those people why they do not support the officers leading our troops into battle.
They will probably be shocked and say "huh?"
Let me introduce you to one of our own prominent Arab Americans (sorry Casey Kasem doesn't count, always hated American Top 40)
جون أبي زيد
General John Abazaid, Commander CENTCOM
(aka "The Mad Arab" from his West Point class)
Abizaid was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, Class of June 1973. He started his career with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg (my first regiment STRIKE HOLD!), North Carolina, where he served as a rifle and scout platoon leader. He commanded companies in the 2nd and 1st Ranger Battalions, leading a Ranger Rifle Company during the invasion of Grenada. In 1983, he jumped from an MC-130 onto a landing strip in Grenada and ordered one of his Rangers to drive a bulldozer like a tank toward Cuban troops as he advanced behind it -- a move highlighted in the 1986 Clint Eastwood film, Heartbreak Ridge. - From Wikpedia
Yes, we can see now how those Arabs are so different that they cannot be good Americans
Major U.S. Decorations and Badges
Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Bronze Star
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Combat Master Parachutist Badge (with 1 bronze Jump Star)
Ranger Tab
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Can't you understand now how those Arabs could never be good solid Americans with American values?
So, when you are canvassing and making phone calls, and that little old lady with blue hair says that she can't vote for an Arab. I suggest that you say firstly that Obama is not an Arab and secondly ask what is wrong with being an Arab anyway? Once they walk into the logical trap, just remind them (regardless of your personal opinion on the war, it's not relevant to this), that a very distinguished American four star general led our troops in Iraq who happens to be an Arab American, fluent in the language and a brave and courageous man.
And that's all I have to say about that