All through Obama’s first run for the presidency and ever since then he has been accused of being a Muslim. You notice my language? Accused, I say. And ever since that charge was first leveled at him, he and his allies have defended against it. Defended, I said.
At this point we all know enough of the latest iteration … Donald Trump “failed to correct” one of his supporters when he asserted again that Obama was a Muslim. When confronted about it later, Trump said [notice the language!!!], that it was not his place to “DEFEND” the president. And the supposedly moderate anti-Trump, Ben Carson made headlines just yesterday by declaring that a Muslim could not become a president of the United States.
For full disclosure, I am a Christian. But I am truly puzzled about the failure of public figures of either party to address a more fundamental issue here. Yes, it is important to set the record straight and make sure everyone knows Obama is as Christian as they come. In the context of American politics anything less would be ruinous. But… when will someone stand up and say, what if Obama was a Muslim… so what? Why would that disqualify him, or anyone else for that matter for being president of the United States.
This is really a fundamental issue and I see it as a watershed for our times. Follow me before the fold for more.
I will take a step back here. Like Edward Albee says in The Zoo Story, “Sometimes it’s necessary to go a long distance out of the way in order to come back a short distance correctly.” I live in New York City. Among the many reasons for this is that I am truly in awe of the city as a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious metropolis. Now… according to various standards there are now anywhere between 189 and 206 independent countries in the world.
With its population of 8.5 million people New York City proper, if it were an independent country, would fit smack in the middle of this list, right between Austria (population 8.6 million) and Israel (population 8.4 million). If New York City were an independent country, it would be more populous than 94 (by the most conservative estimate) of the currently existing independent states.
Why do I give all these statistics? Because, in New York City, multiculturalism works, for the most part. Given that ethnic groups and religions from all over the world coexist here in very close proximity, one would wonder why there hasn’t been a bloodbath between, say, all the Muslims here and the substantial Jewish community… or between devout Muslims and conservative Christians… or [substitute your own ethnic or religious conflict here]… New York hosts the St Patrick Day parade, but also the Puerto Rican Day parade… Gay Pride as well as Easter… I live here because it is one of the few places on Earth where humanity, from all walks of life and all corners of the world can feel at home. I live here, in short, because I hope that in New York City, I see an image of what the future may look like, for America as a whole and for the world.
However, for all our protestations of commitment to tolerance and multiculturalism, we as a community of individuals have neglected our work and we continue to neglect it at our peril. It is now clear that within a very short time the world as we know it will change substantially. Migratory and refugee streams will depopulate certain areas and overpopulate others – climate change and armed conflict being the two main culprits. This is now happening in Europe. I will soon write a separate diary on Europe, so I will leave that subject aside, for now. But it must be clear to anyone that the future of the United States, at the least, is multi-cultural and multi-religious. For anyone studying history, it is clear that the country has never been monolithic. But this time, our time, is the watershed which will determine what kind of future we will have, as a country, and as a people.
Multiculturalism does not just happen. I mean it does, but unless we approach it consciously, it threatens not merely disintegration along ethnic or religious lines, but endless violence and strife. Certain events in the modern world can imbue us with pessimism…. If in developed, modern Canada, Quebec wants to secede, if in the United Kingdom we are a breath away from the secession of Scotland, what hope is there for reconciling Muslims and Chirstians?
Again, take a step back for a moment. America, for me, has always expressed loyalty to a creed… not to an ethnos, not to a religion… “… all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among those rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This is America. The place where we can shed atavistic ancient hatreds, where we can all be human in the most basic sense of pursuing a good life for our families and building a better future for our children.
That America is under attack.
We all know it. Yet there is very little pushback, very little argument about this.
The Republican Party has consciously chosen divisive and antagonistic policies and rhetoric. It is the home of Donald Trump who is “looking into” how we can get rid of the Muslims and to Ben Carson who proclaims that a Muslim could not be the president of the United States. It applauds Sarah Palin (my God, why do I need to expend mental space to even remember that name) who said only days ago that high-school kid Mohammed was “asking for it” when he brought his clock to school.
Multiculturalism will not “just happen”. If we, here, in America, hope to have a peaceful future and a good life, we face the ultimate challenge. Ultimate, because perhaps the future of all humanity depends on our ability to find an answer. Ultimate, because after our time, there may not be many more chances to do this and do this well. Ultimate, because if we succeed, we will have done nothing less than save humanity from an endless internecine war in which our future and our energies will be expended.
We need to fight for multiculturalism … for the understanding that human life is enriched by diversity… that it is made meaningful by compassion and tolerance.
I am a Christian, I said above. But I have no problem with a Muslim president of the United States, if there ever was one. I am a white European… But I have no issue with African Americans, or Asians… I have a scholarly and scientific outlook… but I have no issue with those who are devout and who believe in a God.
All climate change studies have forced us to look more closely at ourselves as a species. Our effect on the planet has been devastating. But we here, as perhaps the most enlightened political community in the US, have to also consider our status as a species from the perspective of what we want to be like, in the future. How we want to live? It is time to fight for our vision. It is time to understand that hatred and bigotry will not disappear of their own … It is time for someone to stand up and ask, “What if Obama were a Muslim?... why would that be so terrible?”
I loathe George W Bush for a number of reasons that are too long to enumerate… but one thing he did right. Only 6 days after the 9/11 attacks he visited the Islamic Center of Washington, and delivered an eloquent defense of Muslim citizens of the United States and of Islam as a religion. He spoke of Muslims as “friends” and as “taxpaying citizens”. The Republican Party of today has gone so far off the reservation that it is almost unrecognizable as a responsible governing party in the United States.
It succors anti-Muslim bigotry, supports and passes ridiculous anti-Sharia legislation and gives a platform to Koran-burning pastors who spread hatred and disunion.
America is the place of hope. It is the place of peace. The place of happiness and forgiveness. At one time, early in the Cold War, America counted Muslims as its allies and best friends. But regardless. This is our time. This is our country. And it is time to take it away from bigots and haters. It is time to take a stand against those who would endlessly divide us, who would create disunion. It is time to reclaim America … the place of tolerance, happiness, peace.