Obama
I chose to investigate the story of the rumors of Barack Obama going to a Muslim extremist school when he grew up. This subject interests me, because we have the chance at having the first black president in the history of our country, and he is being attacked when he hasn’t even been nominated for candidacy. This clip from CNN investigates the rumors of Barack Obama attending a Muslim extremist school in Indonesia. This rumor started from a “conservative magazine� and was blown up by no other than our media. The news clip then investigates Hilary Clinton as part of the reason this issue was blown up so large. CNN actually goes to Jakarta, Indonesia and visit’s the school Obama went to and they find no truth to the rumors. It is a public school in a good part of town, that teaches children with no focus on religion. The school does acknowledge the various religions, but they do not teach religion or hate for that matter. CNN puts all of the Barack Obama rumors to rest with this piece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY47URQXU3k
This relates to our class in the way that Barack Obama is the first (potential) black president. I feel he is being targeted not as a candidate, but as a black person. Also, since he was raised as a Muslim, this has another impact on why he is being targeted. This story goes along with the lecture given on 1/25/07. We explored the “Dozen Demons - Dozen Angels� concept in which Obama’s situation relates to quite well. His “inability to fit in,� describes why he is being targeted. He isn’t even a candidate yet, but still he is being targeted. Why? I feel because he is a target because he is the easiest one. Because he was raised a Muslim he is “guilty by association.� The idea that all Muslims are terrorists is completely false, but yet this is portrayed here (even though he is now a Christian). To touch on more, “identity troubles�. Because he is a black man, the entire world sees this before they see a “president�. We never think of a white man running for president as the next white president. Since he is a black man, he faces these troubles that normally would not be faced under the “usual� scenarios.
Comments
As a huge fan of Barack Obama, I am sick and tired of all the racial hype surrounding him. Why does this even matter? Race should have no discussion in the election of our next set of candidates unless it is in regard to a campaign on racism. What does the fact that he is black or he is Muslim have to do with what he is going to do for our country? Nothing. What does the fact that Hillary Clinton is a women have to do with what she wants to do with our country? Nothing. It goes to show just how superficial we all are- the fact that we cannot even begin to get past looks and focus on the real issues. And I also don't understand why some black people are criticizing Obama for not being black enough. It is the same argument- why does that matter? I sincerely hope Barack Obama wins because he has a good head on his shoulders- these comments don't seem to get to him- he is interested in the changes he wants to make instead of his race or religion. This is true of class and gender too. Immediately, we sum up a person in our heads as soon as we see them. We assume that that guy must be poor and immature and gross if his clothes are shabby, we assume that a girl who wants to major in engineering is probably going to be in the lower end of her class just because she is a girl, we assume that race matters when choosing a president. We assume that Obama went to a violent school because he is Muslim. It makes me so angry.
Posted by: Britt J | March 7, 2007 10:04 PM
Well said, Britt. This is the same type of direction I was trying to go with my media response to the Hillary Clinton article. Race and gender should be a non-issue; it is frustrating to see it carry so much weight in a campaign as influential as the presidency. Your above statements perfectly capture my feelings on the issue.
Posted by: Dan S | March 7, 2007 10:19 PM