We have been hearing a lot about the Muslim faith ever since the start of the 2008 US Presidential year. However, we had not heard much about the Muslim-American vote until recently. But, there have been plays about the misconception of the religious faith of Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama of Illinois.
So far, it was revealed that Muslim-American voters are getting very energized by the US Presidential Election race between Obama and GOP Presidential nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona.
Former Army General and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a prominent member of the GOP, had recently given his endorsement to Obama. So far, Powell expressed his frustration of the misconception of Obama’s religious faith and the demonization of Islam.
“What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?” Powell asked.
“It troubled me. We have two wars. We have economic problems. We have health problems. We have education problems. We have infrastructure problems. We have problems around the world with our allies. So those are the problems the American people wanted to hear about, not about [1960s radical William] Ayers, not about who is a Muslim or who’s not a Muslim,” Powell added.
Throughout the duration of the US Presidential race, there has not been much ground touched with the Muslim-American community.
Nafees A. Syed, gives a commentary on how Obama and McCain should seek out votes and support from Muslim-Americans. Syed is currently a junior at Harvard University and an editorial editor of the The Harvard Crimson.
She comments that both Obama and McCain have overlooked and possibly snubbed the Muslim-American population. Syed adds that there is hope for acceptance of Muslim-Americans after Powell had spoken out in defense of Muslims.
Syed comments that Muslim-Americans have fled to the Democratic Party due to anti-Muslim rhetoric coming from the GOP candidates. However, she adds that it does not seem that they are being embraced by the Democratic Party either.
Syed says that she is waiting and hoping that she and other Muslim-Americans can be accepted in the country. So far, Powell had said that there is nothing wrong with being a Muslim. However, Syed and many others are waiting for Obama to say the same thing.
So far, Obama has not.
At the end of her commentary, Syed gives her thanks to Powell. As Election Day on November 4 draws near, perhaps we will hear more from the Muslim-American community.
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