Had an interesting encounter with a co-worker today...

[TTUBatfan2008]

Let me say that his son was killed in a terrorist attack overseas. Anyway, I just asked him if he was keeping up with the Presidential race much and he said he'd been paying some attention to it. I told him I couldn't believe how unprepared Palin was for her interview with Couric and how stupid she came across. Then he brought up the fact that Obama is a Muslim and his son was "killed by them," so "you know..." implying that there's no way he could ever vote for Obama because of that. I said, "He's not Muslim. He's Christian." He responded, "He says he is, but he isn't." I didn't say anything back to him and we ended up drifting off to talk about how Romney and Giuliani's campaigns collapsed while McCain's had a resurgence and the fact that Romney would be much better than Palin as the VP.

Anyway, I really do think the ignorance out there is a bigger problem than the polls show. It's sad but true. I feel bad for the man that his son was killed by Islamic extremists, but that does not excuse him from deliberate ignorance built on prejudice. I'm Christian. I would be incredibly offended if someone told me I was a Muslim when I told them I'm Christian. Christians don't do that to fellow Christians...unless they're black and have a strange name. Then it's somehow excusable to treat a fellow Christian in that manner. It's pretty darn despicable that these people get to vote in my opinion.

[Lars39]

1. There seems to be an awful lot of christians bearing false witness

spreading this lie.

[KatyaR]

17. Well, their preachers tell them that with a wink and a nod,

and they believe it. I'm sure it's a quite widespread belief here in Oklahoma. Factor in subtle (and often not-so-subtle racism, and I swear there are people who would vote for Hitler before they'd vote for a college-educated, well-spoken African-American man.

It's the same reason why that stupid remark about Obama supporting people who killed newborns won't die--people who hate will believe anything if they want to.

I've given up trying to talk politics except with those who I know share similar beliefs to mine, simply because I can't handle the bigotry and racism that inevitably ends up in the conversation. Yes, I'm a coward, but I'd really rather not lose my job because I punched one of my bosses in the face.

[Barack_America]

2. What an unfortunate attitude. I wonder if that is how his son would like to be honored. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. How do you know he's not making up the thing about his son?

He's completely full of shit. How do you tell?

[TTUBatfan2008]

5. No, it's the truth...

his son was killed in a terrorist attack overseas. Very unfortunate incident. He does not like to talk much about it. It was back in the 1990's if I'm not mistaken.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Uh huh.

A mysterious event he doesn't like to talk about.

Was this before or after he ran covert ops for the CIA?

[TTUBatfan2008]

9. Other co-workers have talked about it...

it did happen. His son's widow flew he and his wife in to meet her fiancee to make sure that everything is OK with them.

[mitchum]

29. Which "terrorist attack overseas"? Give DETAILS or I call BULLSHIT

[TTUBatfan2008]

10. douple post.

[Dawgs]

4. He's a racist. Calling Obama a muslim gets him off the hook.

He's either that or mentally retarded.

[TTUBatfan2008]

8. He's a pretty smart guy...

That's just the thing about it. I am in a very conservative area of the country so there are plenty of very smart people around here who choose to believe whatever Limbaugh or the smear emails tell them instead of forming their own opinion. This guy follows the stock market a lot, is very Internet savvy for an older person, and is in general a very nice guy.

[indie_voter]

14. This isn't meant as a flame!!

But being a racist and a nice guy isn't mutually exclusive. Unless you are somebody who looks like the people they hate, they're not going to be foaming at the mouth. And even if they run in to those they hate, they can usually control themselves and remain polite.

I think we as a society (any society, not just ours) expect people who are prejudiced to somehow behave like cartoon character villains. Most don't, and when they don't have to deal directly with what they hate, usually behave just fine.

I feel badly that this person lost a child to terrorists, however it's a measure of his character he can't see beyond Obama's paternal heritage. Smart people believing demonstrably proven false smears seems like an oxymoron to me. They might be smart in a certain field, but can't critically think on a macro level, or can not get beyond their own prejudices to even begin the process of critical thinking. Which demands letting go of ego, letting go of preconceived ideas, letting go of fear of things different than who they are.

[Raineyb]

39. Far be it for me to be a contrarian but I'd have to say that

being a racist and a nice guy isn't mutually exclusive

is a false statement.

Regards

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

20. Yeah. In my estimation 90% of the "he's a muslin" crowd are bigoted.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Lies and deception of that ilk are Standard Operating Procedure for the repukes.

They will do ANYTHING to win...Nothing is too despicable or too low for them to consider as a valid course of action to retain power.

[GalleryGod]

11. Sorry...that's racism under cover.

"He says he is,but he isn't"

I say your co-worker is a liar.:silly:

[TTUBatfan2008]

12. I think that's what it is too...

but I guess the question here for me is just how many people across the country feel this way about it. I think the polls are underestimating the ignorance that exists about Obama's faith.

[Beaverhausen]

13. The "Obama is a muslim" meme is all over the place

I hear it everywhere.

[mitchum]

32. Even on this very thread

if you know what I mean

[LibraLiz1973]

15. The question you may have wanted to ask him was:

WHY does he believe that Obama is a Muslim?
Does the fact that he was married, baptized his children & attended a Christian Church for over 20 years mean nothing?

People are ridiculous.

[crazy_vanilla]

16. preying on the fears of people ... how republican nt

[morillon]

18. Why can't he apply that same logic to others who say THEY are Christian?

Or does he only get to apply it to someone with a different skin color? George Bush says he's a Christian. How do we know for sure? Huckabee says HE'S a Christian, too. Is he lying? What about Romney? Can we PROVE he's really a Mormon?

You have to go by a person's words and deeds, and in that case, there's no other conclusion to draw but that Obama is as much a Christian as than anyone else who calls himself that.

To deny someone else's Christianity on such flimsy evidence is itself PROFOUNDLY un-Christian.

[treestar]

19. I've run into that, too

They believe Obama is a stealth Muslim just pretending to be a Christian. Or they claim to believe that.

[riqster]

21. There's a shitload of Racism in this country

...and that is why we need to get everybody we can to vote Obama. Only massive turnout can save us here.

[Blondiegrrl]

22. I think I'm more offended of the fact that being called a Muslim is somehow a bad thing.

Do people seriously believe that all Muslims are terrorists?

I just can't wrap my brain around that.

[morillon]

24. Oh, I totally agree.

It's like you have to pass a Christian holier-than-thou test before you can even be considered for office.

[BreweryYardRat]

25. That pisses me off.

Not Muslim, so I have no horse in the race, but people assuming all Muslims are terrorists leads to shit like we saw after 9/11, where slobbering inbred rednecks went around killing people who "looked Muslim." Something like 10-20 people, mostly in the South/Midwest. Mostly Sikhs (who actually do wear turbans, unlike Muslims) but also some Muslims and even a Coptic Christian or two.

Stereotyping leads to hate crimes. Always.

[elkston]

23. How bout this one.

If Obama was white (& had an "American" name), and it was confirmed he USED to be a Muslim, but then later converted to Christianity, these same people would give him a pass.

They would claim that his previous experiences with the religion would have given him a greater insight into their thinking. Thus armed with that knowledge he would be an asset to the war on terror.

I kid you not, this is exactly how they would spin it.

[TxBlue]

26. Ye shall know them by their fruits

The guy is most probably prejudiced. Obviously, can't think logically nor for himself but rather is repeating lies from the pulpit or ignorant emails.

Problem is someone like that man most likely won't pick up Obama's book and read his own words. I'm a Christian and I know a few Muslims. No good Muslim, I know of, wants to be known as a Christian so this is just a ludicrious meme that basically frightened bigots spread.

I live in conservative area and don't put Obama stickers or signs up. Put up dem Congress signs up around and people keep taking them 2 yrs ago. Stupid is as stupid does. Neighbor down the road had a mccain/palin sign.. classic rednecks live in a very modes trailer while husband spends thousands on stock cars and stuff. He is a great welder, though!

Another person told me she just loved Bush "because he went to ground 0 and prayed and any other politicians would do that".
Had a couple of immediate reactions,
1- he didn't stop it
and 2- I'm sure you could find tons of pols that would pray and have but didn't argue with her. She had her mind made up and I wouldn't be able to change it.

I mean, anyone who thought Bush was a fine Christian...what could you say to them at this point in the game?

Go see 'W'? :crazy:

[yardwork]

27. The implication that all Muslims are terrorists is outrageous.

It's sad that the man's son was killed by terrorists, but that doesn't make all Muslims terrorists! Do the families of Tim McVeigh's victims hate all Christians?

Your coworker is not only wrong about Obama, his premise is absurd.

[morillon]

28. This post has really bothered me.

I went to bed and got back up because it really stuck with me, and I had to say this:

Obama has been baptized. He accepted Jesus as his savior. He went to the same church for twenty years, far longer than many people go to the same church. He has raised his two young daughters as Christians. In his public dealings, he has dealt with people in a Christian manner.

Those who persist in saying this man is not a Christian would do well to reread this passage:

Exodus 20:16 -- "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

I hear it's a sin to do that.

[mitchum]

30. That's because this post was designed to bother you

[morillon]

31. LOL!

Heh. Your meaning?

[mitchum]

33. see my post 32 above

[morillon]

38. Aha.

[Binka]

35. Do A Search On The OPs Other Concerns And Thoughts

Mitch knows what he is talking about.

[mitchum]

37. It's amazing how some people think that they are "flying under the radar"...

when radar is completely unnecessary; they can be seen with the naked eye :)

[DeeDeeNY]

34. Just curious. Could you ask him why he believes this?

This is why Obama has a "Fight The Smears" section on his website -- to counteract the lies.

[seabeyond]

36. unfortunately i have heard exactly that from a handful of people in amarillo texas. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

40. I never thought we would get 100% of the vote.

I think stories like this don't help. It reminds me of the newspaper report looking for that one person that will say how they can't vote for a Black person....and then putting together a story to give off the impression that most folks are racist that way.

I just can't figure out what these stories do for us....except for worry some folks who have 37 days to go to see if we are going to be totally truly fucked with a McCain presidency.

[morillon]

41. Excellent point.

We all need to stay focused on helping Dems take the White House and both houses of Congress. And if we do happen to run into people who think this way, we screw up our courage and talk to them honestly. I've got a moment like that coming up this weekend. If it doesn't go well, I won't post about it, because that doesn't help anyone else.

For all that I wonder about the intentions of threads like this, one thing it did was help me get my thoughts together on a few dumb-assed things I may hear this weekend and figure out a way to reply. Some of my relatives are racists, unfortunately, and I know now what to do about it. :-D

[CJCRANE]

42. I had a conversation with a co-worker

who says McCain never recovered from the torture in Vietnam, said he could be a Manchurian Candidate and he's too old. I really disagree with age-ism and downplaying McCain's service but I guess some people might feel that way.