Religion is the new Racism

Barack Obama’s unprecedented success as the first African-American presidential candidate favored to be the democratic party nominee has ignited a national debate on the role of race in politics. While it seems prima facie that race and the ceilings imposed on minority candidates would be a defining dialogue surrounding the campaign season, what has emerged is another type of discrimination, based on religious association.

Mitt Romney’s belief in Mormonism was viewed as an oddity and a potential strike against him as a candidate. With respect to Obama, however, a more insidious type of discrimination has surfaced from a sustained opposition. Claims that Obama is a devout Muslim have been levied by anti-Obama groups, and expose how this type of prejudice has a widespread level of acceptance, particularly following September 11^th, 2001. What differentiates this anti-Muslim discrimination from racial discrimination is the accompanying questioning of loyalties. I received a particularly disturbing email identifying why it is that Muslims could never be good Americans, citing evidence of their unwavering loyalty to their religion and disregard for humanity. At the conclusion of this email was a short yet powerful statement: Barack Obama is a Muslim. The fact that he denies being Muslim is irrelevant. The larger concern is that for many, the fact that he could be is cause to question his devotion to his country and find it acceptable to believe him to be unfit for office. What appears to be happening in the aftermath of September 11^th is a relaxing of vigilance against prejudice, in whatever shape it may take. Attacking Obama based on race would engender a chorus of voices citing racism, however, claiming Obama is Muslim to garner support in opposition to him seems to have slipped through the radar.

If this primary season, for both Republicans and Democrats alike, has been a year of ‘firsts’, it should also serve to remind us that we cannot as a nation shift our prejudices to accommodate the ‘politically correct’. We must examine prejudice wherever it exposes itself, and seek a better definition and reality of equality.

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written by Grassroot Vizir, February 14, 2008

Discrimination based on religion has certainly become more acceptable than that based on race. In a sense though, it makes more sense. Religion tells you a lot more about a person's values and character than race does, which is something genetic that cannot be changed. Not that I'm saying religious discrimination should be prohibited.

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written by mash, February 26, 2008

as a muslim living in the midwest, i feel a lot of tension and discrimination. mainly, people dont say it to your face, but you can feel it. people are really suspicious of you. theres definitely been a lot more discrimination since 911 for us.

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