Seriously?

Submitted by Robinson (Lithuania), Dec 25, 2007 at 08:27

I'm an American living in Syria. Whenever I chat with Syrian cab drivers etc...and bring up the fact that the potential next president of the U.S. has the middle name Husayn they are intrigued. I tell them that he was born of paternal muslim heritage, but is a practising Christian. Never once has anyone responded with any kind of dismay at this fact. Instead they encouraged that someone with a Muslim name could be even considered for the presidency of the U.S.

Are there Muslims out there who might feel differently? Sure. Although I haven't heard anything along those lines from the scores of Muslims I've discussed Obama with. The bottom line is the Muslims who are bothered to the point of refusing to negotiate with America because our president has paternal linkage to Islam yet practises Christianity probably aren't the ones who are ging to be our partners in any kind of peace deal anyway.

Additionally, I have a hunch that Bush, Guliani etc... words and actions regarding the Muslim world has a broader impact on the the latters willingness to conduct negotiations with us then Obama's religious lineage. And finally, what's your point? That we should allow our fear of how the international Muslim community views our president be a determinate in who we vote for?

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