It's been awhile since I've written. It's been a busy couple of weeks. Not only for work but for life. Obama was elected, I'm so happy! We celebrated as did millions of other people around the world. We'll see if it changes anything for foreign policy; after Emanuel and Clinton...I don't know. I still think there's going to be way too much preference for Israel. I've had to do some thinking recently about what to do for my future. I am so tired of confronting racism and bigotry against Arabs and Muslims. I feel like all I'm doing is challenging people's biases and it just drives me crazy sometimes. I take it so personally and feel like I'm on a personal quest to change everyone's minds. When I hear ignorant remarks and see the kind of insitutionalized racism that is so accepted now, I just get so upset. I wonder how those who fought for civil rights for African Americans were able to stay mentally healthy through all of the horrible events and comments. It's never easy to do the right thing, and it doesn't make you popular, that's for sure.I have to decide whether or not I'm going to stick with something I'm very passionate about and good at, but which affects me so emotionally, it's exhausting and difficult to carry on, or find a completely different route, to avoid all the ups and downs that have been coming my way ever since I began studying, publishing and discussing the Middle East. I take things so personally and so to heart; and I know that can be a fault. I wish it was as easy as everyone says; to just let it go, ignore it, don't get so upset, let it roll off your back, take a deep breath, walk away, come back tomorrow, let it sit....it's not that easy! Lots of thinking to do. I have to make some major decisions in the next six months. Do I apply for the PhD and devote the rest of my life to researching, publishing, speaking out and fighting for the Arab world; even though there will be plenty more ups and downs, or do I quit and find something completely different where I don't have to deal with the emotional rollercoaster. I know what I'm probably going to choose...I'll take the hard road. I always do.
Thank God someone FINALLY spoke out!!Commentary: So what Obama were a Muslim or an Arab?
Story Highlights Campbell Brown says McCain right to set the record straight about Obama
We've all been too quick to accept that calling someone Muslim is a slur, she says
Brown asks why being an Arab-American should be a disqualifier for higher office
We need to distinguish between radical Muslims and the rest, she says
By Campbell BrownCNNEditor's note: Campbell Brown anchors CNN's "Campbell Brown: Election Center" at 8 p.m. ET Mondays through Fridays. She delivered this commentary during the "Cutting through the Bull" segment of Monday night's broadcast.NEW YORK (CNN) -- You may find it hard to believe that this remains an issue in this campaign, but it does. The candidates, both candidates, are still getting questions about Barack Obama's ethnicity and religion. If you are even semi-informed, then by now you already know that of course, Barack Obama is an American. Of course, Barack Obama is a Christian. Yet just a few days ago, there was a woman at a rally for John McCain incorrectly calling Obama an Arab:Woman at rally: I don't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's an Arab.Sen. John McCain:No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That's what this campaign is all about. He's not, thank you.
Now, I commend Sen. McCain for correcting that woman, for setting the record straight. But I do have one question -- so what if he was?
So what if Obama was Arab or Muslim? So what if John McCain was Arab or Muslim? Would it matter?When did that become a disqualifier for higher office in our country? When did Arab and Muslim become dirty words? The equivalent of dishonorable or radical?
Whenever this gets raised, the implication is that there is something wrong with being an Arab-American or a Muslim. And the media is complicit here, too. Watch Campbell's commentary »We've all been too quick to accept the idea that calling someone Muslim is a slur.
I feel like I am stating the obvious here, but apparently it needs to be said: There is a difference between radical Muslims who support jihad against America and Muslims who want to practice their religion freely and have normal lives like anyone else.
There are more than 1.2 million Arab-Americans and about 7 million Muslim-Americans, former Cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, successful business people, normal average Americans from all walks of life.
These are the people being maligned here, and we can only imagine how this conversation plays in the Muslim world. We can't tolerate this ignorance -- not in the media, not on the campaign trail.
Of course, he's not an Arab. Of course, he's not a Muslim. But honestly, it shouldn't matter.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer.All About
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