This morning, my husband received one of those “FW: FW: FW: FW:” emails, full of untruths. You know these emails: they are sent along whether or not the sender has actually read it through, much less verified the content. This one stated that perhaps we should be suspicious of all Muslims in our country because they cannot be “good” Muslims and “good” Americans simultaneously (although that particular big word was not used). The “reasoning” was that their religion requires allegiance to Allah, not God; to the Quran, not the Bible; to Mecca, not America. It stated that Muslims do not accept the US Constitution and that when we declare “one nation under God,” we’re referring to the Christian God, which is loving and kind, not Allah, because he is never referred to as the “heavenly father.”I knew where the email was going next: Barack Hussein Obama. Of course. The email called on us to WAKE UP! Because Barack Obama—a Muslim—wants to be our President. It said that Barack Obama was sworn into his current office on the Quran, not the Bible—and that he has stated he will be sworn in as President on the Quran. And that he refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Or to put his hand on his heart when the national anthem is played.
I so want to reply to this email like this:
Barack Obama is a Christian, not a Muslim, you ignorant asshole.
But I can’t, because the sender was a member of D’s family. And we have to visit them in a few short weeks. We’ll be there on Election Day. Talk about bad timing.
Reader, how does one reconcile one’s belief in equality, truth, and religious freedom with the need to respect one’s in-laws?
I am at a loss.
10 comments:
Blah, makes you mad huh? Especially when you think people who haven't taken the time to educate themselves might actually believe the bull*$#!
Lately, I've been getting the FWD: FWD: FWD:s with the thought that 85 billion dollars should be distributed to the 200 million tax payers b/c every household would get $425,000. The problem with that is that the MATH is way off and that would only give households $425. I love it.
You know, I wouldn't be surprised if my in-laws also felt this way, but there have not been any emails. Best wishes for the trip...
I don't know the answer to that question. My only suggestion is to never discuss politics or religion with them- and don't read their emails. I have a friend, whom I have known for some 30 years- and she KNOWS without a doubt where I stand politically, yet she continues to send me that ignorant bullshit. I have taken to simply deleting without reading.
My condolences on having to deal with such crap. Just know that there are many of us out here who support you 100%!
As the daughter of a MUSLIM, who served his country during Vietnam, and then as a Police Officer for 32 years, I'd have to personally say:
:-b................
I want to know how come being Muslim (or a Christian Arab or an African American or a Polish American or...) prevents you from being a "Good" American.
Sorry honey. Sore spot. ;-)
No sorry necessary, please. I left out all of my most basic beliefs that a person's spirituality does not matter to me at all. I don't give a rat's ass if Obama's a Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Taoist, Poohist, or a follower of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. He happens to be a Christian but this ignoramus (a/k/a my father in law) thinks he's a Muslim AND therefore unfit to be President. It's too much to comprehend and I'm so happy that Colin Powell schooled a bunch of people that "SO WHAT" if he WAS a Muslim--that in itself should not be a barrier to ANYTHING. I think that the religion test (the Christian test) of candidates is despicable.
I'll tell you. I would just ignore it. I mean think about it, if they are so far into the hysteria that they are actually forwarding things that ludicrous, I rally don't think anything you say is going to help. It's looking pretty much like Obama is going to win,(and I live in a very red state), so when he does they will see that he's got his hand on a bible and the rest will unfold.
I hope you made it through that visit with some measure of grace and your tongue still in one peice. I know that I have spent that last month biting the hell out of mine....and sometimes forgetting and making enemies out of people who are funny about being okay with spouting their ideology but being offended when you spout yours!
Thanks, gals for your thoughtful comments on this ancient post! The visit went well, I ignored the racist, and "we" won the election. I made no enemies, and my husband still loves me!
Ugh. The only thing that makes me feel any better about this stuff is the fact that, despite all of the false information that was circulated prior to the election, he won!
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