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From: Khadijah Musa
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 9:13 AM
Subject: FW: Letter from Barack Obama on His Muslim Heritage
Although a Christian, Obama never hid his Muslim background. His Muslim
heritage is considered particularly vulnerable at a time when many in
the United States still suffer from an acute 'Islamophobia'.
The following letter from Barack Obama explains his stand on this issue.
(Kamaral)
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Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:07 am (PST)
Letter from Barack Obama on His Muslim Heritage
There has been a lot made in the recent weeks about the Muslim history
of my family. Some of the things that have been said are true, others
are false, so I am writing this letter to clear up the misunderstandings
on this issue.
Yes, it is true that I have a name that is common amongst Kenyan Muslims
where my father came from and that my middle name is Hussein. Barack is
a name which means "blessing" and Hussein is a masculine form of the
word beauty.
Since there is nothing inherently wrong with the concept of blessings
from God and the beauty He creates I fail to see the problem with these
names.
Some will say wouldn't it be a problem to have a president with a name
similar to the deposed and executed former dictator of Iraq?
My answer to this is simply no; rather it is the strength and beauty of
America that the son of an African man with a "funny sounding" name,
born under British Colonial Rule, can now be a serious candidate for the
presidency of the United States.
My father was a Muslim and although I did not know him well the religion
of my father and his family was always something I had an interest in.
This interest became more intense when my mother married an Indonesian
Muslim man and as a small child I lived in Indonesia and attended school
alongside Muslim pupils.
I saw their parents dutifully observing the daily prayers, the mothers
covered in the Muslim hijab, the atmosphere of the school change during
Ramadan, and the festiveness of the Eid celebrations.
The man my mother was married to was not particularly religious; but he
would attend the mosque on occasion, and had copies of the Quran in
different languages in the home, and books of the sayings and life of
the Prophet Muhammad.
>From time to time he would quote Islamic phrases such as "no one truly
believes until he wants for his brother what he wants for himself",
"oppression is worse than slaughter", and "all humans are equal the only
difference comes from our deeds".
Growing up in Hawaii with my mother and her grandparents, Islam largely
escaped my mind. My mother installed in me the values of humanism and I
did not grow-up in a home were religion was taught.
It was later while I attended college at Columbia University and Harvard
Law that I became reacquainted with Muslims as both schools had large
Muslims student populations. Some of them were my friends and many came
from countries that our nation now has hostile relations with.
The background I had from my early childhood in Indonesia helped me get
to know them and learn from them and to me Muslims are not to be looked
upon as something strange.
In my experiences up until college a Muslim was no less exotic to me
than a Mormon, a Jew, or a Jehovah's Witness.
After college I settled in my adopted hometown of Chicago and lived on
the South Side and worked as a community organizer. Chicago has one of
the largest Muslim populations in America (estimated to be around
300,000) and Muslims make-up some of the most productive citizens in the
area.
I met countless numbers of Muslims in my job as an organizer and later
on in my early political career. I ate in their homes, played with their
kids, and looked at them as friends and peers and sought their advice.
Therefore, when the tragic terrorist attacks of 9-11 occurred I was
deeply saddened with the rest of America , and I wanted justice for the
victims of this horrific attack, but I did not blame all Muslims or the
religion of Islam.
>From my experience I knew the good character of most Muslims and the
value that they bring to America. Many, who did not personally know
Muslims, indicted the entire religion for the bad actions of a few; my
experience taught me that this was something foolish and unwise.
Later I had the chance to visit the homeland of my father and meet
Muslim relatives of my including my grandmother. I found that these were
people who wanted the same things out of life as people right here in
America and worked hard, strive to make a better way for their children,
and prayed to God to grant them success.
This is what I will bring to the office of the Presidency of the United
States.
I will deal with Muslims from a position of familiarity and respect and
at this time in the history of our nation that is something sorely
needed.
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