Christians, Politics and E-Mails…Oh My!
Before I begin please remember the following as you read.
- I don’t know whom I am voting for in 2008.
- I am perfectly at peace with you voting for whomever you choose for whatever reasons you choose because the right to vote is yours and how you use that right is up to you. I will say that I’m glad we only get one vote each.
- What follows is NOT an endorsement for a specific candidate - read #1.
—-
In recent months I have received several emails claiming Senator Barack Obama is a radical Muslim hiding in the sheep’s clothing of Christianity. The emails are slightly different, but their sentiments are essentially the same.
1. Obama is a closet Muslim.
2. Obama attended a “madrassa” which is commonly thought of as a “Muslim seminary” or “religious” school for sorts. The email claims that the school teaches Wahabbism which is the same radical teachings that created Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad on the industrialized/Western world.
3. He’s only been a Senator for 100 days.
4. Obama is using the cover of Christianity to win the Presidency of the United States of America and has no real relationship with Christ.
5. When he was sworn into office Obama did not use the Bible but instead used the Koran.
6. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches.
At quick glance, some of these are laughable and anyone with a small dosage of common sense would recognize at least one of them as false immediately. I pick number six as the most laughable. Turns his back and slouches? Please. If he were trying to pull the biggest hoax America has ever seen in a presidential race, would he really be so blatant as to slouch and turn his back on the flag? Would not a person perpetrating such a conspiracy be the tallest and most proud before the stars and stripes so as to get the most votes and win? I know this comes from a TIME magazine photo and some video taken during a singing of the national anthem, where he clearly has his back to the flag along with every other candidate but it doesn’t give the whole story. Which you can read here.
There are a number of things that bother me about these emails, but I will focus on one.
Truth.
In each email there is a claim that these facts have been “verified” through Snopes. For those who don’t know, Snopes is recognized as a “truth-meter” of Urban Legends for the Internet. If you want to find out what’s true in the online world, Snopes is the place to go. Does Coca-Cola really have cocaine in it? Go to Snopes. Does Jell-O really contain bones and hides? Go to Snopes. Are these claims regarding Barack Obama true? Go to Snopes. And that’s what I did.
Snopes gives a full account of each claim and then debunks it point, by point. You can read for yourselves here. Is Snopes the end all be all of Internet truth? I don’t know. But I do know that if each person who claimed to have gone to Snopes actually went to Snopes, I wouldn’t be writing this.
Every person I received the email from is a self-proclaimed follower of Jesus Christ. I know there is a sense in Christian circles that Republicans are right and Democrats are wrong. Too many times I’ve heard that if Jesus were alive right now, He’d be a Republican. I don’t know what Jesus would be, but I hope He wouldn’t be either a Republican or a Democrat. For the life of me I can’t imagine that a man-made political system could be all-sufficient for the Holy One. For review, here’s what I didn’t say: Jesus is a Republican. Jesus is a Democrat. Party affiliation is unimportant.
As believers, no matter our political party affiliation or un-affiliation (as in my case) we are bound to a higher standard than that of party affiliation. Every day we hear people complain “Nobody in politics tells the truth” or “Everyone in DC is a liar”. People decline to vote because they don’t know who or what to believe. I’ve felt that frustration myself.
But here is what angers me the most about these emails. As believers in Christ we have been called to speak the truth, the whole truth. I daresay that includes emails. Even in emails we forward. To new believers we warn, “don’t take a verse out of context” lest you be led astray into falsehood. Why are we not quick to apply that same principle to other written words? Had any one person who forwarded the email done his or her job and verified the information before sending it out they would have concluded that at most, that there is no evidence that the claims are true or, at minimum, the claims are misrepresented and incomplete.
I don’t know if Senator Obama would make a good President (see #3). I don’t know if I will vote for him (see #1). But I do know that the emails floating around and the article in Insight Magazine (one of the originating sources) were debunked and yet they continue to travel the Internet like flies, multiplying. They are filled, essentially, with gossip. Perhaps we choose not to look at it that way because it’s only an email. We rationalize by telling ourselves we didn’t say anything. Or, we say he’s put himself in the race for the highest public office in the land so he should expect treatment like this. It’s true, he did. But when does someone else’s actions prove gossip to be appropriate? Never.
Posted on January 13, 2008 8:08 PM
Comments
I love that you wrote this. i got one of these forwards and thought to myself how ridiculous some of the claims were. thank you for writing this and making a convincing argument that can really hit home. nicely done...
Posted by: Andrew Oldenburg | January 13, 2008 9:37 PM
Right on. Political mudslinging is ridiculous, and for Christians to add to it is deplorable. Those (false)statements made about Sen. Obama are serious things to say without having done the homework to check them out. As Christians, we are to pursue and speak truth, and often that means not taking the news at face value. Excellent article.
Posted by: Matt Wheeler | January 14, 2008 9:30 AM
Thanks for writing this. I was at a restaurant yesterday and the people sitting in the booth behind me were debating over whether Obama was Muslim or Mormon. They "knew" he was one or the other, they just couldn't figure out which.
Based on other portions of their conversation, it was obvious that they had just gotten out of church.
I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at that point. I'm not a politician, but I still know the difference between Mitt Romney, Barak Obama, and Osama Bin Laden.
Posted by: Trisha | January 14, 2008 11:32 AM
i often go out to lunch with my grandparents when i'm home, and when i do, it's inevitable that they will tell me that obama goes to a terrorist church (whatever that means). they're wonderful people, but they get a little mixed up with all of the televangelists and the christian right.
so thanks for writing the article. it's good to know that other people are searching for truth in all of this campaign nonsense.
Posted by: Kate | January 14, 2008 4:18 PM
A friend of mine told me the other day that he doesn't really care who gets into the White House, as long as it's not Hillary or Obama. With him being a staunch conservative, I understood and expected his hatred for Hillary, but I was a little surprised by the strong dislike for Barack. So I asked him why not Obama? His response was that his name sounds like a terrorist. That was it. No more reason other than his name has an Arabic sound to it, and thus a "terrorist" sound to it.
Pretty sad I guess, but I just think it's hilarious.
Posted by: Eric | January 14, 2008 8:45 PM
Thank you. You are so right, this just isn't about the elections, it's about us a human beings, and it applies to all aspects of life. Good eye opener.
Posted by: Tara Shuster | January 15, 2008 8:59 AM
This was a great well written response. It's saddens me that there are Christians out there(including friends of mine) who slander Obama's name. When asked the reason why they dislike him they use these false rumors like the ones shown above and say his name too closely sounds like Osama Bin Laden.
Posted by: Caleb | January 15, 2008 9:22 AM
Does anyone else just want to *SCREAM*?! That's all I have to say.
Posted by: Penny Carothers | January 15, 2008 3:06 PM
How utterly absurd that anyone would have the audacity to call Obama a radical Muslim!
Everyone knows he's a raging left wing lunatic! Sheeeesh!
Posted by: Bob | January 16, 2008 3:35 AM
Thank you for being honest in your article. That happens so rarely now-a-days.
Posted by: Megan | January 16, 2008 7:23 AM
Amen, sister! I believe you hit the nail on the head.
Posted by: Karen | January 16, 2008 9:43 AM
What a good well written article.
I truly think everyone feels the same way about the mudslinging. I don�t get how they cut each other up to pieces and then we go out and vote for one of them after hearing all the dirty laundry. By the time they get done you don�t trust any one of them on either side.
A few years ago I saw Obama at some convention (don�t remember which one) and couldn�t believe how someone unknown as he was at the time came up that fast and you could tell you were going to hear more from him in the future. He is a great orator and very fast on his feet but I guess you might say he hasn�t paid his dues. That is more where they seem to be coming from.
I don�t know either who to vote for but I admit I too thought he was a Muslim so their media hype is working. The mudslingers couldn't find out much dirt on him so they tried to come up with one of the more serious things they could think of...he's an underground Muslim. It's a shame but after 911 no one would be too anxious to elect a Muslim President at this time. Maybe in the future but not yet. Still this being untrue is hurtful but this will not stop until America starts complaining more about it...
Posted by: Sidney | January 16, 2008 9:56 AM
An extremely well-written article! Hopefully, this writing will shed some light on the importance of people seeking the real truth with this important election coming up.
Posted by: Mary C. | January 16, 2008 2:37 PM
Great Article.
I have been pondering Obama as well and the only real concern I have with him is his involvement in the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also young in government, but the outlines he draws in his book are too positive to ignore.
On the other hand, I am actually choosing to support Congressman Ron Paul for the Presidency. That being said, there are similar false emails and blog rants about him being racist and some sort of major "destructor" of civil rights which are completely false. Despite Congressman Paul having addressed these issues, the blog posts and articles continue to fly around.
As a Christian myself, I have to admit I find it slightly hypocritical of some Christians I know that want to keep the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan going and will therefore vote for someone who either wants to continue the wars or keep the 15 permanent military bases so that we can possibly have more wars there in the future. (Anyone who studies the issues of why terrorism is continuing to breed and US involvement in the Middle East will come to learn the facts of what has happened and the truth of what will come) Not only is this wrong by modestly general moral standards, it is also in violation of many international laws and our own U.S. Constitution. The president (whoever elected) should never proclaim to be "holier" than any other politician or American. It is the job of the president to uphold the Constitution against all opponents, foreign and domestic. That's it.
Posted by: Ethan | January 16, 2008 2:56 PM
Great article! I know for sure that I will not be voting for Barak Obama, however I too am dismayed by the outrageous attempts to discredit people based on obvious untruths. You did a terrific job of applying critical thinking to a well balanced article. Way to go Melisa!!!
Posted by: Jeff Allen | January 16, 2008 3:12 PM
I am a blue dog democrat, an undecided voter and a Christian. When I got the email that is circulating about Barack Obama, I did forward, but also shared some Biblical background on Ishmael and Isaac, and some history of the Muslim - Christian standoff. I read some of the Koran and included excerpts, but warned readers not to take it out of context, just as you cannot take the Bible out of context. I forwarded the email and asked readers to do some homework, as I did. We shouldn't follow anyone blindly, particularly in politics. Thank you for sharing what you wrote, as I no longer "assume" Mr. Obama is a Muslim, radical or otherwise. Let's all pray for America.
Posted by: Paula | January 16, 2008 4:26 PM
it's all bullsh**. who gives a crap if obama's muslim, anyway? i turn and slouch at the flag...
Posted by: ariele | January 17, 2008 12:55 PM
Very good article...insightful...I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 17, 2008 3:43 PM
Very well written, although I don't agree with your viewpoints on many of the items, I think your points are well thought out and articulated. If more people took the time to build logical arguments vs. acting solely on emotions and listening to the media, I would have more confidence in the process. Thanks.........
Posted by: Craig Weiss | January 17, 2008 8:51 PM
Amen Sister!
We do wonder why Christians are portrayed as not thinking, but here is merely one of zillions of examples where we don't think. It's important to think.
Christians seem to sometimes get caught up in an "us" vs "them" mentality. The world=bad. The church=good. But the world isn't inherently any worse than the church. Both are created by God. Both are fallen with Adam. We are to be different from the world, but in a far more nuanced and loving way than just cavalierly trashing the an image-bearer's character, as though they're the sports team we hope to beat.
We find our Lord reaching out to just such "supposed" Obamas, where rightly or wrongly a negative reputation exists among the people. Zachheus for example: Zachheus was not just a wee little man. He was a wee little powerful man - a corrupt traitor. But there goes Jesus reaching out to (eating and staying with) the tax collectors and sinners.
Not only did he not perpetuate Zachheus' bad reputation, which would be easy enough in our email case - just don't forward it. But he also had compassion - eyes of love and hope, that Zachheus could be different. Where in scripture are we called to assault the character of another in order to manipulate public opinion such that "my conservative candidate" will WIN!?
Perhaps a contributor to the problem is our need to find our true identity in the deep waters of our Savior, Jesus, instead of this juvenile "us" vs "them" online bickering. If He is our Lord, and our identity is tied up in who He says we are as His children and citizens of the Kingdom, then there would be less of a felt need to define ourselves by the world's partisan standards and categories.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's easy. But, the antidote is KNOWING we (the church) are the apple of His eye, and that He longs for every person He uniquely created to KNOW that as well.
Posted by: Janine Anderson | January 17, 2008 10:25 PM
Penny:
YES.
Posted by: Cate | January 18, 2008 3:11 PM
Penny and Cate:
Why?
Posted by: Anonymous | January 19, 2008 7:49 PM
Well, finally someone said what I was thinking. I also received this information on Obama many times and recently noticed, in a forward from a family member, that she had included my friends. Much to my dismay. I quickly did some research of my own and discovered many incorrect statements. I'm not sure of the best candidate for the job, I just know smear campaigns are not a new tactic. Lets get our facts straight.
Posted by: elyse boulanger | January 22, 2008 10:03 AM
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/januaryweb-only/104-32.0.html
Posted by: s.k. knicely | January 24, 2008 10:30 AM
Oh how I wish that some of my Christian friends would send me that e-mail. But they won't send it to me because in past years, I have replied to everyone on the sent to list by debunking similar types of spam.
Posted by: Cathy | January 26, 2008 11:47 PM
Just a quick comment on the last paragraph, I agree, I don't like being lumped into a stereotype of always missing the point either and being uniformed and stupid. However there is another stereotype that I would love to be included in: crazy, fanatical, he's out of his mind...I want to be the guy who is willing to step into someone's world and tell them the gospel no matter what...a story that is outrageously off the wall if you are living in disbelief...a God, creation, the fall, heaven, hell, redemption??? What on earth are you talking about?? -they might respond. But we tell them anyway, and we tell them out of deep compassion that stems from the indescribable love of Jesus.
How did people respond to Jesus when he walked the earth? They worshiped him one week and the next week they nailed him to a cross...they didn't understand him, they didn't agree with him, and they thought he was a raging lunatic spitting in their holy faces by claiming to be God. In their eyes Jesus was slinging mud unnecessarily...onto their holy ground.
Sometimes as Christians we will be lauded for what we do but at other times we should all be happy to take the role that Jesus took while he was here, despised and rejected...nevertheless is in no-way necessary for us a believers to search for that identity or especially to slander and sling mud and spread gossip in order to make people think we are fanatics.
A quiet spirit, a heart for Jesus, and a commitment to following in the righteous paths of God, and a willingness to share the gospel will be all it takes for us to get labeled as misfits in our pagan society.
Posted by: Joseph | January 27, 2008 12:14 PM
Great artical! We should all do our due deligince find truth and to make an informed descision, but most importantly we must ask for God's guidance on who we should vote for. There's no perfect canidate just like in old testament times there was no perfect king but there were thoes whom God consider good by looking at their heart.
Posted by: Christina Dixon | January 29, 2008 7:13 PM
A wonderful article and wish there was a way to make people understand how what negative things they say that they don't even know about is only confirming what people think about them.
Posted by: DSachetti | March 10, 2008 2:35 PM