Will John McCain Have The Decency To Apologize?
By Mike Ghouse
12 February, 2008.
I turned the TV off on McCain this afternoon.
Every TV appearance I have watched in the last two months, even if it was
for two minutes,
Senator McCain unfailingly delivered his vitriol, "The greatest danger
facing the world is
Islamic Terrorism" and Governor Romney, who is off the radar now, used
"Islamic Jihaad" to
appease the right wing of the Republican party.
Senator McCain in his lust for power looses the basic American decency and
courtesy to show
respect for his fellow Americans who number 6 Million and I am one. It is
an ironic number to
remember.
When I turned the TV off, the words of Edmund Burke's quote came alive as
a sad image, which
was pointed out by a speaker at the Holocaust Museum recently. “All that
is necessary for the
triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Well my friends, I am doing my part. Indeed the world needs to be informed
again and again
about the Holocaust and how it began. Martin Niemöller's poem (first they
came for the Jews…)
resonates with me every day, when I see the eerie silence on the part of
Media when a
linguistic atrocity is committed right in front of their eyes.
When our President claimed they hate us for our freedom, not one media
person asked for the
proof or the polls, they consumed it gullibly. They, whoever they might
be, do not hate America
or Americans. Just as we do not hate any people but their governments,
others do the same.
Manufacturing hate and fear to earn the sup****t is shameful, but
unfortunately that is the
reality concocted by the Bush administration and the rightwing Republicans
have imbibed it.
I am a Muslim and I am for America like 6 million other Muslims. We are
Republicans and
Democrats, we are religious as well as not religious, we are conservatives
and liberals but
mostly moderate just like most of the Americans.
Each one of us is contributing towards the peace and prosperity of our
nation. We are taking
the initiatives and putting in our efforts for one nation under God with
liberty and justice
for all.
On 9/11, I manned a Radio station for eight hours getting the Dallas
community on the air,
grieving with fellow Americans, organizing blood drives, wrote articles to
prove to the enemies
like Osama Bin Laden that all Americans are on the same side, irrespective
of personal faith.
Since then every year, with the sup****t of the Muslim community, I have
dedicated my time on
9/11 to unite people, to bring people of all faiths, races and ethnicities
to come together and
pray for the safety and security of America, and rededicate our pledge to
one nation under God
with liberty and justice for all. To call Islam or Muslims as terrorists
is offensive to me; I
am not one, neither the six million of us are. If there is one, we are
going to turn them over
to the FBI, safety and security of our nation is as im****tant to the 6
millions of as it is to
the 294 Million others.
The fear mongers manufacture enemies to polarize the electorate for crass
political advantage;
Native Indians, African Americans, Jews, Wicca, Atheists and now Muslims
are being targeted by
them. Such short term gains are deleterious to peace and long term
prosperity. As Americans, we
need to stand up for each other for the good of every American.
Our leaders should demonstrate their leader****p in building goodwill among
all Americans and
make America a model nation for coexistence and harmony. We need to make
peace and prosperity
as our goal and our leaders should take that pledge to mitigate conflicts
and nurture goodwill.
Every one will win at the end.
I expect Senator McCain to drop the hate rhetoric and apologize to Muslims
in America, or at
least have the decency not to use the words "Islamic Terrorism" or
"Muslims Terrorism". Call
Terrorism for what it is, do not suffix or prefix or hang my religion to
the evil acts; fear
mongering is also evil. I am a Muslim and all the Muslims that I know in
America are working
hard to keep us safe and secure. If you do not have moral courage to
apologize, the least you
can do is restore decency in your language.
Two decades ago, when I chose to become an American, I found myself in
tune with the Republican
party; liberty, less government, fiscal responsibility, capitalism,
security and peace through
strength. Today, the party is not the same and it does not reflect those
values any more. When
the Presidential candidate and a few (or more) Republicans resort to this
divisive rhetoric, it
puts many Republicans like me to re-evaluate being Republicans.
References:
http://www.mikeghouse.net/Articles/Republican-or-Democrat-which-way.asp
http://www.mikeghouse.net/Articles/John-Mcain-the-Bush-lite-Neocon.asp
http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/UnitydayUSA_2007.asp
http://www.mikeghouse.net/Articles/Did-Senator-McCain-Betray-America.asp
Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker, Writer and a Moderator. He is a
frequent guest on talk radio
and local television network discussing Pluralism, politics, Islam,
Religion, Terrorism, India
and civic issues. His comments, news analysis, opinions and columns can be
found on the
Websites and Blogs listed at his personal website www.MikeGhouse.net.
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