When did Hussein become a bad word?!
You know, I keep hearing about the fuss republicans are making about Barack's middle name. They seem to be tying it to Saddam Hussein. So I have two questions:
- Who cares?
- Why pick Saddam?
I mean, first his middle name is irrelevant to how well he would do the job. And second, if his middle name bears resemblance to anyone, it's the late King Hussein, right? At least with our former king, it was his FIRST name, not his last. How did Hussein become a bad word? Who stole this name and co-opted it to mean radical Muslim terrorist? I protest! Vigorously! After all, isn't America supposed to be the land of equality? Don't we strive for lack of discrimination? Do we really want a President and Vice President who try to use people's fears and lack of understanding to further the aims of discrimination? So, again, I protest!
Happy Hussein!
posted by MommaBean @ 2:20 AM
15 Comments
15 Comments:
Heh-heh, same kind of folks who would never dream of naming their son "George".
Negative name associations will always be there. Hussain doesn't bother me, but Saddam and Osama do. The actions of these men spoiled the name, no way to get around it. I still can't stand the name Abigail,due several feisty little girls.
"Hussain" to be will always be the name of Jordan's King to me. Maybe if we say "Hussain, husband of Queen Noor", it will healp?
BTW, I like the name "Barak, as it reminds me of 'blessing' in Arabic. A nice association. :)
You're too right! Hussain is a really common Arabic name, and they are named after the martyr. Barak means "blessed" in Arabic. He was named after his father, a man he only met once. His father wasn't a follower, although his grandfather was, whom the American Barak never met.
We have a presidential candidate who was born and raised in America but happens to be the son of a Kenyan. Some woman says to McCain that Obama is "Arab" and it's so off the mark I wont even comment. I wasn't thrilled with his answer, although I give it to McCain for standing up to this supporter of his. He said Obama is a "family man", as if Arabs aren't!!!
Ugh.
You know when something is so wrong on so many fronts you don't know where to begin?!?
"Heh-heh, same kind of folks who would never dream of naming their son "George"."
Your counter attack is lame.
"Hussain doesn't bother me, but Saddam and Osama do."
They didn't seem to bother your likes whent hey killed in the name of God for the sake of the US. Remember the US support for bin laden in Afghanistan and the US support for Saddam against Iran.
hmmmmmmm
Kinz, unfortunately, there seem to be a lot of them and they mostly seem to congregate to one party. Some sensitivity and awareness training might be approipriate for your party :). See if you can't make that happen, teehee. Oh, and one of the Beans' good friends from nursery was Osama, so I always think of him (extra sweet boy with an awesome mom) and rather like the name. I haven't known a Saddam, so no personal associations with it.
Sharon, I never quite know where to begin these days. So, as you can see, I just seem to begin in the middle.
Anonymous, welcome. Sorry that you saw Kinzi's response as a "counter attack" rather than a comment on the mentality of such people. Perhaps if you re-read it in the spirit in which it was intended. Oh, and I'm fairly certain that no one who reads my blog has any ability to directly impact US foreign policy (certainly not past policy)... Although, if I'm wrong, I'd LOVE to know who they are!
Today while watching a show on NBC, they had a clip of a White American Woman askig McCain:
"Is Obama an Arab?
He answered "no", he said:"we repsect each other although we have our own differences"
Now what made me upset, is since when an Arab is a bad word! I thought the Lady said "Is he the devil?" "Is he a Terrorist?"
now that made me angry and it was still 8am, I shouldnt be watching news that early
Ali, save the news for later in the day (or avoid it altogether as I do unless it comes from the Daily Show). And, at least he was smart enough to know that Barack isn't an Arab... This, however, goes right to my point. How have they managed to turn Arab into a bad word? Hussein into a bad word? Muslim into a bad word? It's ridiculous, IMHO.
MommaBean, you are the greatest. Boy, do we go after each other, attacking and counter-attacking, it's just not right! Thanks for clarifying to anon.
Oh yes, I will see what I can do about that darn party of mine. Say it isn't so!! Oh well, it is. :)
Lil Kinz has a "Jihad" in her class. Little sweetheart, indeed.
Would we be seeing the same issues if this Presidential candidate had a more 'African' sounding name? Would people be making the same problems, NO because it would be '3yb' to have issues with an African American name. This is just a reminder about have far we have not come. And how 'justice for all' doesn't really ring true. (Believe me I have felt it at the American Embassy and that is exactly what I told them.)
Woohoo! Go Nicole. I get treated relatively well at the embassy as I'm what every person world-wide pictures when they think American. But I agree, we seem to have moved to a position where political correctness doesn't apply to a broad segment of the population. Pitiful indeed.
well i guess its just the negative associations .. americans hear hussain and they think saddam, arabs, muslims, middle east .. all bad evil things ..
just like if i heard someones first name is ehud .. a part of me would judge him straight away even though he might be a decent person .. its just human nature i guess ..
Just like Kinzi said, has a cute Jihad in class, I know many Jihad's in Amman, very nice people ;)
Nicole, so what happened at the Embassy, was it in amman? The staff their are a bit rude and snobbish, unlike Americans, I guess they were effected wirth the Government they work for.
The thing with Hussien is attributing any Arabic sound like name with Terrorism, extremest, that is how the Media portrays Muslims and Arabs, it is how they do money and attract viewers. Imagine one news media talking about Jewish Extremist Settlers or McVay as a Christian extremist who blew up the Oklohoma City Building, won't happen, it doenst sell.
Now what bothers me the most is the lack of real effort by Arabs and Muslims to improve thier image. The only media that is doing that is the AlJazeera English Channel, other than that, the Arab Oil money is being invested in concrete and buildings.
I'm cracking up because we just found a tennis instructor - named Osama. I keep telling everyone "We've found Osama!" And I LOVE this guy. He is so patient and such a good instructor.
But, I had no idea how only one side of the Middle East is presented in the US. We see the bombings. Period. We don't see the great guy at my neighborhood store who lets me practice my pathetic Arabic. Are we afraid of the Middle East and people named Hussein? Heck yah. If he is named Hussein, he is dangerous.
simple answer, you made me laugh;)
Jundi, it is human nature, but is fueled by the media in this case.
Ali, can't disagree on anything you said.
Simple, my dear, it's so nice to see Americans come here and realize how one-sided our news is. You've found Osama indeed (and the REAL Osama as well).
yup the media is definitely complicit i agree
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home