Dear John McCain,
Hi. How are things? Busy and exhausting? I’m sure. I can’t even imagine maintaining the kind of schedule you have these days, but that’s just one of the reasons why I will never run for President of the United States. Or of anywhere else for that matter.
Anyway, you might be wondering why I’m writing to you, so I’ll tell you. I first heard of this a few days ago and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Remember?
I get it and all. I do. I get that you didn’t mean it like that right? I mean, I’m sure that when you heard the word “Arab” you thought you heard the word “terrorist” because it’s an easy mistake and they practically mean the same thing so you were really defending Obama by saying that he was a decent guy. Totally understandable, yeah? Exactly.
I’m an Arab, Mr. McCain. And let me tell you: if there is one thing that’s true about my people it’s definitely that we hate our families. Oh, we may pretend to be a family-oriented culture while we sit around and eat with our hands like barbarians and talk about things like the weather and work and sometimes we watch football soccer on TV. And of course none of us will rest until you stop eating with a fork.
I bet nobody’s ever told you that’s the Arab agenda. But I can’t keep it a secret anymore. That’s it: no forks for anyone in our brave new world where every McDonald’s will serve falafel and you will drink hot tea even during the sweltering heat of August and you will like it.
Seriously, you will like it. The tea is magnificent.
If I may be serious for a moment, instead of being a jerk like I was in the preceding paragraphs, I want to tell you that I do get it, Mr. McCain. I do. You don’t actually want people to fear Barack Obama. That’s awfully nice of you. But here’s the thing: your reaction to the word “Arab” is seriously not cool. It is not a slur, and should not be reacted to as if it were one. Because you know what? That makes it a slur. Very smooth on your part. Way to go.
The only problem with calling Barack Obama an Arab is that it is incorrect. He’s not an Arab. It would be okay if he were though, right? Just like any other ethnic group on the planet, Arabs are just people. Some of us are assholes and some of us are cool, and it takes getting to know us individually before you can tell. Perhaps this was an accident, on par with my fellow prisoners. Or maybe it says something about what your opinion is of the approximately three million of us living here in the United States. Either way, I just wanted to take the time to let you know that I am decent, I am a citizen, I love my family, and I am not voting for you.
Sincerely,
Jamelah
P.S. Isn’t falafel at McDonald’s a horrible idea?
Oh, thank god. I mean, I was pretty sure that I wasn’t the only person that felt he was spinning “decent” as the opposite of “Arab,” but it’s nice to have one’s WTF? feelings validated.
By: Brittney on October 14, 2008
at 12:08 am
Jamelah, if everyone in this country were as truly patriotic as you, these dangerous morons would never make it to their conventions, much less emerge as candidates. you are what is (still) great about America. thanks for being here.
By: Steven Hussein D. on October 14, 2008
at 12:11 am
well said.
By: Leaca on October 14, 2008
at 12:33 am
Jamelah, you’re brilliant and said it beautifully.
By: Girl With Curious Hair on October 14, 2008
at 1:17 am
Just think of it this way-when “middle America” starts being afraid of you because of your ethnicity you know you’ve made it in this country. Welcome to the club!
Seriously, very well said. Why can’t the extremist right read blog posts like this? Really, is it too much to ask?
By: SA on October 14, 2008
at 1:59 am
Jamelah, I love this post. I really hate ignorance and this McCain/Palin ticket is all kinds of ignorance. All kinds. I also wish we could get this out to all those people who follow his thinking and those who are just too crazy/stupid/whatever to even realize they’re crazy/stupid/whatever.
Also, I really like eating without utensils. I’d be an easy convert
.
By: Cheryl on October 14, 2008
at 7:34 am
I like falafel and tea and I hate forks. Can I get onboard with your Arab agenda?
It’s driving me crazy that a) people don’t know the difference between Arab and Muslim, b) people don’t know that Obama isn’t either one, and c) they keep saying “Arab” like it’s something bad. I don’t even know which of those battles to fight first.
That’s why I don’t feel that bad about McCain, because he got slapped with a faceful of ignorance and he only addressed part B, but AT LEAST HE ADDRESSED SOME OF IT. So much of this ignorance has been floating around (and I’m told that it’s fueled by McCain campaign offices, but I don’t know whether to believe that). I’m glad that he publicly addressed that woman’s ignorance, and I wish he’d addressed all of A, B and C, but I can also understand how he would just want to get that line of questioning over with so he could go back to talking about himself instead of defending his opponent from his own ignorant supporters.
It would have been better if he had prepared a statement that covered A, B and C instead of just having a knee-jerk reaction in a crowd, but as I said, he’s treading a fine line between puffing himself up and also trying not to look like an a-hole for supporting lies about his opponent.
I spent most of Saturday reading about Gayle Quinnell on the Internet and it depressed me mightily because there are so many people like her out there…
By: srah on October 14, 2008
at 8:10 am
OMG, I wrote a novel in your comments. But here’s my point: I really really hate forks.
By: srah on October 14, 2008
at 8:10 am
word.
By: wifey on October 14, 2008
at 8:55 am
You just know that McDonalds would deep fry the falafel and force it down your throat with a fork.
Otherwise, brava indeed. This campaign is getting RIDICULOUS can it be November 5th already?
And if Tina Fey leaves Earth, I’m going with her.
By: all the wine on October 14, 2008
at 9:20 am
Wait, you mean Arabs are people? Like, people with personalities and stuff–not just bomb-carrying cyborgs? I mean, I knew they breathed oxygen and stuff, but…..this changes everything.
Thank you a thousand times for saying this–and for keeping your head at the same time.
(I do, however, think that McFalafel sounds kind of awesome. Whatever, agree to disagree.)
By: lesley on October 14, 2008
at 9:21 am
I get what you’re saying, I really do. However, my beef was more with the stupid lady, who acted like she was afraid to say the damn word out loud. Or, as srah so much more eloquently put it, “That’s why I don’t feel that bad about McCain, because he got slapped with a faceful of ignorance and he only addressed part B, but AT LEAST HE ADDRESSED SOME OF IT.” I’ve always known there were people that ignorant and ridiculous running around, but holy hell has this campaign slapped me in the face with it.
By: Fraulein N on October 14, 2008
at 9:28 am
Good post, jamelah. Thank you.
By: Bill Ectric on October 14, 2008
at 11:06 am
Brittney — Yep, those were pretty much the only choices, decent or Arab.
Steven — You know when I was a kid I knew a guy named Steve Hussein.
Leaca — Thank you.
GWCH — Hi! Thanks.
SA — Hah! Yesssss! I wonder if this means that Arabs are finally cool. Seriously though, when every bit of information people get about Arabs is bad news, then it’s hard to believe anything else. I understand that. It would be nice if people would try to educate themselves about the vastness and the diversity of Arab history and culture but I’m sure that’s asking too much, so the task also falls on Arabs to say “Hey we’re not scary. For real.”
Cheryl — Thanks. First of all, utensils are very overrated. Second of all, it’s actually frightening when you see footage like the stuff from Florida in this video (also contains commentary) and I know I shouldn’t be surprised by it but damn, it’s just AWFUL. Which is to say that while on one hand McCain is trying to quell fears of Obama, on the other hand Palin is deliberately drumming up that sentiment and the game they’re playing is dangerous and it’s scary. I think riling up the crazies is really never a good idea.
srah — Yay for tea and falafel and down with forks! Join us! Anyway, to address your points:
a) Yes. People don’t know. The words have become synonymous. Many Arabs are Muslims, but many are not (I’m not). And there are many more Muslims in the world who aren’t Arabs. Of course, people don’t even know that Persians aren’t Arabs. People think Iran is an Arab country and it’s not. I think in general there is an overwhelming lack of education and information about pretty much everything having to do with this subject.
b) No, and there are many people who are convinced that Obama is a Muslim, which I guess would be the most teeth-gnashingly horrible thing in the world, or something. When told later that Obama was neither an Arab nor a Muslim, Gayle Quinnell said something like “Well he’s still got a little bit of Muslim in him” as though it were a genetic flaw. Charming!
c) This has been going on for years and has only gotten worse since 9/11. Believe me when I say that I have brushed up against people’s stereotypes and heard hate speech pretty much all my life, and in the past seven years it’s escalated about a billion times to the point where I’ve heard people seriously suggest things like mass extermination and internment camps.
My problem with McCain is the way he chose to address these issues. I know that he is awkward and doesn’t always express himself well (and do we really need another president like that?) but while yes, he said that Obama is not an Arab, he also set up a false decent/Arab dichotomy. And while I am not a person who goes around looking for reasons to be offended, that is offensive. I understand what he meant, but at the same time, did he not hear the words that came out of his mouth? A simple, “No, he’s not an Arab,” followed with a Seinfeldian “Not that there’s anything wrong with that” would’ve sufficed, but the fact that he heard the word “Arab” and countered with “decent” means what? How is it possible to make the connection between “Arab” and something negative that quickly without at the very least knowing that by using that word she meant something unspeakably awful? At best, he is just awkward, and at worst, while he was quick to point out that Obama is not a bad man, he believes that Arabs are bad. I don’t know what he really thinks and neither does anyone, save those closest to him, but it should be enough to give a person pause.
To continue my novel in response to your novel, I just want to say that I feel for McCain. I do. He’s under a constant, enormous amount of pressure to perform and there are people like me out there dissecting his statements when he makes a mistake. I don’t envy him. But I also think that a man in his position ought to know his audience and ought to be prepared for the crazy shit they may say, and further ought to be able to speak extemporaneously in a careful, measured way. We do not need President Foot-In-His-Mouth. AGAIN.
wifey — Yo.
all the wine — Me too. Totally. Sign me up for that bus.
lesley — For real. We are actual humans. As for McFalafel, I would just be afraid that they would screw up the consistency. And the sauce. And that they would use the wrong kind of pita. I cannot abide incorrect pita. Or worse, that they’d serve it with mayo and cheese on a sesame seed bun and that would make me cry. There is much to fear in McDonald’s falafel.
Fraulein N — Like I said to Srah, in many many more words, my problem is that he addressed it so poorly that while he managed to say that Obama is not an Arab, he still managed to be an asshole to the people who are Arabs. Even if it was an accident. Still asshole-ish. I have a fair amount of sympathy for the people who just don’t get it, actually, because who is helping them understand? We have spent the past several years underneath the leadership (I use the term loosely) of an administration that not only played on but willfully escalated the fear. And McCain didn’t help, really, at all because he let all that anti-Arab bullshit stand unquestioned, while also managing to add to it by essentially saying that at least Obama isn’t one of those people. Rude.
Bill — Hi. Thanks.
By: jamelah on October 14, 2008
at 11:35 am
Wow. I just watched that Florida video. I hate to say it, but I might start having to watch more YouTube. That shit is truly scary.
By: Brittney on October 14, 2008
at 2:03 pm
PS: McFalafel
By: Brittney on October 14, 2008
at 2:09 pm
I think I’ve been conditioned by the last eight years (at least) to have low expectations for the way politicians speak and behave in public.
I definitely agree that it was at best awkward and at worst, heinous, but I think I was just so glad that someone (and someone on HER side, too) came out and said, “NO, HE ISN’T AN ARAB YOU IDIOT” that I was willing to be more forgiving of the other stuff. Which I shouldn’t be, because it’s not right to let stuff like the Arab/decent dichotomy slide just because he’s slightly less ignorant and fearmongery than we thought and than Bush is.
By: srah on October 14, 2008
at 2:28 pm
omg! speechless…. when will there be some sense in this campaign? appealing to ignorance yet again.
By: jess on October 14, 2008
at 2:47 pm
But here’s the thing: your reaction to the word “Arab” is seriously not cool. It is not a slur, and should not be reacted to as if it were one. Because you know what? That makes it a slur.
Thank you. I thought I was the only person who noticed this. Considering how nasty this campaign has gotten in the past few weeks, I’m surprised the media let that slip.
By: Kathy on October 14, 2008
at 5:33 pm
Apart from everything else McCaine showed not only ignorance but also thoughtlessness… I mean, offending your potential voters isn’t very clever thing to do (no matter how many percent they actually make). And probably some non-Arab voters are also thinking sth like: Uh, oh, do we really want to give the power someone like that?
Well said, Jamelah.
By: fabulitas on October 14, 2008
at 5:34 pm
would that i had half your level-headedness and did not always degenerate in my own responses to these kinds of situations into a foul-mouthed incoherent mess. oh wells, i like to think my incoherence is its own kind of endearing.
anyway, as canada stands poised tonight to re-elect Stephen Harper (Bush-lite), i really hope you people down south get it right in Novemeber for our sakes. the possible combination of McCain and Harper is … painful to have to consider.
By: fathima on October 14, 2008
at 7:24 pm
Brittney — I know. It’s very unsettling. I recommend YouTube in small doses, otherwise the craziness of other people might start causing you to lose sleep.
Brittney, part 2 — Noooo. Wacky Egypt. Also, the fact that this singer’s hit song was “I Hate Israel” is super classy. And by “super classy” I mean “ew”.
srah — I know. Bush has really really lowered the bar when it comes to possessing any sort of eloquence at all, though I have to hand it to him that he’s at least become slightly less embarrassingly dumb-sounding over the past eight years. Anyway, yeah, I’ve never gotten where the Arab thing (in regards to Obama) came from and have often wanted to say “Let’s please look at a map” to people, but on the other hand, I know that this is due to the fact that the Muslim rumor has been floating around and people don’t know the difference and somewhere around that point my head threatens me that if I keep thinking about it, it will explode. In any case, maybe now some people know that Obama is not an Arab, though I wish John McCain had been able to point this fact out without doing so in a sadly insulting way. Alas.
jess — Hi. Political campaigns are inherently awful and this one has been a trainwreck. I am really looking forward to it all being over.
Kathy — The Daily Show picked up on it tonight, so at least the fake news is covering it.
fabulitas — Yeah, it wasn’t a very good move on his part. I actually read a statistic not too long ago (but I can’t remember where) that said that many Arabs traditionally vote Republican and I wonder how his statement will affect that.
fathima — I unfortunately seem to have had a lot of practice at sticking up for Arabs over the years. So much so that hearing the negative stuff doesn’t even surprise me anymore, though it never fails to disappoint me. I’ve done my fair share of incoherent swearing too. Anyway, if we in this country happen to elect McCain/Palin in November, um, need a roommate?
By: jamelah on October 14, 2008
at 11:08 pm
It would be really handy if – no matter who’s elected – our next president took some sort of opportunity to address all of this and say “HERE’s what an Arab is, HERE’s what a Muslim is, and HERE’s why you don’t need to be afraid of either of them.”
By: srah on October 15, 2008
at 5:45 am
The way I read it is that Mccain is really responding to the whole implication of her question that “I don’t trust him because he’s an Arab” – I didn’t get the feeling that Mccain was saying arabs are not decent – he was saying Obama is decent and trustworthy, not that arabs are not. But you Jam, got the very strong feeling that he did mean this – so this is interesting to me.
I hope you are well. I am also looking for a job.
Rah.
By: Rah on October 15, 2008
at 1:03 pm
Let’s face it…when McCain sang “Bomb bomb Iran” and thought it was funny, we pretty much knew he wasn’t going to be particularly sensitive to cultural and ethnic differences.
And as long as we’re facing it, let’s also admit that Joe Biden isn’t a hell of a lot better in that regard (although I’ve always liked Biden). It’s only been a few months since he remarked that it was impossible to enter a convenience store without having an Indian accent (or words to that effect).
Part of it is stupidity, of course, but a lot of it has to do with OWGP (old white guy privilege). Does McCain hate folks of Arab descent? No, I don’t think so. No more than Biden hates folks from the Indian subcontinent. They’re just used to being able to make fun of the wogs.
It’s pretty hard for a lot of old white folks to face the reality that we’re almost certainly going to be having one of those wogs as the next president. It’s going to make them really uncomfortable.
Ain’t it great?
By: greg on October 15, 2008
at 1:03 pm
greg – McCain sang “Bomb bomb Iran”? Are you serious? And I thought that our Polish political life and public sphere on general are a tragedy.
By: fabulitas on October 15, 2008
at 4:03 pm
Here’s the thing, the negative views never go away. I could be the most upstanding citizen the US has ever seen, and most blacks will still be seen as lazy, rap music blasting, four baby daddy having, ghetto thugs. So while I would hope that stereotypes that have plagued all ethnicities would end, it’s just not unfortunately.
On the bright side I think the cool thing is coming along.
By: SA on October 15, 2008
at 11:10 pm
srah — That would be helpful. Call me a cynic, but I doubt that would happen. Maybe I have an idea now. Or not.
Rah — Hey dude. I 100% get that McCain was saying that Obama is decent and trustworthy, however, he did it in such a completely awkward way that the implication of his statement was that there are decent people and there are Arabs and never the twain shall meet. Replying to “He’s an Arab” with “No ma’am, [he's not an Arab] he’s decent” automatically implies that there’s something wrong with being an Arab. Whether or not he meant it that way is arguable (and I’d guess he just made his point awkwardly) but I think there’s little argument about the fact that that’s what he said.
greg — Yo. It is, really.
fabulitas — I am not Greg, but yes, he did sing that. Charming!
SA — You’re right. But if the cool thing works out then I guess at least that’s something.
By: jamelah on October 16, 2008
at 9:14 am
OMG! It’s like McCain just can’t win. HE WAS BEING GRACIOUS AND COMPLIMENTING OBAMA! OK he was awkward – so what. He’s probably exhausted. Joe Biden certainly has stepped it in enough these last few weeks, but her sure seems to get a pass. Can’t we just once in a while give people the benefit of a doubt that they really are trying to be good, gracious and kind?
By: Elena on October 17, 2008
at 12:58 pm
I wish I could get your blog post circulated to EVERYONE in the country. I found you through a progressive mom’s website called mothertalkers DOT com.
I’m glad I’m not the only non-Arab person who found this offensive, it gives me hope for the rest of the country.
By: Angela on October 17, 2008
at 3:20 pm
Found you thru Five Star Friday and I’m delighted. My parents were from Argentina and it drove them crazy how people confused it with Brazil.
By: Cecilieaux on October 17, 2008
at 5:43 pm
He’s angry, narrow and his head is stuck in another generation.
This election cannot come soon enough.
By: Candid on October 18, 2008
at 3:31 pm
Found you on FSF. Well done, well said. Yey (standing ovation)
By: phhhst on October 18, 2008
at 8:20 pm
Colin Powell actually brought this up in his endorsement of Obama!
By: srah on October 19, 2008
at 5:36 pm
I just have to pop in to share this:
http://www.fivestarfriday.com/2008/10/five-star-friday-edition-28.html
you were listed as one of the best blog entries of the week there; I had followed a link to that site from another and then saw you there, and thought, “There can’t be two jamelahs, can there? Have I stumbled all blindly across Jam’s blog?”
And lo! I have found your blog! By a sideways route, to be sure; even though I had meant to find your blog before, when you’ve mentioned it at Utata, I never managed to get back to it. This makes me happy, both because I’ve found your blog and because obviously others in the wide blog universe are recognizing what you write as something special and worthy!
By: Beckett Gladney on October 23, 2008
at 4:07 pm
Hi. Sorry, I just found all these comments in my spam filter. I have no idea why they got spammed, but I unspammed them. Anyway, thank you for coming by and sharing your thoughts… my brain is tired right now or I’m sure I’d have something actually worthwhile to say to you in response.
By: jamelah on October 24, 2008
at 4:00 pm