What is wrong with having a Muslim as president?

[Strike For The South]

Reinfeldt has the advantage of looking just like another white guy though.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Reinfeldt has the advantage of looking just like another white guy though.

Eh, Prince and Mariah Carey don't look particularly 'black' either. But one drop of blood, Strike, one drop of blood. It's what the Americans taught us.

Or rather, what Europeans taught themselves during the large-scale encounter with non-European civilizations in the early modern period. This, the age of discovery, taught Europeans to think of themselves as 'white'. Before that, Africans, Moors and mixed people were not considered all that alien. Foreign, yes. Perhaps even - eeeww! - non-Christian. But not of belonging to a different race. And tought quite fit to lead.

In the South and Southeast of Europe there is a history of intense contact with Africans and Middle-Easterners. And in ancient times, we all sat around the Mediterranean like frogs around a pond. In the modern age, Jesus wouldn't be deemed 'white' in the US.
Obama could've been the Emperor of Rome. Or a Renaissance Italian prince. But he can't be a modern Italian president.

[Strike For The South]

Eh, Prince and Mariah Carey don't look particularly 'black' either. But one drop of blood, Strike, one drop of blood. It's what the Americans taught us.

Or rather, what Europeans taught themselves during the large-scale encounter with non-European civilizations in the early modern period. This, the age of discovery, taught Europeans to think of themselves as 'white'. Before that, Africans, Moors and mixed people were not considered all that alien. Foreign, yes. Perhaps even - eeeww! - non-Christian. But not of belonging to a different race. And tought quite fit to lead.

In the South and Southeast of Europe there is a history of intense contact with Africans and Middle-Easterners. And in ancient times, we all sat around the Mediterranean like frogs around a pond. In the modern age, Jesus wouldn't be deemed 'white' in the US.
Obama could've been the Emperor of Rome. Or a Renaissance Italian prince. But he can't be a modern Italian president.

Eh he would be viewed as white here

[Mangudai]

Well, at the risk of getting this thread closed, I will express my opinion which some people will probably consider bigoted. I would not discriminate against anyone for their background. But, I do think a person's religious faith is relevant when they run for political office.

Jesus and Buddha refused to get involved in political matters. Despite the prevalence of religious right in America, the faith itself does not compel any particular political policies. Hinduism, Taoism, etc have little or no political dogmas.

Judaism and Confucianism have a lot to say about political affairs, but the ideas are so dated that I can hardly imagine a Jew who wants to impose the laws of Leviticus on society.

Catholics and Mormons raise question marks for me. I have nothing against someone who was raised Catholic, but if someone really believes that the Pope holds the chair of Peter and holds the keys to heaven and hell, then I can't vote for him. If a Mormon really believes that Brigham Young was a prophet with divinely inspired ideas, I can't vote for him. (I don't have major problems with Joseph Smith, just Brigham Young).

Islam is the most political of religions. The idea of separation of church and state are completely foreign to Islam. Sharia law is alive and well at the core of Islam. I could never vote for someone who is a devout Muslim.

[KarlXII]

I could never vote for someone who is a devout Muslim.

It depends on your definition of "Devout". For me, a devout Muslim is someone who goes to Mosque, celebrates his religious holiday's, reads the Koran before bed. A Muslim, especially in Western society, that campaigns to implement Sharia Law and Caliphate-like system of rule is a radical.

I would vote for a devout Muslim, should his views be something I agree with.

[CountArach]

Well, at the risk of getting this thread closed, I will express my opinion which some people will probably consider bigoted. I would not discriminate against anyone for their background. But, I do think a person's religious faith is relevant when they run for political office.

You won't discriminate on the basis of background... but you will discriminate on the basis of background?

[Mangudai]

You won't discriminate on the basis of background... but you will discriminate on the basis of background?

No. Background means they grew up in a particular type of household. That's different than an ideology someone clings to today.

[Koga No Goshi]

No. Background means they grew up in a particular type of household. That's different than an ideology someone clings to today.

How the hell is Islam an "ideology" anymore than Christianity is?

I guess it needs reminding that we have a President who says God told him to start these wars, and a running VP candidate who says Iraq is a mission from God.

What would you guys be saying if these were Muslim Americans saying similar things?

RVG - I fail to see how an outside observer, watching U.S. politics, especially on the Republican side, would agree with you that Christianity has "renounced" violence anymore than Islam has, in light of how extra super duper Christian Bush, Palin and the rest profess to be the 50% of the time they're not talking about war and Muslim extremists and terrorism.