Comments on: Campbell Brown: “Arab” is Not an Insult http://thecurvature.com/2008/10/14/campbell-brown-arab-is-not-an-insult/ Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:40:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lebanese guy http://thecurvature.com/2008/10/14/campbell-brown-arab-is-not-an-insult/#comment-8050 Lebanese guy Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:02:56 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/?p=1901#comment-8050 Essentially, the word "Arab" is like the new "N-word". Its an insult to be in any way shape or form connected to Arabs/Muslims. Furthermore, Arabs/Muslims now are being treated or referred to in the same fashion as "Blacks" were up until the 80's. Were essentially the new "N-word". Many people refer to all Arabs as Muslims and vice versa, little do they know that the majority of Muslims arent even Arabs and that there are Arabs Christians and Jews as well whcih is further insulting Arabs as one monolithic anti-American identity bent on taking over the world. Even further more, Many Arab-Americans have hold high political office and are directly responsible for the development of this country. Sometimes, America, the "calender boy" of democracy isnt democratic at all. Essentially, the word “Arab” is like the new “N-word”. Its an insult to be in any way shape or form connected to Arabs/Muslims. Furthermore, Arabs/Muslims now are being treated or referred to in the same fashion as “Blacks” were up until the 80′s. Were essentially the new “N-word”. Many people refer to all Arabs as Muslims and vice versa, little do they know that the majority of Muslims arent even Arabs and that there are Arabs Christians and Jews as well whcih is further insulting Arabs as one monolithic anti-American identity bent on taking over the world. Even further more, Many Arab-Americans have hold high political office and are directly responsible for the development of this country. Sometimes, America, the “calender boy” of democracy isnt democratic at all.

]]> By: L. E. Hairstylist http://thecurvature.com/2008/10/14/campbell-brown-arab-is-not-an-insult/#comment-7823 L. E. Hairstylist Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:53:39 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/?p=1901#comment-7823 There is a catch-22 for Obama there, though, because it's near impossible to set the record straight without condemning Arabs/Muslims/whatever-they're-accusing-Obama-of-being-this-week and not sounding totally phony. It comes back to the old "I'm not gay, not that there's anything wrong with that" cliche. If he says that he's not Muslin but being Muslim is still nothing to be ashamed of, people would switch to saying he's "in the closet," so to speak. But I agree wholeheartedly that McCain did conflate being Arab-American with being anti-American (and apparently anti-family? Wth?) and shouldn't be commended for anything. It was like a backhanded compliment. There is a catch-22 for Obama there, though, because it’s near impossible to set the record straight without condemning Arabs/Muslims/whatever-they’re-accusing-Obama-of-being-this-week and not sounding totally phony. It comes back to the old “I’m not gay, not that there’s anything wrong with that” cliche. If he says that he’s not Muslin but being Muslim is still nothing to be ashamed of, people would switch to saying he’s “in the closet,” so to speak.

But I agree wholeheartedly that McCain did conflate being Arab-American with being anti-American (and apparently anti-family? Wth?) and shouldn’t be commended for anything. It was like a backhanded compliment.

]]> By: space http://thecurvature.com/2008/10/14/campbell-brown-arab-is-not-an-insult/#comment-7820 space Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:11:46 +0000 http://thecurvature.com/?p=1901#comment-7820 It's been artificially made into a slur, because Arabs have been constructed as "the enemy." So basically, it's become a code word for "them" and has almost lost its original neutral meaning as someone of certain lines of Middle Eastern descent. It's equivalent to calling someone a Commie during the (first?) Cold War. In fact, in many of the McCain-Palin rally tapes, people who predictably conflate today's constructed enemy with yesterday's were calling Obama a commie. It’s been artificially made into a slur, because Arabs have been constructed as “the enemy.” So basically, it’s become a code word for “them” and has almost lost its original neutral meaning as someone of certain lines of Middle Eastern descent. It’s equivalent to calling someone a Commie during the (first?) Cold War. In fact, in many of the McCain-Palin rally tapes, people who predictably conflate today’s constructed enemy with yesterday’s were calling Obama a commie.

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