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“Terrorists will be dancing in the streets...”: This is the recent inflammatory comment by U.S. Rep. Steve King as he publicly announced his bid for his fourth term in congress at KICD studios in Spencer, Iowa on Friday, March 7, 2008.

Listening to a previously recorded version of his speech on CNN, I must admit my immediate reaction wasn’t too pleasant and I’m glad to say that I didn’t throw my television newly equipped with cable out the window. 

Yes, I know the significance of this election is historical. America is possibly going to witness the election of its first female or African-American. Throughout this whole primary election season, I’ve heard and read different comments that questioned Barack Obama’s faith. And time and time again, he has stated that he wasn’t a Muslim.

But through all of the criticism and speculation, the only question that lingers in my mind is why does it matter? No, I’m not naïve. We all know why it matters (at least to some folks). However, as diverse as this country is, ignorance far too often dictates who we are as individuals, and ultimately who we are as a nation. 

Yes, I know the significance of this election is historical. America is possibly going to witness the election of its first female or African-American. Throughout this whole primary election season, I’ve heard and read different comments that questioned Barack Obama’s faith. And time and time again, he has stated that he wasn’t a Muslim.

Of course, the US has never been a huge fan of Islam, particularly after 9/11. Hell, we practically demonized it.

I specifically cannot forget the subsequent reports that followed on the attacks on Middle Eastern cab drivers across America. In fact, it got so out of hand that foreign cabbies began to place US flags on their rear view mirror to profess their “newfound” patriotism so as to ward off enraged citizens. 

Further, anything remotely associated with the religion is now suspect (you can thank the profound geniuses in Washington and the bias reports of the mainstream media for that).

So, what if Obama was Muslim? Last time I checked, all religious doctrines upheld the empowerment of self and thy fellow man. Yeah, sure there is more to it than that, but that is still the premise of it all: Religious freedom.

Quite frankly, it’s a huge backhand in the faces of Muslim American soldiers serving their beloved country overseas - not to mention the American Muslim voters that are backing some top elected officials.

So does their vote really matter?

Regardless of who wins the presidency, the question is what America they are going to project: one that promotes the unity of all people, or one that perpetuates the divisive political format that this country has blindly pledged their allegiance to live by.

Tags: Barack Obama, Politics, president, US