SHOULD A MUSLIM BE
PRESIDENT
A cranky opinion for
CRANKY OPINION SATURDAY
The following opinion (thoughts?) are
from a cranky old man with little expertise on the subject opined, opposing
opinions will be tolerated…maybe, but please, no name calling, and that means
you, you big stupid head!
Should a
Muslim be President of the United States of America? It seems as if this is a
very important question today. It has
become a litmus test for Presidential candidates. I am not sure why as there are currently no
Muslims running for President.
I don’t ever
recall the question of a Muslim President being raised before. Why now? Why, when our country has been
attacked by Muslims and ISIS is threatening to turn the world into their own Caliphate,
when the biggest threat to world peace today is from radical Islam, why are we
being asked about a Muslim President?
Because I can guarantee you, that regardless of what the man on the
street will say if asked the question, a Muslim has as much chance of winning a
Presidential election in this country in the next few years as Gary Busey has
of winning “Dancing With The Stars!”
Of course a
person should not be restricted from holding the highest office in this country
because of his religion. That would be
contrary to the Constitution. It is
ridiculous. Yet this religion test is
not new with Muslims.
In ninth
grade (1960) I was taught by my civics teacher that a Catholic could not be
President as he would have allegiance to the Pope and the country could
be ruled by Papal decree. I’m pretty
sure my civics teacher was incorrect on this subject, and I don’t recall JFK
paying much attention to the Pope…he seemed more interested in listening to
voters.
As recently
as 2008 the question was raised about a Mormon being a suitable person to
become President. I have done some research
into why this question was even raised and really came up with nothing other
than Mormons come from a close knit group that has a culture of secrecy. (Hey, that is what I’ve read, it is not what
I know or believe.)
Point is Mitt Romney is Mormon and when he was
running for the Republican nomination and then for President, questions of his
religion were raised by factions which did not want to see him victorious.
This
question about various religions was silly and unfair, but at least it was kind
of pertinent in that the candidates, JFK in 1960 was Catholic and Romney in
2008 was Mormon. I do not understand why
the question is pertinent regarding a Muslim when there is no Muslim running
for president, but since it seems so important here is my position…in case I
get drafted by some party to run for the highest office.
If a Muslim (or anyone) swears allegiance to the
United States and not a mullah, then he is ok.
If he/she (fat chance for a Muslim she) refuses to stand for our
national anthem or recite the Pledge of Allegiance I would probably not support
that person. Not because of his
religion, but for his failure to Pledge Allegiance to the country he would be elected
to serve.
If a Muslim (or anyone) thought it was OK to cut
off a person’s head if he was homosexual, bisexual or transgender, I would not
vote for him.
If a Muslim (or anyone) claimed to hate all Jews,
and didn’t much care for Christians either, if he supported the destruction of Israel,
he would not get my support.
If a Muslim (or anyone) did not favor women
receiving an education, or showing any hair or skin, I would have a problem
supporting him.
If a Muslim (or anyone) favored Sharia law above
our Constitution, I would not vote for him.
That is my
litmus test, the above five “If’s.” It
is not a matter of religion, it is the person and his beliefs, the problem is
some religious beliefs must be suspended or they are in conflict with the
qualifications I would like to see in a President. It is for the voters to
decide if these potential conflicts are important or not.
Now I have
to ask, should a Buddhist be President? How about a Hindi or a Taoist? Is there
a problem with a Pagan? Can a Satan
worshiper be President?
Oh, here is
a good one…can a Jew be President?
Why aren’t
all the candidates being asked these questions which are so important to the
outcome of the next Presidential election?
The preceding opinion (thoughts?) are
from a cranky old man, and not necessarily those of management…Mrs. Cranky.
I may be prejudiced, but no way would I vote for a devout Muslim for President. As for Jews (& I am one) Mr. Lieberman gave it a try!!
ReplyDeleteExactly, Joe. The question is being asked... Why? Well, of course, it was asked as a way to "get" one of the candidates. Apparently, it had some efficacy in that regard. Your tests would be my tests; perfectly logical.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. Anyone who cannot put aside personal beliefs to uphold the law of the land shouldn't run for any office at any level.
ReplyDeleteYou left out atheist or agnostic.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Suldog...it was just an effort to put Dr Carson on the hotseat. It has no relevance to this election.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between having a president who is Catholic, or a Jew, or Buddhist, Hindu, etc, vs a Muslim is that the Koran is non-secular...they don't believe in separation of church and state. They are all one and the same. Those Muslim states that have tried secular democracy have a rather pitiful record. Egypt for example is today a mess. Democracy and Islam make for very strange bedfellows. Whether a candidate is Catholic, or Jewish, or Hindu doesn't preclude them from adhering to our Constitution. Being a Muslim might, depending on how devout he was, and that is difficult to quantify. But should a Muslim be ALLOWED to run for president? Of course.
If the question was 'Should a whacko be allowed to run for Prez', I could answer with certainty......it's already settled. Look at the current front-runner for the GOP, and the clowns on the bus with him.
ReplyDeleteAs to a Muslim, sure. I agree with you.
Is that a real question?
ReplyDeleteOr, is it a red herring to distract potential voters from real issues?
Yep, anything to discredit Carson. Plain and simple. The media is a joke. They have been for years.
ReplyDeleteI'll never vote for a Muslim ever. I don't think Islam is a religion I think it is their politics hidden behind religion.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
i read a headline recently that a poll showed that some % more than half believe obama is muslim. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteLet me go on record as saying I do not believe for a minute that our President is Muslim. If he was he wouldn't have women in his administration, would not support Gay rights would be in favor of capital punishment. would not eat pork or smoke cigarettes...(actually I don't know if he eats pork or not.)
DeleteI would be more likely to vote for a Buddhist, Muslim, etc over a member of a cult (Mormon, JW, Scientologist), but I've also studied those more than world religions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you; loyalty and love of country trumps religion. In fact, I don't care what religion the president is and would prefer not to know.
ReplyDeleteYou made some good points. One reason I support the separation of church and state. I would have to know the Muslim first before I declared my vote either way. It would not be based on his religion.
ReplyDeleteAs long as he/she doesn't drive a BMW, I suppose...
ReplyDeletePersonally, I've always wondered a bit how a devout Christian could run for office of the President, what with all the "thou shalt not kill" interfering with the death penalty, and starting a war, etc. But it seems that has never stopped anyone before. So my opinion is that anyone of any (or no) religion should be able to run for President. If they have a chance of winning, now that's a totally different question.
ReplyDeleteWhat about a hillbilly? I think I could pass your test :)
ReplyDelete