Allie Shah: American Muslims get country's cold shoulder

Sifting through the mountain of campaign literature stuffed into my mailbox this fall, only one piece stood out. It was a flier urging me to vote for Barack Obama, but instead of describing his qualifications and vision, it offered answers to "legitimate questions" I may have had about Obama's religion.

Questions such as "Is he a Muslim?" and "Why is his middle name Hussein?" topped the list. Rest assured, the flier seemed to suggest as it informed me that Obama is in fact a Christian, that he regularly attends church and that he was named after his father.

I shook my head in disbelief. It was yet another example of Islamophobia in action during this presidential election season. It was also a reminder to me and to American Muslims everywhere, that we still have a long way to go before we are accepted as regular Americans and our glass ceiling is shattered. As a nation, even as we are finally starting to heal our racial wounds, we are opening new ones over faith.

Other religions have aroused curiosity and even concern during presidential races throughout history. John F. Kennedy faced pointed questions about his Catholic faith when he ran for president. Mitt Romney's Mormon faith also was scrutinized during his candidacy.

Only Islam, however, became the subject of hateful and pervasive innuendo during this year's campaign. Merely suggesting Obama has associations with Islam and Muslims became an effective and widely accepted smear tactic. Always lurking just beneath the surface of those attacks was a deep-seated mistrust of Muslims and a belief that Muslims are not Americans.

I guess Muslim is the new Red.

Early on in the election cycle, e-mail rumors circulated by Obama's opponents warned voters that the Democratic frontrunner was secretly a Muslim. That Obama rhymes with Osama also was mentioned repeatedly, as if his name made him unfit for the White House. Unofficial campaign slogans such as "McCain, not Hussein," added to the fearful and hateful rhetoric prevalent throughout the 2008 campaign.

Perhaps the most powerful sign that we are living in a time when the fear of Muslims is rampant came from the Obama camp. A Michigan woman and Obama supporter, who happened to be Muslim, showed up at one of his appearances. She was wearing a head scarf and was standing on stage, behind the podium, where Obama was supposed to speak. A campaign staffer spotted her and moved her to a less conspicuous place. Obama later apologized for his staff member's gaffe, but the evidence that his campaign was worried about being associated with Muslims was undeniable.

Another revelatory moment came at a McCain rally in Lakeville, when a bewildered woman made that infamous statement that she doesn't trust Obama "because he's an Arab." Never mind the fact that most Arab-Americans actually are Christians. It was clear from the tone in her voice that distrust and fear of the other were at the heart of her concerns.

No one had the audacity to condemn the anti-Muslim sentiment sweeping across the land and throughout the campaigns until Colin Powell spoke out on "Meet the Press."

"Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?" he asked. "The answer is 'no.' Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, 'He's a Muslim, and he might be associated with terrorists.' This is not the way we should be doing it in America."

The lack of outcry is the most troubling part of all. Obama's defenders were quick to point out that he was not a Muslim, but they stopped short of adding that even if he were one, who cares?

Obama's election as the first African-American president is a sign that our collective sense of what it means to be an American is broadening. Let's hope that the rhetoric of future campaigns will acknowledge the many Muslims who contribute to our great country and who are proud to call it home.

Allie Shah is a reporter for the Star Tribune.