Muslim students react to Powell's remarks

By Carly Rotman
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Viewed 8013 times.

Colin Powell defended Senator Barack Obama last week over the misconception that Obama is Muslim. The Illinois senator is a Christian, but Powell makes the point that the word Muslim shouldn't have a negative connotation.

Muslim students here at Northwestern University are proud of their religion but said it's often misunderstood.

Co-President of the Muslim Students Cultural Association, Dana Shabeeb, said, “It may not be what defines you as a person, but it is a big part of your life, and being a Muslim is not just like, 'Oh, I pray.'"

Members of the MSCA said they aren't worried if Obama is a Muslim, but they are concerned with why being a Muslim is a bad thing. They said it's vital for people in the spotlight, like Colin Powell, to protect the image of Islam.

"It felt really good to hear Colin Powell say like even if it was true, why is it a negative thing?" Shabeeb said.

External Relations Vice President, Usman Mian, said he was intially a big supporter of Obama, but he said he has spent less time on Muslim issues during the general election.

"I feel like some of his positions have changed to make people understand that he is strict in terms of foreign relations," Mian said. "He's strict in terms of Muslims, and he's not going to be favorable towards Muslims."

Mian said he wished Obama would take this opportunity to tackle the issues and unite the Muslim and American worlds.

"I hope he would be a little bit more understanding of some of the Islamophobia that is going on and how we can improve relations in the Muslim world," Mian said.

Despite their critiques, these Muslim students planned to vote for Obama. They said that he's still the better choice for representing their community.