Hypothetical question, lets say the rumors around our president are true, Obama is in fact Muslim, whats the downside to this?

PFC Alexander Oliveira — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 11:49:09 -0500

*HYPOTHETICAL*
Every news agency is busting at the seams. Obama has been confirmed a muslim... I would like a discussion on why this is a negative thing. Is it because islam is perceived as un-American due to the notion of radical terrorism? Does xenophobia have any part to play in this? I would love to hear what you have to say!

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Mar 4 at 2016 11:54 AM

SPC Andrew Griffin — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 11:54:49 -0500

There is no DOWNSIDE! Whatever happened to Freed of Religion? So because he is a Muslim would that be a bad thing? What are we saying about those that Practice Islam?

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Mar 4 at 2016 12:04 PM

SSG Ed Mikus — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:04:08 -0500

It should not matter, but we have been building fear of each other (race/religion/gender/ect) for a while now and that would be used to feed into that and help tear our country apart.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Mar 4 at 2016 12:09 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:09:36 -0500

Oh my, PFC Alexander Oliveira - This would be about as big of news as John F. Kennedy being a Catholic ('cept we all knew that before he was elected)! No need to make a case for xenophobia and religious discrimination at this point of his Presidency. The Americans with whom I break bread and throw back beers wouldn't give a rat's red back-side.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Mar 4 at 2016 12:10 PM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:10:51 -0500

Do you have a source for this confirmation? I haven't seen anything like that.

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Mar 4 at 2016 12:19 PM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:19:55 -0500

I agree with the people in the thread except for one point. IF he was Muslim and allowed that to dictate how he approached Iran and Iraq a case could be made that he committed high crimes. Again this is all hypothetical.

Response by CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 12:27 PM

CW3(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:27:40 -0500

Dont think it really matters. He hasn't killed anyone yet. I think since muslims are considered " the flavor of the month" people are getting entirely too paranoid.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 4 at 2016 12:27 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:27:45 -0500

Hypothetically, just another lie

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 4 at 2016 12:35 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:35:03 -0500

There's no requirement for the President or any official to be a certain religion, and frankly how would being one religion over another benefit the Nation?

As stated in another thread. Religion is a Private matter. Unless it is intentionally brought Public, why would it matter?

I would have to see "undue influence" for me to care. I didn't care that Mitt Romney is Mormon, and didn't even know it until it was brought to my attention by the media. Why should I care if someone is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 12:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:35:54 -0500

The only downside would be if he made decisions in the better interest of his faith than his country. This is true regardless of the religion. Religion can guide our elected officials, but they should be able to choose what is best for their country. For example, a Quaker president may have to go to war if the US was invaded. Holding back the armed forces because of the pacifist religion is unacceptable.

Response by SPC Timothy Repetto made Mar 4 at 2016 12:54 PM

SPC Timothy Repetto — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 12:54:42 -0500

There is nothing wrong with having a Muslim as President. Why because he isn't an extremist. Atleast he hasn't shown any aggression to mass kill people for Allah. We all swore to protect the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. To condemn Obama for being Muslim would be going against our oath. I don't like the man because of his actions. Not because he's Muslim.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 1:59 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 13:59:53 -0500

Hypothetically speaking, it would only matter that he correctly assumed he could not run for President as a Muslim and have any real chance of winning.

Response by SGT William Howell made Mar 4 at 2016 2:04 PM

SGT William Howell — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 14:04:28 -0500

I don't see Muslim as a bad thing. Now liberal is a whole other story and a socialist IS a bad thing.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 2:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 14:10:45 -0500

Should not matter as long as he does not let religion dictate matters of state.

Response by SPC David S. made Mar 4 at 2016 2:36 PM

SPC David S. — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 14:36:16 -0500

The xenophobic behavior is attributed to a mechanism, called the behavioral immune system, which tells us to avoid things that are unfamiliar because they might harbor harmful pathogens. The phenomenon helps explain a whole host of subconscious reactions, like prejudice against skin color, strange customs and even anti-immigration views. To further understand xenophobia and the republican political mantra of 'build a wall' there have been a number studies that suggest that there is a biological link to one's political orientation. Both structural differences and functional differences have been noted that help explain why liberals have open arms and hearts while republican are more closed minded and thus more likely to shy away from anything conflicting. There is consistent research that suggests that individuals with a larger anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) have a higher capacity to tolerate uncertainty and conflicts, allowing them to accept more liberal views. Its not Trump's charisma swaying the masses in fact it is more likely him pandering to our predisposed biology. It as well explains other tendencies and differences between liberals and conservatives. A big factor in how all this is processed is education - while my brain might be screaming Trump's name it is in understanding that that is my biology's opinion and that the hyper vigilance of my behavioral immune system frequently errs on the side of caution. Education makes easier for me to be able to internalize all this and process the validity of any perceived threats. The sharp rise in this trend may be correlated to the dumbing down of America. As a study that stratified education and political voting patterns for whites showed that groups with more education tend to vote more Democratic. So if liberals have more kids than conservatives this may be genetically weeded out over time. Before anyone bashes me for being a liberal coomie - I am life long republican. Sometimes the truth hurts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology_and_political_orientation
http://themonkeycage.org/2012/03/voting-patterns-of-americas-whites-from-the-masses-to-the-elites/

Biology and political orientation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A number of studies have found that biology may be linked with political orientation.[1] This means that biology is a possible factor in political orientation, but may also mean that the ideology a person identifies with changes a person's ability to perform certain tasks.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Mar 4 at 2016 2:40 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 14:40:29 -0500

It is a negative thing because it "islam is perceived as un-American due to the notion of radical terrorism?" is spread by white men! Alexander you are White, right?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 2:52 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 14:52:37 -0500

Not sure of the downside. What is the Religion of the Director of the CIA?

Response by SGT Richard H. made Mar 4 at 2016 3:15 PM

SGT Richard H. — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 15:15:30 -0500

If, in your hypothetical example, this did come to pass my issue would not be with the religion itself (unless the POTUS was trying to impose sharia law). We are a nation based on freedom of religion, after all.
My issue would be with the lie. The thing about lies is that they are living things, and they tend to grow. After a while, you've told so many lies trying to cover the original lie...then to cover the subsequent lies....you eventually lose track of the truth altogether. That's why people have trouble trusting you once you've been caught in a lie. They'll always wonder what else you're lying about.

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 4 at 2016 4:01 PM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 16:01:04 -0500

One hopes that anyone who serves the government in any capacity is intellectually honest. It is intellectually honest to determine that some requirements of a position are contrary to one's core principles, and therefore one cannot in good faith assume the title, duties, and benefits of the office. But only the individual can make that determination for themselves. I believe there were similar questions about Catholics back when JFK was running for president.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 4:05 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 16:05:56 -0500

Am I the only one wondering if someone's performing a "cross sectional analysis"?

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Mar 4 at 2016 7:40 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 19:40:40 -0500

Don't care. I judge the man by his actions not his beliefs.

Response by SSG Robert Spina made Mar 4 at 2016 8:22 PM

SSG Robert Spina — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 20:22:17 -0500

THE PROBLEM IS WHERE IS HIS ALLEGIANCE IS IT TO ISLAM OR TO AMERICA

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 5 at 2016 3:43 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 15:43:43 -0500

I see no Downside, I didn't vote for him for his Religion. I voted for a Senator and Legal Scholar that I respected and he fit the bill nicely.