General Colin Powell: So what if Obama was a Muslim?

The most interesting part of Gen. Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama was when Powell discussed the "accusations" that Obama is a Muslim. Powell said what few have had the guts to say: So what if Obama was a Muslim? Is there anything wrong with that? Do we not have freedom of religion?

It is unfortunate that Obama has had to deal with smear campaigns suggesting he is a Muslim and/or and Arab, but it is almost as bad that Obama doesn't feel comfortable saying, "No, I am not. But it should not be a problem if I was. There is nothing wrong with being a Muslim or an Arab."

As far as I know, Obama has not said this. Of course there are many people in America who think there is something wrong with being a Muslim or an Arab. Perhaps this is in part why Obama has made no such defense.

Similarly, when a woman famously told McCain that Obama was an Arab, Mccain responded, "No, he is a good man." As if the two are opposites! Cannot a person be an Arab and a good man?

Powell, though, gets high marks for defending freedom of religion in the United States. Hats off, General.

Additionally, Powell brought up Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, a U.S. citizen and soldier who died fighting in Iraq. He, as one might guess from his name, was a Muslim. He might be the first U.S. military Muslim fatality in Iraq (not including non-military translators, aides, etc.). Some might suggest that a Muslim U.S. soldier is a rare thing, and this is somewhat true.

However, when one realizes that Muslims make up about half a percent of the U.S. population (source), even one U.S. Muslim soldier death is substantial.