In planning a trip to India next month, President Barack Obama has reportedly elected not to make a stop at The Golden Temple, a Sikh temple and one of the country’s major tourist attractions, because of a requirement that he wear a head covering while inside. As Obama has frequently been dogged by rumors that he is a Muslim, the thought of having pictures taken of him while wearing a turban inside a Sikh temple presents a problem for the president’s public image in the midst of an important election season, despite the fact that Sikhism is not, in fact, a branch of Islam.
If Obama were to go through with the visit, the majority of the population would see it for what it is &- a simple case of an American president showing respect for another culture on a trip abroad. But Obama’s decision to pander to the opinions of an extremely ignorant minority gives in to both American ignorance and our national obsession with image.
It is hard to believe that in an educated society anyone would see Obama wearing a head covering as proof that he is a Muslim, especially when it has been so clearly and widely reported that he is not. But more importantly, the fact that it matters is a sad statement on the prejudices that plague our nation in the post 9/11 era.
It is disappointing that Obama would cater to a group of people who are misinformed and judgmental regarding other cultures. His decision ultimately does nothing but strengthen the ignorance that is preventing him from visiting the temple in the first place. Instead, Obama should have used this opportunity to set an example for the public. By advocating the acceptance of other cultures instead of perpetuating false misconceptions, Obama had a chance to send a positive message to the American public. The fact that we have to even have the conversation regarding whether or not the trip should be made shows that this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Obama’s actions seem to be in direct contradiction to the principles on which he based his campaign: change, diplomacy and cooperation with the international community. Instead of focusing so much on what a small group of people thinks of him, Obama should take every opportunity possible to clearly show that it is best to treat the rest of the world with respect and tolerance.
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