Political Satire: Jabil Bush
Hussein
From Barack Obama’s website: "Obama Has Never Been A Muslim,
And Is a Committed Christian."
Obama on the importance of Christ in his life: "I submitted
myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His
truth and carrying out His works."
By Shreeram Krishnaswami
Jabil Bush Hussein is outraged. Despite repeated denials by
the PDP (Pakistan Democratic Party) leader and candidate for
prime minister, rumors that he is or once was a Christian
continue to gather momentum.
Hussein’s campaign aides have emphasized his strong Muslim
beliefs and downplayed any Christian connection. Hussein
spokesman Nouri Aswari issued a statement yesterday
reiterating that “Husssein has never been a Christian, was not
raised as a Christian, and is a committed Muslim."
"After I graduated from college, I submitted myself to Allah’s
will and dedicated myself to discovering his truth and
carrying out his works," Hussein said yesterday.
He also called “vile and scurrilous” the use of his middle
name, Bush, by some members of the opposition Pakistan
People’s Party. “As I have said before, I did not choose my
middle name, and I am not a Christian. Nor does my middle name
have, as some have insinuated, anything to do with Moses and
the burning bush. I am not a Jew either.”
Islamic fundamentalist groups, as well as some PPP leaders,
have sought to tarnish Hussein’s reputation by associating his
name with former US strongman George W. Bush, widely reviled
for his murderous invasion of Iraq that left more than a
million civilians dead and the country in shambles.
PPP Chairman Salah Yusef formally denounced Thursday the
Karachi PPP’s use of Jabil Hussein’s full name in a recent
press release questioning Hussein’s commitment to Palestine.
Adding fuel to the Bush fire was Friday’s “666 Minutes”
interview with Malika Rahim, who is competing against Hussein
for leadership of the PDP. Rahim, responding to a question,
sounded uncertain about Hussein’s heritage.
Rahim was asked, "You don’t believe that MP Hussein is a
Christian?"
"Of course not, there is no basis for that. I take him on the
basis of what he says," Rahim said. "And you know, there isn’t
any reason to doubt that."
Meanwhile the Christian world continues to be outraged by the
debate over Hussein’s religion.
“They hate our freedom and our way of life,” US President John
McCain said yesterday. “Such a hateful debate would never take
place in a Judeo-Christian culture such as ours. If this
continues much longer we may have to consider sending troops
to Pakistan for a hundred years.” President McCain has asked
Rudy Giuliani, secretary of the Department of Anti-AntiAmerican Thoughts and Activities, to study the situation
further.
President McCain’s statements were echoed by Democrats on the
Hill. “We support the president on this issue,” said House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “Our only disagreement is on how long
the brave men and women of our armed forces should be deployed
to Pakistan. We believe our troops should stay there no longer
than 99 years. However, I am hopeful we can arrive at a
compromise time-frame with the president.”
In an unusual trinity of agreement, televangelist Pat
Robertson added his voice to the McCain-Pelosi chorus. At a
press conference yesterday, Robertson said: “The attack on
Christianity in Pakistan proves once again that Islam is a
religion of intolerance. Such hatred would be unimaginable
among Christians. If that is not the truth, may God strike me
d…”
At that very instant, a lightning bolt cremated Robertson. His
bedazzled followers immediately burst into Pakistani-American
singer Nadia Ali’s song, Rapture:
"You make my soul complete
Rapture tastes so sweet…"
-Shreeram Krishnaswami contributed this political satire to
PalestineChronicle.com.