Arab-Americans aren’t decent people?

The McCain/Palin campaign is on the attack, and with it comes a resurgence of the many lies I’ve read in e-mails from conservative southern relatives.  Among those lies is the notion that Obama is a Muslim. 

In America, "Arab" and "Muslim" have become synonomous with terrorism.  Some voters might be afraid of a black man as president.  And it seems that a great many more voters than that would probably never vote for someone who openly identifies as Muslim.  The Obama campaign has been counteracting the lies by asserting that Obama is indeed Christian.

At a recent event, McCain tried to tone down some of the increasingly negative energy coming out of the crowds at his events.  A woman in the audience said, "I don’t trust Obama, he’s an Arab."

McCain replied:  "No Ma’am.  He’s a decent, family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with.

Sure, McCain is right to correct a false belief.  The Obama campaign is also right in trying to correct a false belief.  But I think something is missing from both, though McCain’s side of the aisle is guilty of the fear-mongering and lie-spreading in the first place.  The Obama camp should be open in its support of Arab-Americans.  Yes, Barack Obama isn’t a Muslim or Arab, but every voter out there who would think negatively of someone just because of their religion (or ethnic background, as not all Arabs are Muslim) should be ashamed of themselves.  And John McCain should be ashamed for not making a stand.  Arab-Americans are decent family people.  They are citizens.  They are not terrorists.  "Arab" should not be an insult in anyone’s vocabulary.  Correct the lies, but stand in support of your fellow citizens, including Arab citizens.

A recent story about a female Muslim student attacked at gunpoint because of her work protesting against Guantanamo Bay and the gassing of Muslim children in Ohio highlights what happens when racist Americans get into an Anti-Muslim fervor. 

I feel like this economic crisis will only increase the chance of violence against oppressed groups.  Thoughts?