I have noticed that a number of ethnic and religious groups have no problem expresing thier views in a way that identifies who they are (i.e., writing Ed/Op pieces, wearing t-shirts that identify their political affiliation — Jews for McCain, Catholics for McCain, Catholics for the Environment,etc.). But, Muslism are consistnetly in the shadows. The other day I was wearing a Muslims for Obama shirt that I made myself (since the Obama campaign doesn’t sell them online) and was accosted, not by a non-Muslim but by a fellow Muslm. He asked that I refrain from wearing the shirt because he felt that if other non-Muslim Americans saw me wearing a shirt like that they would then see that as proof positive that either Obama was himself a Muslim (Oh God forbid!) or that because Muslims support him that he is wrong candidate for America (i.e., fiend of my enemy is my enemy).

I was so frustrated that I went online to start my own T-Shirt shop geared toward politically and socially conscious Muslims who want to express themselves with thoughtful and sometimes humorous shirts.

The website is www.coolmuslim.spreadshirt.com and it has received positive and negative reactions so far.

Where do YOU stand on Muslims expressing themselves politically? Does our presence help or hurt candidates? Should we accept that it may be too soon for Americans to accept us and just hang back for a few more decades until they “get over it?”