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02/26/08, Letter to the Editor, printed in the Oshkosh Northwestern (WI)
Obama can be proud of his middle name, Hussein
By Saad Ahmad, Oshkosh
What’s in a name? Hussein is the last name of a notorious dictator Saddam. It is also the middle name of the US presidential hopeful Barack Obama, and it is a favorite topic for conspiracy creators. Mr. Obama has been denying the frivolous allegation of him being a Muslim. But his opponents have consistently attacked his faith and his middle name.
So, what’s wrong with this name? To set the records straight, the name Hussein was not invented by Saddam. The very first Hussein recorded in history was the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. About fifty years had passed since Prophet Muhammad’s demise and Muavia, a provincial governor, had set aside the democratic electoral process and assumed the control of Muslim Arabia. After Muavia, his son Yazid inherited the throne. This was not acceptable to one man, Hussein. He stood up against the dictator and decided to move to a remote province in search of like-minded friends. Yazid sent his thirty five thousand men strong army to stop Hussein and his hundred or so family members and friends from reaching their destination. The battle ensued near the place called Karbala, Iraq.
The forces of Yazid brutally killed Hussein and many of his family members including infants. Yazid delayed the inevitable for a few more years, but his rule was over soon. Muslims learned from the sacrifice of Hussein that dying fighting for freedom and choice is better than living without it.
I sincerely request Mr. Obama to read about the great sacrifice of Hussein and the courage he showed in the face of dictatorship and oppression. Mr. Obama will get valuable lessons from this man’s life and he would be proud to associate himself with this great man, even if only in name.
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