Begining of Obama world??...Al-Zawahiri comments

A very interesting and weird week draws to an end. News is out that Hillary Clinton, considered by many as a hawk in the democratic party, has been offered the office of the highest ranking diplomat in the Obama administration; Obama, who ran on the platform of an anti-war candidate, has also taken a number of 'Clitonistas' (former President Clinton loyalist / administration memebers) into high ranking administrative posts. Is this a case of surrounding himself with differing opinions to allow for a healthy discussion before taking firm decisions? Or is it case of keeping his enemies closer? Or is it, as many of his supporters fear, compromising on his ideals to score political points?

But what seemed particularly weird was a statement put out by Al-Qaeda's alleged number 2 guy (he seems much more out there, for the past 3-4 years, vastly overshadowing Osama bin-Laden himself). He put out a critical and highly racist statement against President-elect Barack Obama comparing him to 'house Negros, doing the bidding of the white masters' recalling the statement first made by Malcom X in a speech he gave on November 10, 1963. He continued his ranting by saying that Obama is nothing like Malcom X (who later went on to become 'Malik el Shahbaz' after converting to main stream Islam), calling him the 'direct opposite of honourable black Americans such as Malcolm X'.

Mr. Al-Zawahiri, this is 2008 and not the 1960's! America has risen from the shameful events of the 'segregation era' and corrected its course to such an extent that it has chosen a man purely based on his ideas and capabilities, although he was from the erstwhile 'segregated' community. Even a vicious attack on his religion was not sufficient to deter the American people from doing the right thing!
And do remember, Malcom X was one of the leaders of the civil rights movement; not an Islamic scholar. And even though he converted to Islam near the end of his days (the Nation of Islam movement does not share anything with true Islam except for a copied name), his writings and speeches do not always reflect the teachings of Islam as espoused by our dear Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his last sermon:
‘All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.’
(Sermon delivered on the 9 Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H., i.e., 6th March 632 C.E.,in the 'Uranah valley of Mount Arafat' in Mecca).

Inspite of these clear instructions how many Somali or Ethopian or any other muslims of a darker skin shade have we seen become leader of Egypt or any other country in the Arabian peninsula? Why haven’t muslims shuddered to shed blood of fellow humans in the name of land and culture? Why haven’t Bangladeshi laborers been accorded the same respect as an Arab in Saudi Arabia or UAE? Why is ethinicity accorded more respect as compared to knowledge in Arab world? I think it is time Muslim community look inward and try to self-correct before going out to the world and calling them names.