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Obama should be proud to be named Hussein
The attacks on Barack Obama's middle name have begun, but the likely Democratic nominee joins a long line of famous Americans with Semitic names, from Benjamin Franklin to Omar Bradley.
By Juan Cole [2008-02-28]

  • Semitic does not mean "Jewish"

    Reader-

    Semitic refers to both Arabs and Jews, and also in ancient times Babylonians and Assyrians, those from the eastern Mediterranean. Thus, Hebrew isn't the only "semitic" language, so Juan is correct-he doesn't need to use the word "Jewish".

    -- furtail
    [Read furtail's other letters]
    Thursday, February 28, 2008 09:27 AM
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