Under wraps

The politics of inclusivity isn’t easy | Mindy Belz

Barack Obama, on his way to the Democratic nomination because of principles and personality, won't escape political realities. He disappointed some by changing his position on campaign financing, and now he has to decide whether his campaign for inclusivity should exclude some.

Last month Hebba Aref and Shimaa Abdelfadeel, American-born daughters of Egyptian immigrants, arrived at an Obama event in Detroit to receive an invitation to sit behind the podium where the presidential candidate would be speaking. But before the televised event began, campaign workers told them they could not be on stage because they were wearing the hijab, the traditional Muslim head covering for women.

Aref and Abdelfadeel took news of their rejection to the press. Aref, a 25-year-old attorney in Detroit, told reporters it was difficult to listen to Obama's speech and its message of unity: "As he's saying it, I'm thinking, 'Well, wait a minute, I was obviously . . . profiled and discriminated against an hour ago.'"