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Already upset with Rep. Ellision over his taking a position as vice chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, conservatives call on the Muslim community to campaign against Ellision and Carson in 2010. "Kucinich and Ron Paul's comments were sadly much more Muslim than anything our own Muslims are capable of."
On January 9th, the House voted on Resolution 34, supporting Israel's current action in Gaza. Rep. Keith Ellison and Andre Carson, the first and second Muslim American congressional reps. in US history, voted "present" and in support of the bill. The following is an excerpt from a post at Muslimmatters.org, a well-known religiously conservative Muslim blog. It's representative of other mainstream conservative Muslim bloggers' response to the House vote. Remember that religiously conservative Muslims strongly disapprove of participating in politics, so their "buy in" and participation in the November elections was unprecedented. Many voted and contributed money for the first time.
As political support unravels for Muslim Democratic congressmen and as segments of the Muslim community vow to disengage and walk away from the democratic political process, consider this a case study of how the larger Muslim world is being radicalized by Israel's current violence in Gaza.
The question arises though - where were our Muslim congressmen?! Should our own brothers not be at the forefront in speaking out against this massacre? Speaking in support of their brothers and sisters who are falling victim to an act of oppression which is something no less than fully-fledged ethnic cleansing?
Andre Carson voted for the resolution. Meaning, he pledged his support for Israel and the furthering of their "Jewish Democratic" state through the invasion and genocide of innocent Muslims in Palestine.
Keith Ellison gave his implicit support for it, by refusing to speak against it. We are not asking him to change the world, but is it really too much to ask that as a Muslim, you have the courage to take a stand against a massacre of Muslims? Is it too much to ask that you at the least simply echo and support the statements made by some of your fellow Congressman? Do you seriously believe Israel was in the right?
It is troubling that a Muslim congressman can be so clueless about international politics. Does he really believe what he said about Israel? This is either deceit, or the height of ignorance - unacceptable either way for someone in this field, and representing the Muslim community of America. While it is true he was elected in Minnesota, he did raise funds from Muslim communities all over the country, making us believe this would make a positive difference and represent our interests.
The basic premise of Muslim involvement in these arenas predicated on the belief that we knew the system was wrong. We knew that there are many things in politics that go against our religious principles. But we have tried to take a mature stance at objectively analyzing what we can do to avert the greater evil in favor of the lesser one. Have many Muslims lost sight of that? Definitely. Many who were more enthusiastic were often given a free pass because of progress that was being made. After all, we had a Muslim in Congress now. We can make strides in defending the civil liberties of American Muslims.
It was in that vein that many of us remained silent, when our first Muslim Congressman was chosen to be the Vice chair of a Gay Rights Committee. We were uncomfortable with this as Islam's stance on homosexuality is crystal clear. However, many tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, and try to take a more 'mature' understanding that this was part of working with the system. He was making some compromises en route to achieving what we were hoping would ultimately be the greater good for the Muslim community.
Fast forward now to the recent crisis that began a few weeks ago. When it comes to Muslim issues, there is definitely a list of priorities. As a Muslim, I find it hard to place many things above an all out massacre of innocent civilians. While no one is naive enough to think that 2 Muslim congressmen will be able to put through a bill that will result in a sudden reversal of foreign policy, we do expect them to at least take a symbolic stand when afforded the opportunity.
Let's make one thing clear: No one is denying that a Muslim congressman undoubtedly faces an undue amount of pressure, probably more than most other politicians - both within the Muslim community and the microscope outside of it.
The question that I have though, is at what point do we simply say that if this is the net result of working with the system, then it's not worth it?
What is even most perplexing is that we are not asking Ellison or Carson to do something unreasonable! Kucinich and Ron Paul's comments were sadly much more Muslim than anything our own Muslims are capable of. Could Ellison not echo those same sentiments from his fellow colleagues?
If they cannot take even a symbolic stand against genocide, then there is really no hope for anything else after that.
It is seriously time that we re-evaluate our strategy on these issues. What is the real end game here? I do not disagree with the theory of making our voices and concerns heard, I am questioning the manner in which we do it, and the extreme to which we have gone. Is there benefit of working with a system in which Muslims, when finally making it to the stage, cannot stand up for what is important to us?
The Western Muslim society has slowly been getting more and more politically active (and savvy). While I do not discount political participation en masse, I feel that we have lost sight of what I understand to be our initial intention in getting involved - averting greater harms to our community.
As for those who believe that this stance is too harsh, and that trashing the system is 'throwing the baby out with the bath-water' - then I say this. If you still believe that this engagement is the proper course of action, then I ask what could have possibly motivated these Congressmen to favor Israel (one explicitly, and one implicitly)?
If it is really a case of "bad apples" and not a shortcoming with the system, then I challenge you and all the politically active Muslim organizations who backed Ellison with this: Send out emails on your email lists expressing your disapproval of what they did, in the same way that you previously encouraged people to support them. If you are a true believer in "writing your Congressman" and civic engagement - then write to Ellison, and these Muslim organizations. Let them know that you will not only refuse to re-elect them, but you will campaign against them because of this travesty.
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