Posted on 08/10/2004 2:07:53 AM PDT by kattracks
Rameen Mosref Javid did not bother voting in the 2000 elections.Back then, the 35-year-old Afghan was more interested in Far Eastern politics. He didn't consider himself a minority, and he didn't feel any persecution or fear.
Then came the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, and the American Muslim world changed.
"After 9/11, we became a target," said Javid, a Flushing resident, who said he has been "selected" for random airport checks each of the nine times he has flown since the attacks.
He now plans to vote for the first time - and hopes other Muslims will do the same.
"A lot more is at stake for this community," said Javid, who two months ago began registering voters in front of area mosques after Friday Jumah services.
A flurry of voter activity drives is underway in Muslim and Arab enclaves throughout the city. A patchwork of organizations is hitting the streets to galvanize Muslims into what they say could become a potent voting bloc.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee last month started conducting workshops for people who want to volunteer for registration drives. On July 31, a coalition kicked off a three-month voter drive with tables on Atlantic Ave. in downtown Brooklyn and Fifth Ave. in Bay Ridge.
"There are so many Muslims who are disillusioned out there and that might show at the polls," said Wissam Nasr, the New York director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The council has set up a voter information booth in front of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York - the city's largest mosque - on E. 96th St. and Third Ave.
In the past, Muslims and Arabs have voted along social and ethnic lines, said James Zogby, president of the Washington-based Arab American Institute. Many business-owning Arabs, for example, are Republicans, but African-American Muslims vote for Democrats, he said.
"There is incredible diversity within ... the ethnic and racial groups of Islam and the religious community doesn't yet operate as a political constituency," Zogby said.
This time, however, Zogby and others predict racial and conservative beliefs may take a backseat. The erosion of civil liberties, the unresolved Iraqi War and Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be front and center.
Those were the issues that many Muslims mentioned recently after volunteer Faizan Habeeb, 16, stopped them as they left services at the Islamic Cultural Center and asked if they were registered to vote.
Yeboah Nortey, 50, who became a U.S. citizen two months ago but had yet to register, was pleased to find information on how to sign up.
"I just want to vote for the Democrats," said Nortey, a Ghanaian-American who lives in the Bronx. "They will do better for us."
Originally published on August 9, 2004
HERE!
Islamists for Kerry.
I think those muslims/arabs should think about it before they vote democrat. If klownkerry steals this election life will not be pleasant for the majority of all non-elitist. I would have to say, there is a possibilty of a Civil War 2 in this country. I would suggest all fools who think klown kerry is going to give them milk and honey purchase/steal a ticket back to Never-Never-Land. The real Americans are not going to be Sh-t on by klownkerry and his commie followers. "Real Americans'= 1. are (Patriots) who believe in self-determination, 2. have faith in God and a duty to see our country flourish not turned into a socialistic/communistic/islamic third world country, 3. a believer in the second/fourth amendments, 4. raised not to believe that welfare is a professional career, 5. always ready and willing to help a friend, neighbor, woman or child in need, 6. will always stand their ground defending America against all enemies both foreign and domestic, 7. these partiots are of many different races, but they are (Americans first, last and always) 8. and will not let the islamic jihadist muslims or Commie-Elitist destroy our Great Country. President Bush will win and big. God Bless The Red, White and Blue. Bush/Cheney 2004 I would like some responses from my fellow freepers on this matter?
"We Dare Defend Our Rights"
This is a very one-sided article. Look who the reporter uses.....(speaking of dishonest media)...
He refers to people out of mosque.....well, that's 10%-15% of all muslims in America.
Then he refers to black muslims......well, we already know how they tend to vote
Then he uses American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee..... not a moderate group
Then he uses CAIR.....a radical group trying to pass itself off as moderate.
The above are the 10-15% that attend mosque.
There is no representation of the 85% of the American muslims in this country....who are predominantly Asian.
It's another biased report.
How about " did you get brain freeze from your slurpy machine habib?!"
Do you also feel that if Don Rickles were to try and start his career now he would never make it?
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