U.S. Muslims regret support for Bush, won’t repeat it in ’04

Wilmington Star ^ | 9-1-03 | Staff

[veronica]

Even before the Sept. 11 attacks and the crackdown that followed, American Muslim leaders generally had come to believe they had made a mistake.

In 2000, they made their first unified endorsement in a presidential race, backing George W. Bush. Many thought he would take a harder line against Israel, and, based on statements he made while campaigning, would protect the rights of immigrants facing deportation.

Muslims say they were disappointed on both counts. Now, feeling the additional sting of being scrutinized in the domestic hunt for terrorists, they are mobilizing to express their anger at the polls in 2004.

At their largest convention of the year, which ends today, national Muslim leaders announced plans to register 1 million Muslim voters and make civil rights a top issue in any endorsement of a presidential candidate.

"A defining moment of Islam in America is approaching," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group based in Washington. "We cannot surrender our future and our destiny to hate in this country."

Agha Saeed, head of the Muslim American Congress, led the crowd in a chant. "I am an American, I am a Muslim and I vote," he said, joined by thousands gathered for the Islamic Society of North America meeting.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Mr. Bush won points with American Muslims by visiting a mosque and declaring Islam a peaceful religion.

But since then, the federal government has detained hundreds of immigrants, shut down U.S. Muslim charities suspected of terrorist ties and gained broad new powers to monitor citizens under the USA Patriot Act.

The Bush administration said these moves have been crucial for U.S. security. American Muslims say they are being scapegoated.

A White House spokesman referred questions about the presidential race to the Bush campaign, whose spokeswoman did not immediately reply to a request for comment Sunday.

It is unclear what effect Muslims can have in the 2004 elections.

Estimates of the number of U.S. Muslims vary dramatically from 2 million to 6 million. But immigrant Muslims generally are highly educated professionals with the means to make significant campaign donations.

Also, their community has matured dramatically in the past four years.

The assault on Islam that followed the suicide hijackings that killed thousands in New York and Washington compelled Muslims around the country to defend their faith.

National Muslim organizations, including Mr. Awad’s, reported a dramatic increase in donations and membership.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I'm familiar with him. He's also not my neighbor.

Good night.

[viaveritasvita]

>>"If he blows me up, you can say 'I told you so'...."<<


Just so long as your friend doesn't blow me or my friends up, too.

Your can't-we-all-just-get-along stance is sweet, but dangerously naive.

[BigAndy]

Oh dear. Let me think.

The Pope says a good deal of things that don't involve Holy War such as that contraception or abortion are evil. Billions of Christians around the world happily continue to disagree with him and ignore him. The reason they do this is because they overlay their own principles of personal responsibility and morality on to the statement from their religious leader and decide they don't agree with him.

What makes you think that rational, democratic, freedom-loving Muslims won't apply the same process to non-Orthodox preaching from minor Muslim leaders who carry no moral authority within the Muslim world? Or that they will ignore the vast majority of established, mainstream Muslim leaders who do not preach Holy War or Jihad.

At the core of your argument seems to be the idea that if you are a Muslim you cannot possibly tell the difference between good and evil, or overlay your sense of personal responsibility or morality on to anything said by any other Muslim. I think that view is unsustainable.

Or maybe at the core of your argument you just hate Muslims because they are Muslims. Again, that's unsustainable and has no place in this debate.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You do realize you're talking about a man you don't know at all, right?

[Scenic Sounds]

LOL. Yeah, we're a lovable lot. I have no explanation for all the antipathy. ;-)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Andy, you are an asset to this forum.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I am in a promising local band...

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Keep talking like that, and everybody is going to know what you do. LOL

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Oh? What's the name of it? (Make it good, Fairbanks. This thread needs some levity!)

[Scenic Sounds]

Your can't-we-all-just-get-along stance is sweet, but dangerously naive.

LOL. You sound like you need more love in your life. All you need is love. ;-)

Good night, all. Peace be with you. LOL. ;-)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, we used to be The Bathroom Party Psychopaths, but that was taken, so we ended up as Crazy Abdul and The Suicide Bombers...

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Better change it again. People on this thread aren't into taking any chances. : )

[Chad Fairbanks]

Hmmm... How about "Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Funkenstein"?

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Now you're scarin' me.

[viaveritasvita]

>>"You do realize you're talking about a man you don't know at all, right?"<<


The deeper, more important question is: How well do YOU really know this man?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Mo1? Is that you?

[viaveritasvita]

Dangerously and foolishly naive.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

And the obvious answer to that is: Better than any of you.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Ummmmmmm...no. : ) (Is this where I decide you are delusional, and I get to scream, "Snap out of it, man!!" and get a free slap across your face? : )

[viaveritasvita]

>>"And the obvious answer to that is: Better than any of you."<<


We'll all hope and pray that, when push comes to shove, you're right.