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November 5, 2004 Future agenda of the American Muslim community By Abdus Sattar Ghazali Civil rights was the major issue in 2000 presidential election when the American Muslim community voted virtually en bloc for George Bush. Ironically, four years later, civil rights remained the most significant issue for the Muslims who this time voted overwhelmingly for Senator John Kerry. In a democratic system vote is the best instrument to express one’s opinion. And Muslims joined millions of citizens to express their opinion about the Bush administration policies. Now the election is over. President George Bush has been re-elected with a massive vote and the immediate question cropping up in the mind of Muslims is how they are going to be treated during his second term? Ibrahim Hooper, Communication Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), says President Bush in his victory speech said that he will reach out to the whole nation. "A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one Constitution, and one future that binds us." Hooper said: We take his words and hope that he will take this opportunity to reach out to the Muslim community. We also encourage Muslims to make a fresh start with the Bush administration. However, he believes that building bridges with the Muslim community will depend on how the Bush aids will advise him. Dr. Salam Al-Marayati, Executive Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), believes that during the second term President Bush’s approach towards the Muslim community will depend a lot on who he appoints in his second administration. There is talk about Attorney General Ashcroft leaving and also National Security Advisor Condolezza Rice and some of the newcons. We have to see and watch. If there is a change in his team then we expect a change in approach to the Muslim community. Mr. Eric Vickers, Communications Director of the American Muslim Council, thinks that the Muslim community should expect to be treated by the Bush administration over the next four years the same way it has been treated since 911 i.e. as potential suspects in this undefined war on terror. “The only thing I see that will change this mindset is for the Muslim community to join with the throngs who have opposed the administration's civil liberties policies - like the many cities across the country which have passed resolutions defying the Patriot Act.” On the future political strategy for the Muslim organizations, Ibrahim Hooper stressed that they should take advantage of mobilization and build upon this mobilization for the next election of 2006 and the 2008 presidential election. Dr. Al-Marayati agreed with the suggestion that that many Muslim organizations are active just during the election season. It is necessary that they should have a permanent agenda to motivate and activate the community to participate in the political process by joining Democratic, Republican or any other party. “The Muslims should be involved in political activities at the local level since all politics is local,” Dr. Al Maryati added. Dr. Al Marayati said that the Muslims did not get the result what they wanted from the election. “ Muslims should do some sole searching particularly about the Christian right which had a great impact on this election for the Republicans. According to the New York Times, nearly one-quarter of the electorate was made up of white evangelical and born-again Christians and they voted four to one for President Bush. Eric Vickers, said that Muslim organizations should continue to organize and educate the Muslim community and the American community about Islam. He also stressed for the ongoing politicization and involvement by the Muslim community. “The nature of elective politics, however, is that its greatest energy is centered on campaigns, not the permanent process. We just have to institutionalize our political activism.” Dr. Agha Saeed, President of the American Muslim Alliance and the American Muslim Task Force – that announced qualified endorsement of Senator Kerry only 12 days prior to the Nov. 2 election, said that the Muslim vote has provided an immediate opening for Muslims to build US-wide civil rights coalition. He stressed that the American Muslims not only penetrated but were able to put civil rights on the political agenda and the Muslim votes on the political map of the country. Rasheed Ahmed, President of Muslim Civil Rights Center, was of the view that first of all the Muslims should study the results of the election and find out what are the reasons of these results. “What are the underlying issues for these results and how these issues impact the Muslims in America and the world at large.” He also stressed that the Muslim community should have continuous involvement in political activities at all levels. Samina Faheem Sundas, Executive Director of the American Muslim Voice, argued that the best way to protect our civil rights is building bridges with other communities. “Moreover, the Muslim organizations need to do grassroots work and maintain the momentum and enthusiasm in the community about participation in the national political process by continuously mobilizing the community to be active in the local politics.” Khalid Saeed, American Muslim Voice Director for Northern California, said instead of doom and gloom, we should make plans to volunteer our time efforts and if possible money in order to push an agenda that we would like for this country. Instead of last minutes frantic efforts after every 4 years we need to get pro active and instead of next presidential election start thinking about US senate and House of Representatives elections two years from now. Shafi Refai, President of the United Muslims of America, believes that the Muslims should be involved in both parties.” We are now an outsider. Every four year we get up and vote. In American there is a virtually two party system and we get to involve in both parties.” He went to say that Muslims are socially conservative and politically liberal. Socially they are closer to the Republicans and politically to the Democrats. No the question is, what is the solution? I think, the best way to resolve this issue is that we join both parties. Syed Rifat Mahmood, a Muslim political leader and former congressional candidate, argued that we should now think about building the political base of our community. “We should get out of rhetoric and go to the practical field. He was of the view that the Muslims should stop complaining and start working. “We have to be vocal and proactive. We should try change the Bush policies particularly the reformation of Patriot Act.” Syed Mahood went on to say: We should encourage people to work in both the major political parties. We should become part of the political process. We should gain voice inside the party policy decision making. He said that the Muslim organizations are seen active only at the election time. “From today we should plan for the future political course and not just few months before each election.” |