Editorial
From
the Editor: Akhtar
Mahmud Faruqui
Whither Muslim Americans?
Election 2004,
a nail-bitingly close contest, is over. Never before
have the rural red – the Republican supporters
– and the urban blue – the Democratic
voters – in the US were seen in such combative
mood - locked in a fierce battle for the White House.
The outcome was difficult to predict to the last.
Yet, in the wee hours of November 3 President Bush
triumphantly emerged as the winner. Fifty-one percent
of the rural red had voiced unequivocal support
for President Bush.
Conceding defeat, a teary-eyed Senator John Kerry
“talked about the danger of division in our
country and the need – desperate need - for
unity, for finding the common ground, coming together”
in his congratulatory call to President Bush. “Today,
I hope we can begin the healing…”
Healing indeed was a pressing need. Election 2004
created an unprecedented stir in the US and beyond
- across the Atlantic and the Pacific. Understandably
so. The election’s outcome was to impact Americans
and non-Americans, though in varying degrees and
different ways. Not surprisingly, both the Americans
and the non-Americans aired their views. A small
BBC sampling:
“Never before have I, or anyone else I know,
seen such passion for politics. I heard my 11-year
old sister talking about foreign policy. At college,
class was disrupted as heated political debates
broke out. At the polls, I saw people, obviously
only 18, smiling at their chance to have a say in
the election. Although neither candidate is what
I would call ideal, it makes me happy to see so
many people staying informed and getting involved
in politics. (Ryan McNamara, West Mitford, NJ, USA)
“One of the most depressing aspects of the
election has been the realization that Europeans
and Americans don’t seem to like each other
anymore. Another victory for Bin Laden (John, London)
“To all Americans – we are not against
you if we all are pro-Kerry. We owe you too much
for playing the key role in freeing us in 1945…
(Axel, Mainz, Germany) “Shouldn’t the
Iraqis vote in this election since they will be
affected the most by the election? And they are
pretty much under an American rule.” (Faisal
Al-Umari, Baghdad, Iraq) The Iraqis did not cast
their vote but Muslim Americans did - en bloc –
extending ‘qualified’ support to Senator
Kerry.
Demonstrating
their collective strength, thanks to the sustained
strivings of the American Muslim Taskforce (AMT)
headed by Dr Agha Saeed, a Pakistani, they furnished
fresh proof of growing maturity. According to Dr
Lisette Poole of California State University Howard,
Muslim Americans and Arab Muslims “are firmly
embarked on the road of political involvement, visibility,
and contribution to the national debate, even as
they contribute their struggle against the erosion
of their civil liberties.”
The AMT gave a voice, a face, and a presence to
the community on the national level. “In 2000
we had placed the Muslim vote on the political map.
Now we are reaffirming the same electoral prowess
so that every one could recognize that our voice
has legitimacy,” said Dr Shabbir Safdar, AMT
Board Member. His claim was well founded: an editorial
comment in the prestigious Observer-Dispatch, which
garnered a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in
1959 testified: “No-shows at the ballot box
might take a lesson from Muslim-Americans, who are
stepping up efforts to assume an active role in
the nation's political process… The American
Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections believes
that this year's presidential race will be close,
and even though its numbers are small, activists
say voters could have an impact in November. To
that end, the Associated Press reported Monday that
the group aims to register one million Muslims to
vote and will educate them about the presidential
candidates' positions…”
The overwhelming Muslim support for Senator Kerry
brings us to the crucial question: Will the defeat
of the Senator adversely affect Muslim Americans?
Would the anticipated introduction of Patriot Act
II by the triumphant Bush administration compound
their problems? Would the President, who visited
a mosque in the immediate post – Sept 11 period
and described Islam as a religion of peace, ungrudgingly
own Muslims again as equal citizens of the United
States of America? In his victory speech, the President
appeared to drop a clue of his intentions as he
outlined his priorities: “Reaching these goals
will require the broad support of Americans. So
today I want to speak to every person who voted
for my opponent. To make this nation stronger and
better, I will need your support and I will work
to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your
trust.” A noble commitment.
Later, at his first press conference after reelection,
the President remarked: “I will be your President
regardless of your faith, and I don’t expect
you to agree with me necessarily on religion. As
a matter of fact, no President should ever try to
impose religion on our society…The great thing
that unites is the fact you can worship freely if
you choose…”
Scrapping Patriot Act could lend meaning to this
resolve. ‘Healing wounds’ would, inter
alia, require rapid restoration of civil rights
of all American citizens and treating them at par
with others. An equally paramount need of the time
is to deal with terrorists with an iron hand without
blurring the distinction between genuine freedom
fighters and adventurous, hardcore hoodlums.
Attorney General John Ashcroft, who was largely
held responsible for human rights violations in
the US, has already exited from the scene. According
to Dr Agha Saeed, AMT Chairman, “Mr Ashcroft’s
resignation and the subsequent nomination of White
House Counsel Alberto Gonzales has created a huge
opportunity for an expanded and revived civil libertarian
coalition to have a potentially policy altering
debate during the confirmation hearings.”
The AMT claims that Muslims may garner the first
benefit of supporting John Kerry.
Yet, not all
sections of the Muslim American community support
the AMT’s qualified bloc endorsement. While
some like the Seeme Hasan family of Colorado supported
Bush and described a vote for Kerry as sheer ‘waste’,
others denounced the AMT endorsement in no mild
terms.
Says Dr M. A. Muqtedar Khan, Chair of the Political
Science Department at Adrian College and a Nonresident
Fellow of the Brookings Institution: “Unlike
Europe, America has always been a religious nation.
Alexis Tocqueville in 1831 claimed that religion
was the first political institution of American
democracy. November 2 saw this first political institution
unleash a backlash against the assault on Christianity…
The American identity is gradually changing. What
we saw on 11/2 (November 2) was just the tip of
the iceberg. American Muslims have to think hard
abo ut what position they wish to occupy in the
New Republic and fight even harder to get it. American
Muslims must respect the diversity within the community
and use it as a strategic asset rather than trying
to impose a false unity that will crack under pressure.
American Muslims will likely face a tough future…”
Dr Nayyer Ali of the Muslim Public Affairs Council
too advances several reasons to explain why the
Muslim vote didn’t matter in Election 2004,
the principal one being: “The American political
process is open to those who see themselves and
present themselves as Americans. Most Muslims however
see the choice as Muslims on one side and Americans
on the other.”
While such observations carry considerable weight,
the fact remains that the bloc vote has done Muslims
more good than harm. It also holds the promise of
precipitating a wholesome change. Its immediate
benefits enunciated by an AMT supporter, can be
summed up as follows:
1) Self correction - The errors and omissions of
2000 were corrected in 2004 and broader consultation
has resulted in better results, 2) Environment –We
are beginning to understand America and America
is beginning to understand Islam and Muslims, 3)
Contextualization - Even though Bush won the election,
about half the country voted against him. The Muslims
were not alone and isolated as they would have been
had they voted for a third party, 4) Maturity -
We hav e learnt to agree and disagree without a
split, respect diversity of opinion and work with
other organizations, 5) Multi-Party Strategy - While
we have decided to remain in the mainstream, we
have also discovered the significant and creative
role of America’s third parties; and 6) Intergenerational
Learning - Political savvy is hereditary, immigrant
parents are getting it from their American-born
children.
Circumstanced as they are today, it is for American
Muslims to transform the ‘worst of times’
into the ‘best of times’ by reaching
out to fellow Americans and presenting the peaceful
face of Islam. Muslim Americans who have read Dicken’s
classic ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ know
that the English novelist not only talks of the
worst and the best of times but also of a ‘winter
of despair’ and ‘a spring of hope.’
The AMT has to be an all-time undertaking for a
wholesome change, fo r a speedy transition to ‘a
spring of hope.’
As for Pakistani Americans, President Bush’s
victory should signify the end of the roller-coast
equation that has characterized ties between Washington
and Islamabad in the past. The US should act with
promptitude to respond to Pakistan’s long-standing
request for the supply of the F-16s to furnish proof
of the closer ties binding the two countries together
today. IT is one field that could reward both countries
if they enter into well-meaning collaborative arrangements.
- afaruqui@pakistanlink.com)
=====================
