American
Muslims Hopeful in the Post-Ashcroft Era
By Shaik Ubaid, MD
President, Indian Muslim Council
USA
The last few years have been
a difficult period for the American Muslims. The
twin dawns of post-Ashcroft and post-Arafat eras
bring more hope for us; as does the report by
the Defense Science Board of Pentagon that echoes
the stand of the American Muslim leadership.
The Pentagon report describes US public diplomacy
as being in crisis and urges the creation of a
strategic communications apparatus within the
White House. It says that improving public relations
is not enough. "Muslims do not hate our freedom,
but rather they hate our policies," it concludes.
The Board recommends that Washington make some
immediate changes in its attitude toward Muslims
American Muslims are deeply hurt by the persecution
of Muslims in other lands by their own corrupt
and tyrannical rulers and by foreign occupiers.
Domestically too, we feel acute anxiety caused
by the growing anti-Muslim sentiment in the US.
It is the propagation of the misleading perception
of Islam by certain right wing elements in the
US that has led to this sad state of affairs.
During the last few years Muslim Americans have
developed a good rapport with civil rights organizations
and moderate religious leaders of other faiths.
Muslim leadership must now develop links with
the administration to facilitate the furtherance
of this effort. For the fulfillment of their religious
and patriotic role of acting as a bridge between
the US and the Muslim world, American Muslims
will have to win the confidence of the administration
first.
President Bush had promised to reach out to those
who voted for his opponent. An explicit symbolic
gesture to this resolve will go a long way in
allaying fears and restoring confidence of American
Muslims and promising their active participation
in the democratic process. It is my earnest hope
that Muslim leaders will extend a hand of cooperation
which President Bush will duly reciprocate.
The Muslim world will not fail to notice the change.
It, coupled with an evenhanded American policy
to settle the Middle East conflict in the post-Arafat
era, may well serve to defuse some of the anti-American
anger in the Muslim world.
The Pentagon report endorses the American Muslims’
assertion that changes in our government's policies
domestically and internationally are in the interest
of not just our community but our country as well.
(An abridged version of this article appeared
in Newsday on 12-8-04)
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