Across the border in Canada, there were four Sikh members of the Canadian Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. On March 11, 2016, at American University in Washington, DC, Trudeau quipped that he has more Sikhs in his Cabinet than Modi has in his Cabinet in India
Irresponsible Passivity
By Mowahid Hussain Shah
With all the justifiable apprehension swirling around the Muslim community in America, Muslims' own sustained role contributing to their marginalization cannot be discounted. Many Muslim elders, despite doing well financially, held a diffident posture, which helped instill fear and ambivalence in the youngsters. A more determined effort could have been made to foster pride and self-confidence. Even when the situation didn't warrant, the mindset remained insecure. Much before the days of Islamophobia, some even chose to pass themselves off as Mo instead of their given name, Mohammed. The lesson was lost: if you don't respect yourself, will others?
Some community elders talked often of doing their time in the States, making enough money and then contemplating the Wapsi (return route) to live a life of prayerful repose in Pakistan. What then happened? 9/11 happened.
Muslims forgot that, unlike adherents to other religions like Hinduism and Buddhism that generally were concentrated in certain regions, they were part of a global faith experiencing growing fissures along social and cultural fault lines. This formed a flammable brew. Few had the foresight to see the looming firestorm.
The misplaced focus sometimes on externals, over the rejuvenating force of Iman, has exacted its own toil. Sikhs have already gone through this -- focusing on external appearance forged as a reaction against Mughal rule. Now, paradoxically, in America, they face the dilemma of being attacked by being mistaken for Muslims.
Time is the arbiter of what works: the optics of appearance or being resolute and effective where and when it matters or has mattered. The Quaid provides a salutary precedent. Jolts, however, may force a rethink and can have a motivating impact.
Meanwhile, things are likely to get worse before they get better. Past precedent provides evidence that Muslims historically have endured far more severe crises than this, where they not only survived but, most importantly, thrived. Now is the moment to recalibrate, recalculate, and figure out a strategic pathway. Merely being scared is not policy. But it won't happen without identifying mistakes being made that are permitting the Muslim community to be a constant punching bag.
Elsewhere, Muslims with fewer resources and size have made far more headway, for example, in Britain and post-apartheid South Africa. In Britain, even after 7/7 and its fallout, and despite the nefarious policies, British Muslims continue to make mainstream headway. Relative to others, US Muslims have done less with more, with their economic-centric focus acting to thwart their progress in the realm of public space.
Meanwhile, Muslim elites are content to build military alliances against each other, while Palestinians and Kashmiris continue to groan under the yoke of oppressive occupation.
Across the border in Canada, there were four Sikh members of the Canadian Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. On March 11, 2016, at American University in Washington, DC, Trudeau quipped that he has more Sikhs in his Cabinet than Modi has in his Cabinet in India.
This is where Muslims should now set their targets. Aim for Cabinet and other leadership positions without apology. Articulate aspirations of fair play, equity, and diversity as first-class citizens.
