Council on Foreign Relations
A Search for Political Influence: The American Muslim Challenge
By Azher Quader
Chicago, IL
It has been a few decades now since the arrival of immigrant Muslims in America and although they have made significant progress towards achieving personal and professional success as evidenced by their standard of living and the establishment of their religious and community institutions, the goal of political influence has remained elusive.
Ever since the horrific tragedy of 911 and its fallout when they became, for no fault of theirs, the victims of widespread Islamophobia, it has been a persistent struggle for them to obtain some legitimacy and influence in the realm of American politics. For the most part, their efforts have been through short-term independent individual engagements with inconsistent results.
If the recent events in Gaza and the widespread campus protests that it triggered are any indication of the helplessness and frustration a significant portion of Muslim and non-Muslim young people feel, with their inability to affect any influence on the decisions of the policy makers in Washington, some rethinking regarding the way forward is needed. A better understanding of the political process in America, how public policy is shaped, and how it can be influenced needs to be reviewed.
Step One:Describing the vision
For public policy in America to be effective and sustainable for the longer term, it should be based on principles that are universal in their appeal and address the perplexing problems of the society which affect the majority of Americans in the country. They cannot be defined through narrowly constructed sectarian concerns of Muslims, which are attractive at an emotional level for them, but not popular or attractive at a societal level for the rest of the country.
Justice and compassion cannot be claimed exclusively for Muslim concerns when they truly impact the lives and livelihoods of all Americans. Muslims should understand that Muslim interests are human interests. When systemic societal issues are successfully addressed, Muslim personal interests will be automatically corrected as well, and the larger good served.
Step Two: Understanding the issues
Next, a deeper dive needs to be taken into the issues of freedom and justice in order to properly address the nagging problems of poverty, racism, the wealth gap, climate change, democracy, education, housing, and healthcare, just to name a few. It must be recognized by Muslim voters that while the tragic occurrences around the globe are often too painful to bear, it is the domestic bread and butter issues, that mostly draw the attention of the policy makers.
To be sure, the opportunities for civic engagement are quite plentiful in the domestic area, where much needs to be addressed on issues of freedom and democracy, for starters.
For we are not truly free, till we can break the shackles of generational poverty, that imprison the lives of millions in our country.
Of course, we are not truly democratic also, unless the will of the people prevails, not the demands of the rich and powerful. In a country where corporations have been dubbed as people and the use of unrestricted funds as free speech, much needs to be done to redress the issues that corrupt our democracy. And we are not truly just, unless the criminal elite are treated the same way as the criminal commoners. Indeed, we are not truly credible too in the eyes of the world, unless we are honest mediators in the disputes of warring nations, whenever we choose to do so. No one needs to remind us either that we are not truly secure at home unless we can stop the insanity of gun violence that claims the lives of over 30,000 innocent victims every year. Of course, we are not truly energy independent as well, unless we are willing to move from extractive sources of energy to renewable sources of energy. Who can deny that we are not environmentally conscious, as long as we remain indifferent observers to the global impact of climate change, the ever-increasing frequency and fury of natural disasters, without accepting to change course.
Step Three: Building voter capacity
Clearly, the opportunities for change are many and the promise of creating a better world is exciting. Partisan politics has failed us, becoming too corrosive and combative. We can see the need for bold partnerships to come into existence which are across party lines that are inspired by reason and purpose to do the will of the people.
Muslim voting power obviously is limited today and will remain so in a country where they are a tiny minority. Without reaching out to collaborate with groups who share similar concerns, not much progress will ever be possible if we depend on the Muslim vote alone. This undoubtedly would mean crossing the lines of traditional partnerships. When we are weak we need strength to build through our alliances with social, political and economic groups that share common interests. There will be compromises to be made here since none of these groups comes without their particular agendas tagged to the ones that we may be interested in.
We have spent a lot of time and energy in building interfaith relationships over the years. Those are good starting points and those relationships will be very helpful and important in moving forward. We have explored each other’s faiths enough to know our differences, we now need to explore areas of common interests so we can build partnerships of trust and alliances of common purpose.
Only when we are willing to look beyond the differences that separate us, to the concerns that unite us, that we would begin to realize the power of collaborative voting in defeating the coercive influence of moneyed interests in our politics.
Step Four: Building financial capacity
This brings us to the next obvious source of influence that commands the interests of the policymakers in Washington - money. To play the money game effectively it is imperative for some Muslims with resources, to build generational wealth, through the judicious and timely use of such powerful financial instruments as insurance and trusts.
Far too many in our community, have remained uninformed of the changes that have taken place in the financial sector which have opened up new opportunities for building generational wealth. The use of properly structured “whole life insurance” maximizing “cash value” is one such instrument. Watch: (https://youtu.be/KOREvsAKbFw?si=psFF3LdKV8FPE5fe) https://youtu.be/xyDwb94M6SU
Of course, there would be the need for some with the interest and resources to consider opening successful business enterprises that could be another source for creating generational wealth.
When it comes to wealth building, the opportunities are obviously plentiful, but the knowledge and understanding of strategies are essential and sadly deficient. What is needed may be a series of educational programs that will explain the details of these opportunities and their long-term financial benefits to ordinary people.
In our community financial savvy is generally not considered a priority and going forward we would need to change it. It is not enough to simply earn good incomes through good-paying jobs. Building wealth requires a decent understanding of investing strategies, tax saving strategies, and Instituting asset protection mechanisms for everyone to use.
The myth of Jewish economic power in America need not be overestimated seeing how the South Asian business community has replaced almost completely the Jewish community’s business presence from Chicago’s Devon Avenue and New York’s Canal Street in the course of our lifetime.
Step Five: Building media capacity
Anyone can call into any talk show at any time and voice their opinion. Letters and op-eds are another medium of engagement. Although we do need journalists to take a position in the media, writing and calling can be done by anyone, and people need to make time to participate in these opportunities which are open to all. As a popular radio host reminds his listeners “politics is not a spectator sport, get engaged” www.ThomHartmann.com
At another level we should be looking into developing and promoting our own media professionals, anchors, reporters, and journalists, willing to provide real facts so viewers and readers may get to know the truth and not listen to distorted facts and overt lies.
As a generation of Muslims, born and raised in the country, has come of age, this engagement is not difficult and should happen with greater frequency and urgency
Step Six: Build Public Service capacity
When the stakes are so high the challenges for financial security so severe, the passion for public service is not easy to find. It is not surprising therefore that those few who do express an interest in the field often are with deep pockets and financially secure. This work though requires a lot more beyond passion and money. It is a demanding area where many important character traits come together - patience, empathy, trust, discipline, courage, wisdom, and reflection along with skills for time management, communication, and a work ethics for hard work, service, and sacrifice.
Finding candidates who possess the appropriate talents and traits is not easy, but with regular programs of camps, retreats, and workshops for interested individuals to enroll and get trained, it is possible to create a pool of candidates who can enter this public space, either through elections or through recruitment. The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, in Washington, DC, offers such training programs. ( www.apaics.org )
Step Seven: Build communication capacity
We cannot make logical decisions and reasonable plans without having the confidence that they will be successful if we do not have the ability to poll a representative sample of the people we are dealing with to predict real outcomes. So, it is important to have databases for surveys to be conducted with a measure of predictable accuracy.
At present Muslim statistics are often questionable because faith-based statistics are not usually obtained. The main institutions that do carry such data are our religious institutions and they have privacy and security issues, for sharing them. In addition, the diversity of opinions to be sampled may be another concern to capture. There is therefore a need for building our databases for Muslim voters. This would give us the tools for obtaining real samples of our strengths and opinions on issues in key battleground states. The idea of punishing a party or a candidate for their policy choices, however emotionally appealing, requires creditability with factual figures, otherwise, it becomes purely threatening at best, and compromising relationships at worst. We need to travel this path quite carefully if we want to remain serious players in the arena of political influence in the long term.
Step Eight: Propose real solutions
In the end, we need to look at the major societal issues of our times and offer how we would address them if we had the power to intercede and change. We cannot be credible in the civic life of our neighbors if we merely talk about solutions without offering specific options and well-reasoned alternatives. This would imply suggesting policy choices to consider, that are aimed at providing the greater good in place of current ones that serve the financial interests of a well-heeled few.
This cannot be done without engaging the resources within our community and outside as well, who have the knowledge and experience to do this important work. Ultimately in the marketplace of ideas, we can only win when the ideas we propose are acceptable to a majority of the people whose interests and needs they meet. Watch Ralph Nader talk about real problems and real solutions: https://youtu.be/FIop-nsF1Ic?si=-1asGiDqzq2VxezN
Traditionally this would be the work of think tanks. However, the inspiration for these ideas to be successful can only come from universal principles grounded in the teachings of divine sources.
Step Nine: Advocacy for a third party
The dissatisfaction with our two-party political system and the power of the electoral college in deciding results independent of the will of the majority, often fuels the debate for a third party more as a sign of frustration than a real solution to a system which is uniquely American with no parallel anywhere else in the world.
In 1992 Texas businessman and philanthropist Ross Perot, came to receive nearly 19 % of the public support as a third-party presidential candidate. He spent $12 million of his own money, was on the ballot in all 50 states, and participated in all 3 presidential debates featuring Bush Sr and Bill Clinton.
The push for a third party has become mainstream discussion again, as a result of the Gaza War. The attitude of both parties refusing to stop the brutal genocide of Palestinian people by Israeli armed forces has moved many Muslims to support Green Party’s Jill Stein. The argument is being made that the Green Party’s positions independent of the Gaza issue which they support, are more in line with Muslim values.
This issue is understandably very emotional for Muslims and the idea of “punishing” the Biden-Harris team for their promotion of this genocide is very strong. Whether or not this emotion will evolve into a more collaborative and sustained effort later, remains to be seen.
Step ten: Build a legacy of peace and justice
No one can argue against the idea of establishing a society that is just, compassionate, and peaceful. The inevitability of acquiring power to establish such a society cannot be disputed either. As long as we have the character to use power without its corrupting capacity, this journey becomes a pilgrimage for a sacred cause, and not a narcissistic lust for the control of people’s lives and liberties.
Most of us have witnessed the tyranny of wars that solve few problems if any. As a new generation of Americans, we must travel a different path, one that recognizes the essential hopes and aspirations of all people, one that reminds us that we are caretakers of one another, responsible for the welfare of each other, especially the marginalized ones, knowing that when we give we grow, when we hear we heal, when we reach out we reach in the lives of those who would otherwise be strangers to us.
Let us never doubt in believing that there is tremendous value in abundance, in patience, in caring for our planet, in sharing our talents, in appreciating that we are all connected, and that we are all one global family. We must expect more from us and others who believe like we do. We must give peace a chance and embrace the promise of justice which can provide the elusive happiness we all seek.
What a glorious legacy gift this could be, if we were to give this vision of a just and peaceful America, that future generations could inherit, so that someday through our commitments and sacrifices, America’s promise will be fully realized and its destiny fully manifested.
May Allah give us the wisdom and capacity to engage in this noble undertaking and succeed in it.
(Azher Quader is a writer, thinker, and community worker. He is founder president of the Community Builders Council (www.cbc7.org ) and Compassionate Care Network (www.ccnamerica.com). He can be reached at azherquader42@gmail.com.)
