Muslim Rights Group: Bachmann Playing 'Six Degrees of Separation Drinking Game' with National Security
A Muslim human
rights group has issued a strong response to the allegations from House
Republican members that longtime Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin’s family, as
well as other prominent Muslim-Americans working within the U.S. government,
have ties to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.
Corey Saylor, a
spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also known as CAIR,
calls questioning the loyalty of ”patriotic American Muslims” based on what he
says are old anti-Muslim conspiracy theories “beyond the pale.”
Five GOP members
of Congress, including former presidential candidate Michelle Bachman, sent
letters to the Inspector General offices for the State Department, as well as
the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Defense and the Office of the
Director of National Intelligence, questioning whether Abedin and other
prominent Muslims are part of a plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate the
U.S. government.
“America wants a
serious national security conversation,” says Saylor. “Michelle Bachmann is
giving us a six degrees of separation drinking game.”
CAIR, a
Washington-based Islamic advocacy group founded in 1994, is not alone in its
condemnation. Today veteran Republican Senator John McCain gave a spirited
defense of Abedin, calling the allegations against her “ugly” and “sinister.”
He chastised his GOP colleagues in the House saying that no one, “not least a
member of Congress,” should launch such a “degrading attack against fellow
Americans on the basis of nothing more than fear of who they are and ignorance
of that they stand for.”
State Department
deputy spokesperson Patrick Ventrell also shot down the accusations, calling
them “preposterous.”
Saylor says that
Abedin and the other Muslim officials listed in the House letter are American
citizens who are “asking what they can do for their nation,” and now Bachmann
“seems to be punishing them for the sin of offering that service during a Democratic
administration,” he says.
In addition to
Abedin, the letters also cite Mohamed Elibiary, an advisor to the Department of
Homeland Security named in the letter, as also having possible ties to
extremists. Last year Elibiary was given an award by the Society of Former
Special Agents for his counter-terrorism work with the FBI.
“Now his
contributions have been rewarded by Bachmann questioning his patriotism,” says
Saylor.
Minnesota
Representative Keith Ellison, the only Muslim member of Congress, has sent
letters to Bachmann demanding she and her GOP colleagues produce evidence
backing up their claims. Ellison told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that the
allegations are “the worst of guilt by association,” said Ellison. “It is a
stark affront to American values.”
Bachmann has
issued a statement saying that Ellison has “distorted” the letters by taking
certain comments out of context. “The intention of the letters was to outline
the serious national security concerns I had and ask for answers to questions
regarding the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical group’s access to top Obama
administration officials,” said Bachmann.
But those who
have spoken out, including McCain, Ellison and CAIR, reiterate that Bachmann
and her House GOP colleague’s questions aren’t based on credible evidence.
Saylor says it has more in common with the 1950?s political witch hunt
spearheaded by former senator Joe McCarthy to take down political opponents by
claiming they were communists. That period is generally seen as one of the darkest
in American political history.
“You can’t help
drawing parallels between this and McCarthyism,” says Saylor. “Half truths?
Guilt by association? Overblown accusations? Sounds like Joe McCarthy to me.”
Showing posts with label Muslim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Muslim. Show all posts
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
National Journal: Muslim Vote will Matter in 2012 Election
See the story here.
American Muslims will be an important voting bloc in the 2012 presidential election, but some politicians have been hesitant to reach out to the community for fear of a backlash, said Corey Saylor, spokesman for the Council of Islamic-American Relations.
“People want us to be a part of their movements but sort of toward the edge of stage,” Saylor said. “Often times what we see is that if someone is getting close to the Muslim community, they get attacked for being weak on national security.”
Muslims want to participate in the political process, and they’re paying attention to domestic and foreign events, according to a report released last month by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington.
The report recommends that politicians engage Muslim Americans because they could play key roles in the upcoming election, especially in key swing states like Florida and Michigan.
The U.S. census didn't ask about religious affiliation, so estimates regarding the size of Muslim communities living in Michigan and Florida are imprecise. But as minority voters become increasingly important in elections, Muslim political importance increases too, the report says.
“Because of numbers in Ohio, Florida, Northern Virginia, that’s going to make it a community whose concerns are a little more important to pay attention to this election cycle,” Saylor said.
In 2010, the Pew Research Center estimated that nearly 2.6 million Muslims lived in the United States, representing less than 1 percent of the population. By 2030, the number of Muslims living in the U.S. is expected to more than double, according to the Pew Research Center.
“It’s clear that they’re going to continue to grow and become a bigger piece of the electoral puzzle,” said Aimee Chiu of the American Islamic Congress. “It would be great to start looking at understanding the constituency.”
Policy decisions like the USA Patriot Act and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that followed the 9/11 attacks that caused American Muslims to abandon the Republican Party after supporting George W. Bush in the 2000 election, the report said.
Between 2001 and 2004, the percentage of American Muslims dissatisfied with the country’s direction increased from less than 40 percent to more than 60, according to the report. In 2008, 89 percent of Muslims who voted supported Barack Obama. In 2011, more than three quarters of Muslims approved of Obama’s performance, the report said.
But Muslim support for Democrats isn’t a sure thing. Forty percent of Muslims identified as independent in 2004, according to the report.
The Muslim population in the U.S. is very diverse, said Aimee Chiu of the American Islamic Congress. Muslims care about what’s going on abroad, but they also care about a wide variety of issues, she said.
Muslims are interested in domestic issues like the economy, health care, and civil liberties, Saylor said. Either party could cultivate support among Muslims if they engage with the community and address issues that they’re concerned about, the report said.
Meanwhile, American Muslims can work to show campaigns that engaging with the community is vital to winning elections, Saylor said.
“The people who organize the best and deliver, they’re more likely to get their issues listened to,” he said.
American Muslims will be an important voting bloc in the 2012 presidential election, but some politicians have been hesitant to reach out to the community for fear of a backlash, said Corey Saylor, spokesman for the Council of Islamic-American Relations.
“People want us to be a part of their movements but sort of toward the edge of stage,” Saylor said. “Often times what we see is that if someone is getting close to the Muslim community, they get attacked for being weak on national security.”
Muslims want to participate in the political process, and they’re paying attention to domestic and foreign events, according to a report released last month by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington.
The report recommends that politicians engage Muslim Americans because they could play key roles in the upcoming election, especially in key swing states like Florida and Michigan.
The U.S. census didn't ask about religious affiliation, so estimates regarding the size of Muslim communities living in Michigan and Florida are imprecise. But as minority voters become increasingly important in elections, Muslim political importance increases too, the report says.
“Because of numbers in Ohio, Florida, Northern Virginia, that’s going to make it a community whose concerns are a little more important to pay attention to this election cycle,” Saylor said.
In 2010, the Pew Research Center estimated that nearly 2.6 million Muslims lived in the United States, representing less than 1 percent of the population. By 2030, the number of Muslims living in the U.S. is expected to more than double, according to the Pew Research Center.
“It’s clear that they’re going to continue to grow and become a bigger piece of the electoral puzzle,” said Aimee Chiu of the American Islamic Congress. “It would be great to start looking at understanding the constituency.”
Policy decisions like the USA Patriot Act and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that followed the 9/11 attacks that caused American Muslims to abandon the Republican Party after supporting George W. Bush in the 2000 election, the report said.
Between 2001 and 2004, the percentage of American Muslims dissatisfied with the country’s direction increased from less than 40 percent to more than 60, according to the report. In 2008, 89 percent of Muslims who voted supported Barack Obama. In 2011, more than three quarters of Muslims approved of Obama’s performance, the report said.
But Muslim support for Democrats isn’t a sure thing. Forty percent of Muslims identified as independent in 2004, according to the report.
The Muslim population in the U.S. is very diverse, said Aimee Chiu of the American Islamic Congress. Muslims care about what’s going on abroad, but they also care about a wide variety of issues, she said.
Muslims are interested in domestic issues like the economy, health care, and civil liberties, Saylor said. Either party could cultivate support among Muslims if they engage with the community and address issues that they’re concerned about, the report said.
Meanwhile, American Muslims can work to show campaigns that engaging with the community is vital to winning elections, Saylor said.
“The people who organize the best and deliver, they’re more likely to get their issues listened to,” he said.
Monday, October 4, 2010
North American Muslims Stand for Free Speech
Credit to Sheila Musaji, founding editor of The American Muslim for initiating the below statement on free speech. I endorse it.
Follow this link to see the full list of endorsers.
A DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH BY AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MUSLIMS
We, the undersigned, unconditionally condemn any intimidation or threats of violence directed against any individual or group exercising the rights of freedom of religion and speech; even when that speech may be perceived as hurtful or reprehensible.
We are concerned and saddened by the recent wave of vitriolic anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic sentiment that is being expressed across our nation.
We are even more concerned and saddened by threats that have been made against individual writers, cartoonists, and others by a minority of Muslims. We see these as a greater offense against Islam than any cartoon, Qur’an burning, or other speech could ever be deemed.
We affirm the right of free speech for Molly Norris, Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and all others including ourselves.
As Muslims, we must set an example of justice, patience, tolerance, respect, and forgiveness.
The Qur’an enjoins Muslims to:
* bear witness to Islam through our good example (2:143);
* restrain anger and pardon people (3:133-134 and 24:22);
* remain patient in adversity (3186);
* stand firmly for justice (4:135);
* not let the hatred of others swerve us from justice (5:8);
* respect the sanctity of life (5:32);
* turn away from those who mock Islam (6:68 and 28:55);
* hold to forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant (7:199);
* restrain ourselves from rash responses (16:125-128);
* pass by worthless talk with dignity (25:72); and
* repel evil with what is better (41:34).
Islam calls for vigorous condemnation of both hateful speech and hateful acts, but always within the boundaries of the law. It is of the utmost importance that we react, not out of reflexive emotion, but with dignity and intelligence, in accordance with both our religious precepts and the laws of our country.
We uphold the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Both protect freedom of religion and speech, because both protections are fundamental to defending minorities from the whims of the majority.
We therefore call on all Muslims in the United States, Canada and abroad to refrain from violence. We should see the challenges we face today as an opportunity to sideline the voices of hate—not reward them with further attention—by engaging our communities in constructive dialogue about the true principles of Islam, and the true principles of democracy, both of which stress the importance of freedom of religion and tolerance.
Follow this link to see the full list of endorsers.
A DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH BY AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MUSLIMS
We, the undersigned, unconditionally condemn any intimidation or threats of violence directed against any individual or group exercising the rights of freedom of religion and speech; even when that speech may be perceived as hurtful or reprehensible.
We are concerned and saddened by the recent wave of vitriolic anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic sentiment that is being expressed across our nation.
We are even more concerned and saddened by threats that have been made against individual writers, cartoonists, and others by a minority of Muslims. We see these as a greater offense against Islam than any cartoon, Qur’an burning, or other speech could ever be deemed.
We affirm the right of free speech for Molly Norris, Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and all others including ourselves.
As Muslims, we must set an example of justice, patience, tolerance, respect, and forgiveness.
The Qur’an enjoins Muslims to:
* bear witness to Islam through our good example (2:143);
* restrain anger and pardon people (3:133-134 and 24:22);
* remain patient in adversity (3186);
* stand firmly for justice (4:135);
* not let the hatred of others swerve us from justice (5:8);
* respect the sanctity of life (5:32);
* turn away from those who mock Islam (6:68 and 28:55);
* hold to forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant (7:199);
* restrain ourselves from rash responses (16:125-128);
* pass by worthless talk with dignity (25:72); and
* repel evil with what is better (41:34).
Islam calls for vigorous condemnation of both hateful speech and hateful acts, but always within the boundaries of the law. It is of the utmost importance that we react, not out of reflexive emotion, but with dignity and intelligence, in accordance with both our religious precepts and the laws of our country.
We uphold the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Both protect freedom of religion and speech, because both protections are fundamental to defending minorities from the whims of the majority.
We therefore call on all Muslims in the United States, Canada and abroad to refrain from violence. We should see the challenges we face today as an opportunity to sideline the voices of hate—not reward them with further attention—by engaging our communities in constructive dialogue about the true principles of Islam, and the true principles of democracy, both of which stress the importance of freedom of religion and tolerance.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Saylor's Recent Media Appearances
A number of media appearances lately. Here are three of them.
NPR's On the Media from Saturday, September 10, 2010, talking about a series of public service announcements (PSAs) recently produced by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Muslim-American Public Service Announcements
On CNN, also talking about the PSAs.
Finally, on MSNBC's Countdown to discuss growing anti-Muslim hysteria.
NPR's On the Media from Saturday, September 10, 2010, talking about a series of public service announcements (PSAs) recently produced by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Muslim-American Public Service Announcements
On CNN, also talking about the PSAs.
Finally, on MSNBC's Countdown to discuss growing anti-Muslim hysteria.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Stupid is as Stupid Believes Hysterical Internet Rumor
["Stupid is as Stupid Does" is yet another anti-Muslim e-mail circulating the internet. It pushes a vision of sterotyping, profiling and Obama is a Muslim. You can find it with you nearest search engine. Normally, I disregard such message, but this was was forwarded to me, with concern, by a family member so I felt obligated to write a response.]
The kind of casual stereotyping in the “Stupid Is As Stupid Does” is troubling at best, bigoted at worst.
If I were to base even an iota of my vote on “Stupid Is As Stupid Does” then maybe I should report to the nearest government office and insist that they revoke the privilege due to my intellectual apathy, indifference and undernourishment. (See why Thomas Jefferson agrees with me below.)
Basic American values reject profiling. In America, the idea of profiling people based on race, religion or ethnicity got thrown out when the clause “…three fifths of all other Persons." (a reference to slaves) was sliced from the U.S. Constitution in 1865.
If our basic values and the Constitution are not enough for you, the Department of Justice, President Bush and former Attorney General John Ashcroft also reject profiling.
Unfortunately, it is easy to assemble a list of violent radicals from almost any background.
Not one of us would conclude that Americans are somehow more inclined to violence and terrorism than others because of the relatively recent acts of the following individuals:
*Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma City, 1995)
*Terry Nichols (Oklahoma City, 1995)
*Eric Rudolf (Olympic Park bomber, Atlanta 1996, grew up in the Christian Identity movement)
*Ted Kaczynski (The Unabomber)
*Sean Gillespie (convicted in 2005 for firebombing an Oklahoma synagogue)
*Buford Furrow “went on a shooting rampage at a Jewish day-care center in Southern California.” (Washington Post, 6/05/2005)
The post-9/11 anthrax case that recently garnered a new flurry of media coverage does not point to a Muslim. We all, regrettably, know the name of the town of Columbine. The rape camps where primarily Bosnian Muslim women--at least 20,000 of them-- were violated in the early 1990’s were crafted by Serbians.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in its “Terrorism 2002-2005” report concludes, “Eight of the 14 recorded terrorist preventions stemmed from right-wing extremism, and included disruptions to plotting by individuals involved with the militia, white supremacist, constitutionalist and tax protestor, and anti-abortion movements.”
Voting for or against any candidate for public office must be a matter of objective study of character, positions and experience.
As Thomas Jefferson wrote, "A democratic society depends upon an informed and educated citizenry."
“Stupid is as Stupid Does” fails the “informed and educated” test, rather it fits Jefferson’s more dire concern: "The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment."
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