Division & Uniting, Osama & Obama

Last week, up-and comer Barak Obama of Illinois told the Democratic National Convention that, “There’s not a black America and white America and Asian America. There’s the United States of America. The pundits like to slice and dice our country into…red states for Republicans, blue states for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them. We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don’t like Federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states…”

Growing up with a complex ethnic and social identity, Obama apparently does not see things in simple black in white, or red or blue. Of course this approach may also help the Democrats win the undecided middle purple electorate. Yes, Obama, there are a lot of common values we all share across the political and cultural boundaries. But I hope we are not denying the disparities that exist, the traditional Democratic interest in social justice issues.

I have been informed that the US Census has turned over data to Homeland Security that gives locations of various categories of Arabs throughout the nation, not by street address but by zip-code. Thus the Syrians of Bay Ridge are counted, and the Moroccans and Egyptians of Astoria and Jersey City. Not the Saudis, one might note. Probably this will help with the number of FBI agents assigned to each area, but individuals may remain anonymous. But what about the single Palestinian of Big Spoon, Wyoming, or the three Lebanese in St Augustine, Florida?

Also, by itself this information sharing may be nothing, but it is just a tiny part of a huge surveillance machine, with numerous new technologies fueled by propaganda, paranoia, and responding to some sort of genuine threat. But how will we Muslims, Arabs, and other minorities ever trust the Census again? And what happens, Obama, when we are not counted in a future census, and so we will also not get schools and other services?

After the pressure of the last few years, we Muslims may feel there is a Establishment Judeo-Christian America and a marginalized Muslim America. It may feel that way but is that how it really is? Or it’s the situation really much more complex?

I ask myself: politically, where is the Muslim American community at this time? Many voices, yes— but our political common viewpoint is not always easy to define. Socially conservative, but often politically radical. Or is that it? Sometimes our labels just do not stick. Sometimes the world does not really fit those clear categories we like to assign. And sometimes it seems the categories shift.

Jihadis love their labels too. Now over 4,000 real and fake jihadi websites spew hatred around the world. It is not just the House of Saud and the House of Bush they wish to attack. In fact, Bush has been very useful to them. Rather, they also see the world as Dar al Harab and Dar Islam; House of War and House of Peace. Yet I think one of their errors is seeing these traditional boundaries in literal geographic terms, which strikes me as both materialistic and imperialistic.

Many jihadis simply cannot see or understand the complexity. For example, would you agree that Iran is in Dar Islam? Yes, but this so-called theocracy has still not ended sham trials and prisoner torture. And is Sudan in the House of Peace? Is Darfur? On the other hand, what about Canada? In many ways its standards are more fair and Muslim than those in many so-called Muslim nations. Therefore, overthrowing corrupt governments is not a sufficient solution to this spiritual and educational challenge. How do we construct our house on a foundation of reality?

Islam is first a spiritual state of Mind, and let me suggest that five times a day when the imam directs the line and we bow in prayer, that we already have our world-wide network, not of intrigue and plotting, but of prayer. With freedom of religion we have our basic Khalifat. We must live in the world with non-Muslim neighbors—a pluralistic world that does not need to be conquered militarily. It needs to be educated, nurtured. We have our valid concerns and liberation struggles. But let us not allow the Muslim mind to be colonized by criminality, inhumanity, or any negative force. Yes we blame the poisons of the West for our illnesses, but we have our own poisons too. Healing is for all.

My house is so out of order I suspect it may not be the house of Peace. May Allah protect us, collect us and guide us to wisdom. As you can tell I am not an Islamic scholar. And no, of course everything is not relative. But I merely wish to make the point that, to gain or maintain control, rigid religious interpretations can divide humanity into red, blue, black, white. Surely it is better for us to heal humanity, than to divide humanity.

Farouk's Passing: Release and Represent

After two years’ detention, and as a legally stateless person, Farouk Al Muhti had been detained far beyond any justifiable limit. Only one hundred days after his release, the sudden passing of Palestinian American Farouk came as a shock to friends, family and many fellow activists. It seems certain that the stress of his experience was a major cause of his death.

Yet, during his confinement Farouk encouraged other detainees to advocate strongly for their rights, and after his release he immediately and heroically threw himself back into activism with both feet. He had an endearing tendency to give speeches at any opportunity. I am now sorry to admit I was impatient with this sometimes. But I had begun to realize that Farouk shared his sincerity through a generous spirit. This spirit is essential in social transformation beyond politics as usual. We all need more of this quality, for our own redemption.

Last week a Muslims Weekly columnist reported in great detail how “over-represented” Jews are in the US Congress, in proportion to the overall population. I wonder if this approach does not lack that spirit of generosity. First, all Jews do not vote the same way. Indeed, there is a vast range of views represented by the names he lists. Should we not first be concerned about our officials’ intelligence and honesty, instead of their religious affiliation? Moreover, it is the Christian right, not the Jews, who have formed a crucial Zionist bloc.

Yes, we can and should object to the influence of AIPAC and other lobbying groups, but to win hearts and minds we Muslims need credibility. We need to convince others in the US that we are reasonable partners. We need them to pay attention to the recent UN vote about the wall. We must demand an end to double standards for nuclear power Israel. However, despite our objections to the many past injustices, we need to be clear and unambiguous about Israel’s right to exist and about the appropriate means for struggle.

Muslim activists and pundits must be very careful not to confuse Zionism with Judaism. They are not the same thing. To complain of “too many Jews” will certainly give others the sense that we are anti-Semitic. We need to be more precise in what we are criticizing. Why don’t we instead just say there are too few Muslims (as well as women, and other minorities) in positions of power, and get involved in changing this on the local level.

You too can learn how to get involved more effectively. Such advocacy groups as CAIR and ADC have helpful guides for accessing your local representative, which is not always an easy task. Many activists are planning to protest the two upcoming conventions. This period may also be an opportunity to get positive media reporting on our communities, as well as recognition of our needs. However, according to Sharif Corinaldi, the election for president will not be decided in places like New York, but in swing states like Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Many, especially low-income, people have not registered to vote. If you wish to be involved in a progressive registration drive campaign, some programs will arrange transportation. It could be a fund and inspiring way to spend a weekend (see swingstatesummerbreak.org).

Others also depend on your help. As you may know, the people and refugees of Darfur are facing extinction from hunger and ethnic massacres. Very shamefully, this is a fight between Muslim peoples. Please look at the ads and donate generously to provide emergency food and medicine. Or do you assume that the non-Muslims will do the right thing instead of you?

The US is currently trying to link foreign aid to democratization and reform (but probably also access to markets), to opposition to abortion and also to opposition to the International Criminal Court. This month, Congress voted to tie foreign assistance to a willingness to exempt or excuse US soldiers from court jurisdiction. So if more Abu Ghraibs come to light, the US government can control the political damage – just as the US army disgracefully tried to do last week, releasing a weak white wash report the same day that the 9/11 Commission released their more responsible report. These tactics indicate the disgusting politicization of foreign assistance. I challenge our columnists to research the names of those Congressional representatives voted for this vile law. This is much more relevant information than their religious affiliation.

Think globally, act locally. As some of his many friends said at his memorial services at the 96th Street Islamic Center, Farouk was always a free man sharing the gift of his freedom, who gave his last breath for the cause of liberation everywhere, insha’Allah. An inspiration. Like Moses, he did not quite get to the promised land, but he saw a vision of it. Yet he had no financial assets, so those wishing to make a donation to his family should also contact: Committee for the Release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti; PO Box 20587, Tompkins Square Station, New York, NY 10009; Phone: 212-674-9499 * Email to: freefarouk@yahoo.com; Websites: www.freefarouk.org * freefarouk.netfirms.com