Muslims want seat at the political table
Nisa Islam Muhammad/Special to the NNPA from The Final Call
Issue date: 9/28/08 Section: Politics
"Look at the Muslim community. Our concerns are the same as other Americans, civil rights, loss of jobs, health care and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. " said Siddiqui. Much of what organizers conveyed during the press conference was to quell fears that Muslims are different and Islam is violent.
"We are as American as apple pie," said Dr. Lalani. "Sen. Obama stands for everything that we believe in. We believe President Obama will be a president for all Americans. That is good enough for us.
"Somehow, we are not well known by Americans," he continued. "They've been misled by negative news reports and the happenings around the world that make people think Muslims are violent, intolerant or want to impose their religion on others. All of this is false."
The caucus was composed of 46 delegates from coast to coast, who were Black, foreign born, and second-generation immigrants.
Anthony Muhammad, a convention delegate from D.C., talked about the importance of the caucus. "It's part of making history, to have influence over things happening in your community," he said.
The push to make Muslims an integral part of the Obama campaign also includes the group Muslim-Americans for Obama. The group's Web site, http://www.mafo2008.com/, reads, "We support Barack Obama because, among other reasons, he rejects the politics of fear, challenging our nation to embrace its collective identity, where each American has a stake in the success and well being of every American. We have a duty as Muslims and Americans to organize and vote."
Congress has two Muslim representatives. Andre Carson from Indiana and Keith Ellison from Minnesota who took his oath on a Holy Qur'an owned by Thomas Jefferson, and was the first Muslim elected to Congress.
"There's nothing un-American about Islam. The best ideals of America are the best ideals of Islam. Allah knows the great work that you do," Rep. Ellison said. "This is an honorable day, the first time Muslims have gotten together as a group at the DNC."
"We are as American as apple pie," said Dr. Lalani. "Sen. Obama stands for everything that we believe in. We believe President Obama will be a president for all Americans. That is good enough for us.
"Somehow, we are not well known by Americans," he continued. "They've been misled by negative news reports and the happenings around the world that make people think Muslims are violent, intolerant or want to impose their religion on others. All of this is false."
The caucus was composed of 46 delegates from coast to coast, who were Black, foreign born, and second-generation immigrants.
Anthony Muhammad, a convention delegate from D.C., talked about the importance of the caucus. "It's part of making history, to have influence over things happening in your community," he said.
The push to make Muslims an integral part of the Obama campaign also includes the group Muslim-Americans for Obama. The group's Web site, http://www.mafo2008.com/, reads, "We support Barack Obama because, among other reasons, he rejects the politics of fear, challenging our nation to embrace its collective identity, where each American has a stake in the success and well being of every American. We have a duty as Muslims and Americans to organize and vote."
Congress has two Muslim representatives. Andre Carson from Indiana and Keith Ellison from Minnesota who took his oath on a Holy Qur'an owned by Thomas Jefferson, and was the first Muslim elected to Congress.
"There's nothing un-American about Islam. The best ideals of America are the best ideals of Islam. Allah knows the great work that you do," Rep. Ellison said. "This is an honorable day, the first time Muslims have gotten together as a group at the DNC."
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