Encouraging news about tolerance in the USA. Nearly 10 years after voters in Great Britain elected our first ever Muslim representative, US voters have followed their Mother Country’s lead and elected a Muslim representative of their own. One more barrier posed by religion has been pushed over.
Keith Ellison, a Democrat, has become the first Muslim to be elected to the US Congress by winning a Minnesota seat in the House of Representatives.
He overcame personal attacks emphasising his past association with Louis Farrakhan, leader of the radical Nation of Islam group.
The 43-year-old lawyer sought to downplay his religion and ran on a populist platform.
He has called for the immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
On the campaign trail, he also urged a greater reliance on renewable fuels and the establishment of a government-funded universal healthcare system.
“Tonight, we made history,” Ellison said in a victory speech to supporters.
"We won a key election, but we did much more than that.
“We showed that a candidate can run a 100% positive campaign and prevail, even against tough opposition.”
The U.S. doesn't follow Britian in anything MS, there have been Muslim representatives on the state levels for years.
" Following the motherland", lol. Buts it's good to see a Muslim in Congress.
So to me this does not look like a barrier has been broken.
what difference does it make, he is still a Muslim.... the thread title is "Muslim", not "immigrant Muslim".
He is a real, bona fide Muslim. I contributed to his campaign because he is a true Muslim who believes in tolerance and social justice.
BTW, as bleak as things have looked, today is a great day for Muslims. First, Bush has been given a black eye. A Muslim was voted into Congress for the first time (in a post-911 world no less) and Virginians are showing that racially insulting South Asians (macaca) will get you booted.
And, as I have said many times before, Democracy is a wonderful ship. If it strays off compass, it has the ability to correct itself. Perhaps not as fast as people would like, and the path is not linear, but a keystone to Democracy is accountability. By having elections every two years, politicians are quickly held to account for their decisions and performance. It's a good day for the Republic.
So to me this does not look like a barrier has been broken.
Pardon me, your prejudice is showing.....
Why does it matter what his ethnicity is? In many ways he had more hurdles to overcome than an immigrant muslim, no group is stigmatized more than African-Americans in this country, and then to possibly be stigmatized again in the muslim community for being black, a former NOI, and a convert.
[quote=Captain1]
what difference does it make, he is still a Muslim.... the thread title is "Muslim", not "immigrant Muslim".
So u think big changes r going to come and someone is going to listen to him. Get real nothing is going to change. These want to be Tom's are totally useless, ineffective, deterimental and most of the time scared to open their mouths even on legitimate issues relating to their communities. We have seen that in Canada and in England. Stupid brainless back benchers
So all Muslims trying to work within the legal and political system of his home country are totally useless, ineffective, spineless, brainless back benchers? What’s your alternative method to having a voice in government - jihad?
I did not mean that. What I said was that once they are elected somehow they are so intimitated to get involved in furthering the issues and causes of their communities. And yes my alternative is JIHAD, Which is telling and speaking the truth without fear and without worrying about your new found glory. The battle is not to get into that chamber or house, the real deal is what u do and say when u get there.
Why does it matter what his ethnicity is? In many ways he had more hurdles to overcome than an immigrant muslim, no group is stigmatized more than African-Americans in this country, and then to possibly be stigmatized again in the muslim community for being black, a former NOI, and a convert.
What I mean is that he didnt have an Arabic sounding name, nor did he look middle eastern...
So I dont know how many barriers have been shattered....
But I am glad none the less that muslims have made an impact but I only wish some Pakistanis get into congress as well
