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.
Actually exit polling indicated that people did not think that George Allen was insensitive towards minorities so that Macaca thing did not have an impact on George Allen's campaign
Nobody is suggesting landslide changes in US constitution or foreign policy, one man can't overtake opinions of 200 or 300 (whatever is the number in Senate), one man only voice his opinion and do the lobbying. Its a milestone, thats all for now.
Really? What about the Confederate flag and Pork chops thing? Exit polls don’t tell the entire story. There is simply no doubt that racial insensitivity hurt his chances.
I had a chance to meet him at iftar party during Ramdhan and he gave a good speech. Most of the muslims in Minnesota were in favour of Keith. Good job Minnesotans. :k:
Watch him become a puppet... I hope that he doesn't use the religion to further his beliefs or affect his leadership... things really could swing either way.
Ok there are terms being thrown around that I don't know what people actually mean. What does a 'real Muslim', or 'puppet' means? Explain.
Fraudia Bhai, I take my kambal on once in a while. ;-) And my first comment was just a stab at the English, who think they are so civilized. I felt far more uncomfortable at Hethrow than I ever did walking around in rural Alabama.
The reality is that first term Congressmen are never important, and can change very little. The first few terms he has to build a good office with excellent consitituent services, and make a lot of visits back to the district, and not just hang out in Washington. It will take him 6 or 8 years to become a senior member of any committee.
His biggest impact may be using the "bully pulpit", that is to make speeches that can give voice to Muslims. On the other hand, if he goes to far afield, he will not represent his district very well. It is a very fine line.
AJ heathrow is not London let alone UK.
I mean at JFK, the idiots wanted to finger print my 9 month old because they thought her name was similar to that of some militant dude, had us wait for 3 hours, treated piss poor by the woman who ws supposed to clear us.
I have been treated better than that in rural south carolina, arkansas, Oklahoma etc as well.
as far as you dig on english thinking that they are so civilized, I guess digs could be made at americans too who think that they are so cool and with it, or pakistanis who think they are so pure and all :)
Fraudia Bhai, you are right, we are all a bit racist, its very natural. But fun to make fun of the British, they take it so personally. God Forbid if you call their prince ugly.
Oh whatever. Don't get into skin color and name pronunciation. That's nit-picking. A Muslim is a Muslim and we should be proud to have him as a representative.
Minnesota rocks. First Jesse Ventura and now this (not to mention all the Asians in their state government).
It’s probably your accent/passport. Since the Dubya reign began, Americans aren’t quite as welcome in the UK as before. With the ol’ trusty British passport and the Estuary English accent, I get all smiles and niceness at Heathrow.
Back to topic, this won’t change anything, but as Captain1 said it’s a milestone, just like when the first south asian MP was elected in Britain in the early 1900s. It breaks a barrier and clears the ways for others.
