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Muslims in India don’t vote effectively, so are the Muslims in
United States:
One of the many reasons
behind the sufferings
.....
Read
Full
Country of Immigrants, United States is a WORLD in itself
World not
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soft in dealing with Hindutva extremists: CPM:
The CPI(M) today
castigated the central ....
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'Investigating Agencies are biased against
Muslims' |
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Darul Uloom Deoband,
India's foremost Islamic seminary, Wednesday denied asking Muslim
women not to work ....
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Monday the establishment of new Israeli settlements in Jerusalem
would push the region to "the brink of an .....
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The Supreme Court Wednesday dismissed a petition for a probe into
the killing of ....
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More on United States |
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 Full text:
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I am
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....
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... Read
Full |
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Muslim staffers
at Capitol Hill offering Friday prayers at the prayer hall inside
the Capitol Building
(Photo: ummid.com) |
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United States as I see ... |
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 World not
a paradise like Washington: Courtesy, US Foreign Policy:
I was the last minute inclusion in the 3-member team that was
visiting United States as part of the International Visitor ....
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Full |
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One of the many reasons behind the
sufferings of the Muslims in India is cited as their lack of
interest in the electioneering process. Elections after elections it
is witnessed that the Muslims in India – barring on few occasions -
either don’t come out of their homes to cast their votes as they are
supposed to or even when they do, they do it in such a fragmented
way that their otherwise very effective vote becomes ineffective.
The Kingmakers – as the Indian Muslims proudly claim to be – in the
eyes of politicians are no more than tissue papers - use as and when
require and then throw in the dustbin. This is something so common
in India that nothing more is required for justification. However,
it was surprising for us when during our stay in the United States
we found that the Muslims in supposedly the most advanced and
developed country in the world are no more different than their
Indian counterparts as far as exercising the right to vote is
concerned.
Surprising because, the American
Muslims are not only well-educated but judging them on the basis of
the earnings are richer than an average American. And in India,
whenever it is debated why the Muslims despite having such a
decisive number on their sides don’t effectively use it, it is said,
due to the rampant illiteracy and poverty they become vulnerable to
the tactics deliberately designed to nullify their strength. This of
course is not the case with the American Muslims. Yet they fail to
realise the importance of their votes. The reasons that were
revealed to us were ridiculous.
|
Emerging Leader |
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Assad
R. Akhter – the young and dynamic Legislative Director to Bill
Pascrell Jr., Member of Congress from New Jersey and the
Founder-President of Congressional Muslim Staffers Association (CMSA) |
“Most of the American Muslims are
doctors, lawyers or engineers working with one or the other
organisation. They are of the view that siding with a political
group may harm their chances in their respective professions”, said
a Muslim counsellor who is working with a group in Washington DC
that works for creating awareness among the American Muslims about
the power of their votes. He was explaining the reasons while we sat
holding our heads in disgust.
Then there are some American Muslims
who have a reason for not participating in the democratic process
which is something beyond one’s imagination.
“Two party system in the United States
is nothing but a joke”, said a well-known Asian-American Muslim
doctor we met in Salt Lake City. “Republicans and Democrats both
have miserably failed in coming to the expectations of the masses.
Moreover, when it comes to their own interests, they are both same.
People need a better option that they don’t have”, he added.
However, he could not say anything when it was pointed that the
similar situation could arise even when there are more than two
parties in the fray.
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Young Blood |
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Alejandro Beutel – the enthusiastic young convert associated with
Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). Son of Jewish father and
Christian mother, Alejandro after converting to Islam is always
ready to work beyond his assignments at MPAC for the creation of a
strong American Muslim community. |
American Muslims’ lack of interest in
the system just doesn’t stop here. It goes further down to an extent
where they don’t even want to involve themselves in government jobs
– considered in the United States as one of the most secure and at
the time when people from other communities and religions are
grabbing every opportunity in hand to have them for their kids and
kin. Politics for the American Muslims is a waste of time and a job
at the White House, Capitol Hill and other government offices for
most of the parents is not as lucrative for their children as the
careers in other professions. The result is that the American
Muslims neither have their own political voice nor have enough
number of people in the US government offices. Against this
backdrop, it is not surprising when we find them relying on others
when it is needed to raise an issue in the power corridors.
Things, however, began changing
rapidly after 9/11 terrorist attack. Under attack from almost every
corner of the society it was then that they realised the importance
of having a strong presence – political as well as at the
administrative level – in the United States. Then began some very
positive roles played by various Islamic Centres spread all across
the United States. The centre heads effectively used their premises
to create awareness among the Muslim masses. Campaigns highlighting
the importance of voting, government jobs and also the importance of
alliance with people from other faiths and communities became an
essential part of the Friday sermon. Simultaneously, they also
realised the value of having their own organisations to work for
creating awareness among the community on one hand and on the other,
play the desired role when it is needed to lobby or raise an issue
in front of the government in an effective way.
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Committed Lot |
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Hajra, Summer and Aqueela. Hajra is working in the office of Senator
Keith Ellison whereas Summer with Senator Sheila Jackson. Hajra,
Summer and Aqeeula, who is just a trainee are all very eager to lend
their helping hands for the betterment of the community, and also
ready to stand firmly by the community if and when it would need
them. |
The efforts are not unreturned. They
helped in bringing a pragmatic shift in the mindset of the community
specially the younger generations. Today we have quite a few numbers
of American Muslims who not only take pride in working with the
government but also have political ambitions – something that was
missing in the American Muslim community till September the 11.
Among them is Assad R. Akhter – the
young and dynamic Legislative Director to Bill Pascrell Jr., Member
of Congress from New Jersey and the Founder-President of
Congressional Muslim Staffers Association (CMSA). CMSA is composed
of Muslim staffers in the US House of Representatives, US Senate,
Library of Congress, Congressional Budget Office and the Capitol
Hill Police. We met Assad Akhter in the Capitol Building office of
the New Jersey Representative and also saw him addressing the
community after the Friday prayers inside the Capitol Building. The
young chap seems to be having the kind of qualities that an emerging
leader needs. If we combine with these qualities the faith and trust
that the other co-workers at the Capitol Hill have in him, one can
easily predict in Assad Akhter a future community leader.
Among them is Alejandro Beutel – the
enthusiastic young convert associated with Muslim Public Affairs
Council (MPAC). Son of Jewish father and Christian mother, Alejandro
after converting to Islam is always ready to work beyond his
assignments at MPAC for the creation of a strong American Muslim
community.
And among them are the young girls
like Aqueela, Hajra and Summer. Hajra is working in the office of
Senator Keith Ellison whereas Summer with Senator Sheila Jackson.
Hajra, Summer and Aqeeula, who is just a trainee are all very eager
to lend their helping hands for the betterment of the community, and
also ready to stand firmly by the community if and when it would
need them.
In these youngsters like Assad,
Alejandro, Aqueela, Hajra and Summer, the Muslims in America have
found the success mantra for creating a strong American Muslim
community. And the way the young Muslims are working today in
America, one is sure that sooner not later a strong Muslim community
in the United States having a strong presence at the political as
well as the administrative level would be a reality. In India,
however, the Muslims have to wait for some more time before they
could dream for the
desired change. Unless, of course, they too try to reinvent their
young generation.
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