Congressman Ellison Shouted Down
Posted on January 12th, 2009 by Tariq Nelson
…at a rally
Many of the protestors were apparently upset over Congressman Ellison’s “present” vote House Res. 34.
Congressman Andre Carson voted “yes”
Filed under: Politics
Ellison and Carson must realize that on issues like this they need to stand up for justice and not be silent.
@ MR
Must Ellison and Carson stand up in EXACTLY the same way as the protesters? Did you all read Ellison’s statement on why he voted ‘present’? Is it proper to shout him down and not even hear him out? Must we all be hiveminded?
Best to ignore Amin Nathari. He is here to inflate provocation.
http://www.ijtema.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/headline9637e7.jpg
After reading the resolution I can’t understand why any Muslim would not vote No. Ellison indeed took the cowards way out. I need to search out he explanation why he voted “present”. I can understand why Carson would vote yes; he’s up for reelection soon but Ellison. Ellison’s actions on this issue and gay “marriage” shows a man who desires power and influence instead of standing for what right.
Ellison vote present was not strong enough.This onslaught by Israel is equal to some of there earler aggressions aganist Palenstine people throughout the history of this conflict.We may disagree with the protesters shouting down of Mr.Ellindon but there nothing wrong with them expecting better from the congressman.There no need for going in the excuse mode for these two congressman.May Allah streghten them .
While we applaud Ellison’s effort to bring balance and perspective to the issue. There is a time to be diplomatic and there is time to take a stand on principle. This was the time to stand on principle and sadly Ellison missed that opportunity. I ask Allah to give him the strength, fortitude, and insight to stand up for what is right.
Why is everyone letting Carson off the hook? He voted YES
The man is a coward.
Just another case in point.
Muslims are so damn unorganized. Sure he didn’t vote the right way, but Ellison should not have been confronted like that. Give the brotha a chance to talk and possibly explain himself.
-Ihssan
I agree Amin & Ihsaan. Then again, I don’t hear the Muslims (en masse) screaming and shouting about the victims in Sudan and other areas of the world <—READ BLACK. Is oppression okay when the victims are black? Once we starting rallying and crying collecting over Darfur, I will keep my thoughts, because they will upset the ummah, though I think it’s quite clear, to myself
ANything for a kursi
This is a classic case of cowardice on Ellison’s part. He should have voted yes. The Israelis have the right to defend themselves against against murderous Hamas.
We as muslims must be resolute. All humans have to right to security. This includes Israelis. They should be able to live in peace with their neighbors. If Arabs cared so much about the Palestinians then allow them to live in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, or Jordan and not Israel or Africa.
I say that AA muslims must organize with AA christians to put pressure on Ellison to pursue Israels right to exist in peace.
We pray for the Palestinians. The Palestinians have a responsiblity to live in peace with their neighbors. We pray that the Palestinians listen to rational leadership and not murderous Hamas.
Once again no outrage about Sudan or Mauritania.
Salaam
Bint Will,
Aren’t you Muslim? Are you doing the actions you suggest? If you are, then “the Muslims” are doing it…if you’re not…then I’m not sure how you can criticize others for not doing something you’re not doing either.
Alhamdulillaah for the crowd’s reaction. It’s about time Muslims started to shed the inferiority complex and stop being so excited just to have a Muslim who’s a Congressman. Ellison’s vote was cowardly. And you see the arrogance that comes into people when they get these positions…”if you’re not going to let me speak then I’m going to leave” as if we need you there…go ahead and leave man, go ahead and leave. Better yet, why don’t you listen…I’m so tired of the “sophisticated” in our community talking to people like they are children to whom they’re going to explain how the system works.
I would ask Ron why should Palestinians leave their homeland in live in another country? As well as CNN reporting that Hamas didn’t break the ceasefire and even Israeli spokesman Regrev have stated that. So if Hamas didn’t break the ceasefire and Israel is conducting war in Gaza for supposed Hamas breaking the ceasefire which didn’t happen why is Israel in Gaza killing civilians and destroying a country?
I would also ask why isn’t okay for Israelis to starve and economically deprived Gazans for two years and think their would be not reprocussions when people are getting more desperate obtain simple food or job?
As far as Sudan what happening in Sudan is a cultural war between village dwellers and nomads. This conflict exists in every country where there are Village dwellers & nomads. To frame it in a religious context or racial context is disingenuous and ignorant. True there isn’t much outrage in the Muslim world about Sudan but why should be why it’s a cultural war not religious war like Sunni vs Shi’ah in Iraq. Why is the conflict in Sudan more important than other conflicts between groups in other parts of Africa?
I believe need to learn more about the situation believing propaganda spread by zionists jews and Christians Missionaries.
It is well known Save Darfur campaign was started by Zionists Jews (American Jewish World Service & The US Holocaust war Museum) and receives funding from the conservative Evangelical Christian anti-muslim group The David Project and Sudan Sunrise.
Sudan Sunrise stated goal was convert Sudanese muslims to christianity but backed off that goal when exposed by the Washington Post.
[QUOTE]Last week, after an inquiry from The Washington Post, Sudan Sunrise changed its Web site to eliminate references to efforts to convert the people of Darfur. Previously, it said it was engaged in “one on one, lifestyle evangelism to Darfurian Muslims living in refugee camps in eastern Chad” and appealed for money to “bring the kingdom of God to an area of Sudan where the light of Jesus rarely shines.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/26/AR2006042602182.html
[/QUOTE]
10 reasons why Save darfur is a scam
http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=453&Itemid=1
[...] has video of Rep. Keith Ellison getting shouted down at a rally for Gaza by Muslims upset over his “Present” vote on the Congressional [...]
Civil war or not, African MUSLIM women are being raped and called black dogs by the Arab Muslims…I assume because it’s Muslim on Muslim, for the most part, we can remain silent…again as Muslims we should all be in an uproar when ANY HUMAN being is oppressed, regardless of the oppressor. Until then, we are all hypocrites and need to stop jumping on the bandwagon of the issue at hand.
Respect one another and life and go back to the way of the Quran, until then we will continue to be humiliated and oppressed!
So yes Irlandee, my money is always where my mouth is, you should know it by now.
Muslims suffer in the hands of an Arab regime, then there is barely any condemnation of the violence and crimes in the Arab and Muslim world, notes Savo Heleta.
When Muslims suffer around the world in the hands of Americans, Russians, Serbs, or Israelis, the Arab and Muslim countries are very active in condemning the attacks and violence. Their governments complain and raise funds, diplomats protest, the media report, and the citizens demonstrate against “crusaders and infidels.”
But when Muslims suffer in the hands of an Arab regime, then there is barely any condemnation of the violence and crimes in the Arab and Muslim world.
Since 2003, Sudan’s western province of Darfur is an epicenter of a conflict between the mainly “African” rebels and the Arab-controlled Sudanese government and their proxy militias. It is estimated that about 200,000 people have died in the conflict from fighting, disease, and starvation. The UN and aid agencies estimate that over two million Darfurians, out of a population of about six million, are living in refugee camps in Darfur and neighboring countries.
The Sudan’s ruling elite portrays itself as an “Arab” regime both at home and abroad. Some would say that this explains the lack of concern for the Darfur conflict in the Arab world. But things change when we consider the fact that both sides in the Darfur conflict are Muslim and that the Darfurians, both Arabs and Africans, are Sudan’s most devout Muslims.
Even though Muslims are the victims in Darfur, the fact that they are the victims of an Arab regime prevents Arab and Muslim countries from acknowledging the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur, let alone speaking against the horrendous crimes committed against innocent civilians in this Sudanese province.
Many people in the Arab world don’t even know about the conflict and human suffering in Darfur as there is hardly any news about Darfur in the Arab media. The only exceptions are the Aljazeera and Alarabya news networks.
According to Lawrence Pintak, a journalist and Arab media expert, the Darfur conflict is not covered by the Arab media as “it does not fit the template of Arabs being the victims and other people the aggressors.”
The involvement of many international humanitarian organizations in Darfur and the attention given to the conflict by the Western governments and media are “perceived by a large portion of Arab public opinion as yet another ‘Western intervention’ in an Arab country’s affairs.” Some Arab journalists even claim that the Darfur conflict is nothing but a “Zionist-American conspiracy to carve up Sudan and plunder its resources.”
Rami Khouri, a Lebanese journalist, writes that the silence in the Arab world “is not specific to Darfur or Sudan, but rather reflects a wider malaise that has long plagued the region: Arab governments tend to stay out of each other’s way when any one of them is accused of wrongdoing, and most Arab citizens have been numbed into helplessness in the face of public atrocities or criminal activity in their societies.”
The Arab countries and organizations such as the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Countries have shamefully ignored the conflict in Darfur. Not one Arab or Muslim leader “have spoken out against Khartoum’s policies in Darfur” that have targeted innocent civilians, destroyed entire communities, displaced millions, and killed 200,000 people.
Some Arab and Muslim organizations and countries publicly support the Sudanese government and its actions in Darfur. In 2004, the Arab League rejected any sanctions imposed on Sudan. Pakistan was one of the countries that blocked any meaningful actions by the UN to stop the Darfur conflict, claiming at the UN Security Council that “the human suffering in Darfur was insufficient to provoke serious reflection on whether Sudan was fulfilling its responsibilities to its citizens.”
After the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed in May 2006, many Arab countries promised to financially contribute to Darfur’s development. However, no money was ever received from the Arab Development Fund and “the results of development and humanitarian meetings were not translated into action in Darfur.” The fact that “Canada has pledged more aid [to Darfur's displaced people] than all the Arab countries put together” says it all.
The Arab League finally recently showed interest in the Darfur conflict and vowed to organize new Darfur peace talks in Qatar. Some Darfur rebel groups dismissed the initiative, saying “the move [by the Arab world] came five years too late.” The analysts and the rebel leaders believe this is just a “desperate attempt to save the Sudanese president from international justice,” happening around the same time as the move by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to charge Omar al Bashir for the crimes committed against civilians in Darfur.
The ICC’s prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has filed ten charges against Sudan’s president - three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. The ICC accuses Bashir of orchestrating a campaign in Darfur since 2003 that killed 35,000 people, while at least 100,000 died through starvation and disease and 2.5 million people were forced to flee their homes.
Immediately after the ICC announced the charges against Bashir, the Arab League held an emergency meeting to discuss the indictment. The League fully backed Sudan and Bashir and rejected the “politization” of the International Criminal Court.
For the Arab League members, punishing Bosnian Serbs for war crimes committed against Muslims in Bosnia is not the politization of the ICC, but charging Bashir for the crimes committed in Darfur is. As if some people are less human; as if some people deserve justice while others do not.
In the words of human rights activists Moataz El Fegiery and Ridwan Ziyada: “The Arab world’s response to the Darfur crisis has been a miserable failure. It’s the moral failure more than the political failure. And it is a failure of the intellectuals just as much as it is of the Arab governments.”
Savo Heleta is a postgraduate student in Conflict Transformation and Management at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and the author of “Not My Turn to Die: Memoirs of a Broken Childhood in Bosnia” (AMACOM Books, New York, March 2008).
sheleta@gmail.com
http://www.savoheleta.com
Is Savo Heleta Muslim? It doesn’t sound like it.
Bint Will…May God reward you for that…so like I said, you can’t say “the Muslims” are ignoring Darfur. That’s my only point.
There is no doubt that certain worthy causes get more attention than other worthy causes. The answer to this problem is not criticize the worthy cause that people actually do stand up for but just encourage people to care about other causes as well.
Don’t make them competitors against each other, that’s my only point.
Salaam alaikum,
Okay, I’m going to step in and put my hat on as a historian of Africa who has done a considerable amount of research on interwar period Darfur (for the nonhistorians that means between 1919 and 1939). Also, as an Africanist, I have sat in a number of talks and read a lot more than our brother Hamza. I”m gathering that from his statement. It seems like he picked up some propaganda himself. I think it is unfortunate that Muslims have resorted to simplyfying this conflict to some tribal tension. You got to do a little more homework from credible sources. Funny how we conveniently use accounts from some international agencies when it suits our purposes, but when it testifies against Muslim atrocities we discount them.
Yes, there were tribal tensions, but the main brunt of this conflict started with the Sudanese Liberation Army and Justice and Equality Movement began fighting with the government because they felt that the Sudanese government was neglecting the region. They also felt that the government was favoring Arab groups over the Masalit, Fur, and Zagawa ethnic groups. The government used aerial bombing, while the Janjaweed recruited local Arab tribes to help stomp out resistance. So basically, the government used the same aerial bombing it used against the Southern Sudanese. Since the US and China were interested in the prospects of oil with the North South peace agreement, nobody wanted to do anything about Darfur. The question is, who is supplying weapons to the Janjaweed, who is telling them to target certain villages.
The ICC indictment of Bashir was a real disaster, contrary to Heleta. Now, almost every African Nation is backing him and he’s a hero in Sudan because now we have a sovereignty issue. Also, it was al-Jazeera that broke the news of what was going on in Darfur. And basically the Sudanese government has jailed al-Jazeera reporters for trying to tell the truth. And also, would one dismiss Islamic Relief’s accounts? How many of us Muslims have listened to the accounts of our brothers and sisters in Darfur? Honestly, I think they have a right to call us cowards for not taking a stronger stance. We are supposed to speak against injustice, even if it is against ourselves. So I’m with Bint Will, if we are going to call Keith Ellison a coward then our brothers and sisters in Darfur can call us cowards to for doing NOTHING to help end their suffering.
BTW,
Whether or not Savo Heleta is Muslim or not, he has a lot more knowledge and credentials to speak on this subject of Darfur than most.
@ Hamza21 -
I have been following Darfur for over 15 years now. I have heard all denials and obfuscations and conspiracy theories which has dominated has Arab discourse for the last century.
Stop with the Jews run the world typical Arab analysis. It is getting old. Please put down that water pipe.
Do you think Arabism or Arabization or Pan-Arabism is some make believe theory that has not been implemented. The Darfurians just happen to be the latest victims.
This fight started way before the drought that many Marxist leaning people use to explain the conflict. Arabized tribes despise African language, customs, traditions, and people. So all the government had to do was give them guns to take care of business.
Until we submit to the sunnah and Quran this divide will remain.
The whole Maghreb region is fighting against pan-Arabism.
I do not believe in black domination or arab domination. However, I will call out injustice for I submit only to Allah.
I suggest that you read the “Black Book” which gives a detailed description of imbalance in power between the Riverine Arabs and Dafurians before you spout European and liberal talking points.
The Black Book has not been contradicted by Sudanese Government yet. They try to discredit the author as a disgruntled person but that is a typical red herring that skirts the issues outlined in the book.
Any group be it Christian or Jewish will continue to take advantage of situations in muslim countries where there is marginalization of certain ethnic groups. That is there job to divide and conquer but we must not give them the ammunition. We take away the ammunition by fighting for justice for all muslims and not only the favored ones.
It is nothing wrong with Christian groups aiding the Darfurians when their own muslims brothers ignore their plight. If some muslim converts to Christianity so be it, it is okay. It is called free will. Allah provided man with free will. Do you want to take that away?
Salaam
@Margari Aziza
the true roots of this conflict goes to about 1888-1920 when many western Muslims were pushed east do to encroachment by terroristic european occupiers these artificial country barriers were established this distrupted the traditional traveling grazing patterns of the nomads as the region began the to suffer from desertfication That’s when the fissures began and the west began to support the south in a move for regime change, the research and see how many of the “rebel leaders” were western educated YES THERE IS REAL CULTURAL STRIFE IN THE SUDAN but the western powers made it worst by proping up the rebels as they have done throughout Africa in Congo, Riwanda, Kenya, etc as was mentioned the only way the west can continue the exploitation of African resources is with divide and conquer. but back to point of the post what did you all expect? these guys are politians come on. You think this something wait until Obama get’s in office
Keith Ellison holds a position of being a major activist and he is literally shaming it. His vote of “present” is no different than than the virgin’s silence of approval in Islamic marriage. If Keith Ellison can’t stand for once in his government career then he should step down and make way for a non-Muslim who will have more guts than he has. As time progresses we start to realize that the Islam of Keith Ellison and Carson seem not to extend beyond themselves. Meaning, the wisdom and wholesomeness of Islam is not being expressed through the actions and words of these two brothers. In all walks of life a Muslim is supposed to uphold the shariah as much as he can and if he is inclined to compromise then he retreats from that pressure. This is the case whether he works at walmart or is a lawyer. The seat of Congressman is not a non-influential job such as a warehouseman but rather one of policy making ,rule making, and leadership. Many Muslims celebrated Ellison’s victory in the assumption that he will introduce pieces of the Islamic spirit to U.S. policies. But, we assumed and we know what assuming leads to. My hopes aren’t all elevated for Obama and his girl, Hilary Clinton. The tears of accomplishment of Jesse Jackson and Oprah seemed to have went in vain. Maybe if Ellison attempted to visit Masjid Aqsa he would have had a more realistic view of the world outside his federal limo and office. Nothing needs to be said about Carson. His action have spoken before him. Action speaks louder than words. A sad time in America as usual. Honor only rests with Allah, His Messenger, the Companions, and with those who follow him until the Last Day.
RE: Whether or not Savo Heleta is Muslim or not, he has a lot more knowledge and credentials to speak on this subject of Darfur than most.
Maybe so. But he can’t relate events in Sudan back to what Allaah said in His Book, and what His Messenger said in his Sunnah, so that the Muslims can get clarity and benefit–unless he is Muslim known to be upright and who has some knowledge.
Allaah said,
49:6 O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done.
4:83 When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people), if only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly). Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of Allâh upon you, you would have followed Shaitân (Satan), save a few of you.
Note: Returning back to the Messenger (salallaahu alayhi wa salam) in our times means the Authentic Sunnah.
It’s sad to see to African-American Muslims in post 911 America with all the history and experience steeped in racism and oppression they bring to their offices side with one of the largest oppressors of humankind, the Israelis, of this day and age. A resounding “NO” vote should have been the only outcome of this resolution. The evidence is overwhelming that this latest incursion into Gaza has nothing at all to do with Israeli security.
Abu Usamah al-Aswad,
You’re taking it back to the 19th century? Wow, how are you taking it back to the precolonial days without even taking into account the massive slave raiding that went on in the region? But I’ll let that slide and focus on the real political roots of the problem.
Darfur was incorporated into Sudan in 1916. Ali Dinar was deposed by the British and Egyptians when he sided with the Ottomans in 1914. Since Darfur was incorporated in Sudan, it has received very little financial and administrative resources. Instead, most of the Nile Valley “Arabs” which means Arabized Nubians and Arab tribes who had long mixed with local Sudanese population were favored when it came to education, government jobs, etc. And most of the development focused on the Northern Nile Valley region, so basically the South was ignored, as was Darfur. This was the primary beef that the Justice and Equality Movement had with the Sudanese government. A number of these cats were part of the Sudanese military, and fought in the long war with the South. The Masalit, Zagawa, and Fur are not some Western foreigners. The main group of people who moved West under western encroachment were the Fallata from Northern Nigeria. 20 thousand migrated West in 1903 when the British conquered the Sokoto Caliphate. And don’t get it twisted, the Fallata who migrated back in the day are considered different from the Takruri (mainly Hausa migrants) who consider themselves pilgrims in Sudan. There are tens of thousands of Takruri pilgrims in Sudan, but they were often considered hard working and not like Fallata who were often seen as trouble makers by the colonial officials. On top of that, you can find a few accounts of Fallata joining the janjaweed. So the whole thing gets real complicated, doesn’t it? The whole tribal argument is something uninformed journalists use to explain away every conflict in Africa.
And yes there are ethnic tensions that are due to desertification and the government privileging one group over another. But you can look to our good friend Qadafi for training and in turn helping to develop the janjaweed’s racist tactics against their brethren.
My point is, to support Bint Will’s statements about the American Muslims being complacent about the death and suffering of hundreds of thousands of the Black Muslims brothers. Because we failed to take a stand, we gave some opportunists to move in on this cause. Believe me, before any of the bulk of zionist groups jumped on the Darfur bandwagon, I began trying to raise awareness of the issue. Nobody cared. And you still don’t. I’ve hardly seen any of the muslim bloggers or commentators criticize, let alone condemn, Bashir’s government for human rights abuses. Like I said, we are supposed to speak out against injustice even if it is against ourselves. And in my opinion, if we are too afraid to be self critical, and we are complacent in our attitude towards this conflict and the atrocities that have been committed by Muslims, how on earth do we think we have the right to Keith Ellison a coward?
@ Margari
Our stance should be principled on both fronts (Palestine/Darfur). If you are against human rights abuses and genocide in Darfur then on principle you must be against human rights abuses and genocide in Palestine. If you are against human rights abuses and genocide in Palestine. Then on principle you have to be against a resolution that portrays the victim as the aggressor and the aggressor as the victim. The fact the Non Muslim representatives who voted a resolute “no” had more dare I say “Chutzpah” than Ellison was a huge let down. Carson was let off the hook because he showed his true colors and in my mind as well as the ones I have talked to he has been written off as a representative of the Muslims. But most Muslims including myself have high expectations of Ellison. I don’t agree with the manner in which he was criticized. But I do agree with the criticism on principle. If Kucinich, Waters, Paul and others can muster up the courage to vote a resounding “no” on an outrageous resolution than we must out of conviction of principle and love for our brother hold him and ourselves to the same standard of courage. Justice is not exclusive to this group or that group however due to the nature of geopolitics some conflicts get more attention than others. On that note I understand your frustration with the lack of concern or action in Darfur. Geopolitics change but our basic core values should not. Nothing personal against Ellison but his vote was shameful.
What we saw should be repeated on a much larger scale. Representatives who don’t echo the wish and desire of their constituents should be reprimanded by the same. Ellison’s lack of a stand is sad, given the overt illegality of the Gaza invasion and aftermath. I’m glad people stood up to him to tell him that.
[...] 14, 2009 at 8:11 am · Filed under Uncategorized Assalamu alaikum, Umar Lee and Tariq Nelson have blogged about Keith Ellison and Andre Carson’s (the only two Muslim congressmen) stances [...]
Salaam alaykum,
I believe the reception he received was appropriate, considering his vote. The Muslims need to stand up and tell these guys you can’t play politics and big picture thinking forever - all the other things we do in the political arena are to build up to stand up during times like these, with clout and not cowardice.
Siraaj
Gotta love Ron Paul, he is sticking by the principles he’s laid out consistently.
Not to be callous, but why is congress taking a vote on this. Its not like it has some real world effect, in the end its just a vote of solidarity with Israel. The president has already said something to that effect.
Can congress please deal with some of the more urgent issues like the financial crisis. Perhaps once we all have jobs and aren’t panicking about making ends meet and economic uncertainty, we can spend more time thinking about these matters in depth.
Ron,
You wrote “If Arabs cared so much about the Palestinians then allow them to live in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, or Jordan and not Israel or Africa.”
I am not sure how much time you have spent in the Middle East, but all of the countries you mentioned have sizable Palestinian communities. None of them offer citizenship, but these countries are rather hard in that manner anyway. My wife is Saudi, holds a Saudi passport and even our sons dont qualify for Saudi citizenship.
Jordan has a HUGE Palestinian community, probably somewhere 50%. Iraqi, under Saddam Hussein at least, had a great program for Palestinians with jobs, housing and other subsidies. About 1/4 of the Palestinians I work with here in DC were born in Kuwait.
Now if you are suggesting that these countries should take ALL of the Palestinians in Palestine, I dont think anyone would go with that. To do that would be to acccept Israeli claims on the land.
Abu -
Israel is 20% Palestinian - Trans Jordan is more like 60% Palestinian.
Let me give you a scenario. If we allowed over 10K rockets over 10 year period come into the US do you think we would have the right to respond.
The Hamas leadership is in Syria living it up while they use the poor Palestinians for their warped religious agenda. The Saudis, Egyptians, Syrians, Iranians and formerly Sadaam, and Kadaffi use the Palestinians to distract from their authoritarian systems.
I used to give lectures connecting Israel to South Africa. So, I have been down the anti-Israel road before in my life.
We need to propose to Palestine that they should seek peaceful resolution with Israel. Tolerance in that region will go a long way to creating peace in other places. Palestine as an entity would have a great opportunity to be a beacon of light in the Middle East.
As a former resident in the Middle East I am sure you are aware of the tremendous wealth and education that many Palestinians have accumulated.
They can make Palestine along with Lebanon a commerial hub rivaling the Emirates. The technology that Israel has and its brain potential will in the future make the US look backwards in comparison. So the Palestinians must seize this opportunity.
The first step is to accept Israels right to exist. The second step is to come to a reasonable solution about Jerusalem. Finally, democracy without emotional populism.
We have an obligation to the Palestinians to tell them the truth not what they want to hear. Stop the violence because it will not get you anywhere. Destruction is easy but building takes discpline and swallowing your pride.
I was at Pro-Palestinian rallies in the 90s.
Iraq has a similar opportunity if it takes it.
Salaam
Rasheed,
I’m not in support of this nonsensical resolution. Like K-Dude said, I don’t even understand why this came up for a vote. It is like America snubbing the international community and especially the UN, which they seem to punk around anyways. In light of the pressure, Ellison’s vote is very similar to the ways Muslims have dealt with Darfur.
You’re right, I’m frustrated because the Muslim community won’t take a principled stance on Darfur, and every life is precious. The loss of 1000 people is terrible, but 200,000. There were no Friday khutbahs about our failure when it came to Darfur. I’m not trying to take away from Gaza, my point is that we should not use double standards when it comes to dealing with injustices. I’m not the only one who has commented on the general Ummah’s lack of concern for African lives, whether they are Muslim or not. I think that’s why a number of Black Americans are not out there rallying.
Have we forgotten that in the60’s one of reason for the break up SNcc was Israeli zionist state.Black weren’t supose speak about this settler state and its opression and colonization of the Palestine people.Also there relationship in assiting apatheid in South Africa.Some jewish funders of the civil rights had to realize that SNCC and other organzations who were fighting for our liberation as people were not the going succumb to there pressure like many our brothres and sisters did in the NACCP and other civilrights groups.Ellinson,Carson ,Obama and the majority of the cowardly Black Caucus are betraying our principles as A people who always tried to never straggle the fence on issue of colonize people trying to liberate themselves from the cloak of the imperalist.The whole notion if we run muslim for poltical offices they will do right cause Islam is a din of jusstice has been proven to be equal to being a fairy tale.As I stated on Umar Lee website any muslim who run for office should go through some Islamic training in courses of the Maqasid of the Shariah.The muslim poltician can’t be cajoling he has to stand on a set of princples .Do these two congressman think that Allah pleased with them or may be they just don’t care because they are caught up in the game of poltics.I am sure these two the universal principles of the Shariah is to protect the din,life,reasoning or intellect progeny,material wealth and some scholars in the Hanafi madhab add honor.Muslim polticians have to learn some rudimentarysprinciples and concepts of there din.Obviously the muslims leadership and community who lend support to both canditates must of didn’t in the important of doing the right thing and not to fear men but Allah.Allah saids O you who believe !Be careful of your duty to Allah and be with the truthfulSurah 9 v,11.Surely these to decided to be with liars,deceivers,opressors and the enemies of Allah..Keith Ellinson present vote was cowardly and tired of hearing those who want to make this into some intellectual debate but did hear what he said or read his statement .Al-Hasan Basri said,one man killed the camel[of the Prophet of Salih];however,Allah punished the whole nation because they approved of what the man did.’The scholars say this punishnment can take many forms .Evil men continue to rule over you du’a not being answered.And for sure we need our du’a answered.When Mr.Ellinison took that photo-op with the Quran did he not realize that the Quran not only a book of Hudda but also a book of Adl justice.Both of these congressman must realise that the Quran is there constitution.They must always keep a Islamic mind and just don’t become self serving and want to keep their seats of goverance even if means abandoned ethics and principles that there Lord expects from them amd then the muslim community.
Please i ask those who have posted information about Darfur to post credible websites and books that can be obtain to learn more about suffering of the people of that region of the world.I myself have been to a few forums in NewYork concerning this issue .ImamTalib Abdur Rasheed has been one of the few Africian Americians imams to touch this subject.I do agree when there is concerns about muslims of Africian descent it seems like much of the ummah turns a deaf ear.Were was the cry for famine in Niger,and Ethopian invasion of Somalia sponsored by the United States government.Know doubt there are double standards.With all that pain I will still stand with any group muslims who are being oppresses because it is the right thing to do.
Our non-Muslim, female congresswoman, Gwen Moore, has more balls than Ellison.
How sad.
Kwame, I have one question. When it comes to sources that take accounts by Muslims accusing their brethren of crimes, what do we consider credible sources? We often use UN accounts, Amnesty International, Red Cross, and organizations such as Doctors without Borders as credible sources for atrocities against Palestinians. I hope we don’t just discount Human Rights commissions in Sudan because it is politically convenient. Clearly, Imam Talib Abdur Rasheed hasn’t done so. And to me, he was brave to take a stand on this issue while the rest of our community tries to sweep it under the rug.
Since it is nearly impossible for American researchers to get research clearances in Sudan, there are few new studies based on Sudanese archives. Some of my work involves articles that are forthcoming publications, so I will have to get back to you where you can find the journals where they are published. I still plan on writing a comprehensive paper on Darfur focusing on current affairs, as opposed to my research on an earlier period. It won’t be scholarly, instead it will be mainly for public consumption.
The Black book used to be online, I have to ask my colleagues to see where I can find it. But you can read general accounts of the work, which is a political diatribe put out by JEM, on the internet.
Halima Bashir’s account:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/22/sudan
Darfur Natives Share Personal Accounts
http://media.www.thepawprint.net/media/storage/paper694/news/2007/11/07/News/Darfur.Natives.Share.Personal.Accounts.At.voices.Of.Darfur.Event-3086621.shtml
Here is the Muslim Manifesto on Darfur by Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid:
http://wasalaam.wordpress.com/2007/02/20/a-muslim-manifesto-on-darfur/
Early coverage of Islamic Relief efforts in Darfur:
http://www.irw.org/news/pressreleases/20040817
Lukewarm letter by some Muslim organizations (March 2008)
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LRON-7D5CM5?OpenDocument
Doctors without Borders-Darfur
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/country.cfm?id=2369
Doctors with Borders- Rape in Darfur
http://www.artsenzondergrenzen.nl/usermedia/files/Report%20Sexual%20Violence%20march%202005.pdf
Oxfam
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo/emergencies/sudan
Reports from the African Union up (2004-2005)
http://www.africa-union.org/DARFUR/CFC.htm
Amnesty International
http://www.amnestyusa.org/darfur/page.do?id=1351050
Human Rights Commission at the United Nations MIssion in Sudan
http://www.unmis.org/english/humanrights.htm
2007 report for the UN Human Rights in Darfur Report
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G07/116/20/PDF/G0711620.pdf?OpenElement
Oxfam - 2 Muslim staffers provide account of their work in Darfur
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatwedo/emergencies/sudan/news_publications/five-years-into-the-darfur-conflict-three-staffers-look-back
Islam Online Article about JEM
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1209357832376&pagename=Zone-English-Muslim_Affairs%2FMAELayout
May Allah reward you sister Marqari for this post and the information.You are very vauable to our community.
Kwame Madden,
Interesting that you mention Niger and the Ethopian invasion of Somalia. I can’t remember the Darfur groupies here on this blog ever mention about these events or the slaughter of Muslims in the Philippines.
Just imagine if an Arab treated Condi Rice this way:
‘”Olmert Says Israel Determined To Go On, Recalls Phone Talk on UNSC Vote With Bush
Telephone report from Ashqelon by political correspondent Shmu’el Tal — liveA
Voice of Israel Network B
Monday, January 12, 2009 . . .
Document Type: OSC Translated Text
[Olmert:] “It transpired all of a sudden that a vote would be held in 10 minutes’ time. I tried to find President Bush, and I was told he was attending an event in Philadelphia.”
‘I know that if somebody tried to find me on the phone right now, it would have to be something unusual and extraordinary for them to say: Leave it all and go to some room to talk to me. In this case, I said: I don’t care, I have to talk to him right now.
He was taken off the podium and brought to a side room. I spoke with him; I told him: You can’t vote for this proposal.
He said: Listen, I don’t know, I didn’t see, don’t know what it says.
I told him: I know, and you can’t vote for it!
He then instructed the secretary of state, and she did not vote for it.
It was a proposal she had put together, one she formulated, one she organized, one she maneuvered. It left her rather embarrassed, abstaining in the vote on a proposal she herself had put together. That was why the French and the Brits said she had pulled a fast one on them, she having been the one to spur them to submit the proposals.” ‘
But of course the pseudo wannabe bourgeoisie like to beat the weak and defenceless people. Typical coward people.
I see all the same names saying the same things. No surprises.
I feel the crowds response was appropriate….during an execution in 5th century England.
Those who criticize Ellison’s stance have legitimate arguments, as do those who defend him. What is NOT legitimate is howling like dogs at a full moon when someone (a fellow MUSLIM at that) is trying to explain himself.
The man was trying to speak. He is a Muslim. Give him proper adab and let him finish. Then nail him in the Q&A. Be firm on your stance, but be outstanding in your manners. That is Islam.
When Asmaa’ bint Abi Bakr (رضي الله عنهم) confronted the tyrant Hajjaj bin Yusuf who had murdered her son did she start howling and yelling or did she destroy his arguments point for point in public? What is more idiotic than these people howling are the same old names defending senseless behavior.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) didn’t bring you Islam so that you could howl like dogs when someone is trying to speak intelligently. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said the strike of Shaytan comes after the calamity and from looking at the Muslims’ responses these days, I’d say he has struck pretty hard. He’s turned so many into bleating animals with no cognizance voice, just noise.
For the people who are bringing up Darfur(where the violence towards the Darfurians by the Sudanese government must be condemned), how come many African-Americans are more outraged by the violence committed by certain police officers then by the black-on-black violence in their community which rivals any of the police violence in numbers. I am not defending or justifying police brutality, just pointing out the double-standard of some of the posters. It is human nature to condemn the violence and oppression of the outsider before condemning it among ourselves. This isn’t just true of Muslims but all ethnic and religious
groups.
Ron, if someone took your home and expelled you from your village, would you accept that?! And you’re the last person in the world who should speak about the Qur’an and Sunnah with your racialism and ignorance of the deen
Gess, you calling me a Darfur groupie?
If you even expect to get one iota of respect out of me, you better come correct. I’ll give you a chance to explain your statement, before I launch into you.
Please Bashir,
Black folks are just as angered by Black cops committing police brutality. There is no double standard here. You need to come with some correct evidence before you even accuse me of a double standard. You will find nowhere in my blog or public statements letting off the Black police officers for killing Sean Bell. There were protests, folks marched, they wanted those officers punished. But the Oakland case was video taped and recorded. And every angle shows a clear murder of an unarmed subdued young man laying with his face in the ground. Now if we saw Sean Bell shot execution style like that, all of New York would have been burning. You gotta be kidding me!
Bashir and gess -
I have heard your type before.
Bashir - your idea of someone knowing deen is replicating Arab culture. Let me say this - people living in societies with over 70% illiteracy have no room to talk about deen to me. Just head to your madrassa and repeat what your teachers tell you.
You need to study your history. How many times have the villages of Africans been burned in the name of Jihad and Arabization. The first thing you do is take away the swords and/or weapons so that the men cannot protect women and children. Rape and pillage and burn villages. That is the strategy.
It is shocking to the system for some people that I think the lives of African Muslims/Africans are just as important as Non-African Muslims whether it is Darfur, South Sudan, Southern Chad, Niger, Southern Nigeria, Southern Egypt, Mauritania. I needs to be part of the discussion among Muslims of African descent. I understand if non-African descent people do not care because I have accepted that long ago.
I hate black on black crimes whether it is crips versus bloods or hutus versus tutsi and will speak out against it.
I place more scrutiny on African Muslims because we should know better because of a longer history of literacy.
As far Condi Rice - she is a respectable woman. The Arab world has skewered her many times. U.N. politcking is nothing new. Miscommunication and silly resolutions happen all the time. We all know that the UN is a joke.
@Margari Aziza
You said “Believe me, before any of the bulk of zionist groups jumped on the Darfur bandwagon, I began trying to raise awareness of the issue. Nobody cared. And you still don’t.”
How did you surmise that simply because I don’t agree with the orientalist / colonialistic narrative of Darfur that, I don’t care for the people of Darfur?
I have really tried to not to respond to your comment above as I generally appreciate the insight you bring with your posts, however your Africanist or African historian credentials notwithstanding your understanding of what’s happening in Darfur lacks nuance, therefore is ill-informed.
I respect your right to have an opinion on Darfur and for the record let me say I respect and love both Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid and Ustaz Amir Al-Islam but I do not agree with their position on Darfur, others such as Shaykh Muhammad Shareef and Shaykh Mauri Saalakhan take a different stance, one that I am more inclined towards.
This whole dichotomy of the conflict in Darfur being Black vs. Arab, is patently false and a gross misrepresentation of fact. The relationships between the people of Darfur are complex and overlapping. Simple explanations of color/race demarcations are not applicable as there are no discernible racial or religious distinctions between them. Both sides are Muslim, indigenous, African, and black, also both sides are maliki in madhab, ashari in creed and tijani in tariqa, yet within that framework there are different ethnicities. Darfur was never ethnically homogenous.
I can only shake my head in sadness when I read the stories that insinuate that racists “Arabs” are trying to kill the “Blacks” of Darfur. It would be the equivalent to read the racists “Crips” are trying to wipeout the “Black Bloods”.
Does any of this negate the tragedy of what’s going on in Darfur of course not, but I refuse to be duped.
The reason I went back to the 19th century is because the seeds for what happened in Darfur in 2003 began there (actually much of the strife in Africa can be traced to direct actions by the terroristic colonialists). Your stating that “Ali Dinar was deposed by the British and Egyptians when he sided with the Ottomans in 1914″ only proves the folly of relaying history only from the piont of view of the aggressor.
The British attack on the Sokoto Khalifate, and murdering of the Sultan was ostensibly to end slavery, yet actually it was in fact to halt the advance of the French into what is now Northern Nigeria and to expand British control in Africa, similarly when these British fiends attacked the Sultanate of Ali Dinar and murdered him again ostensibly stated as a reaction to him siding with the Ottomans, in reality it was to thwart the French who were moving into western Darfur.
The USA, Europeans and the West in general are experts at “the engineering of public consent” for their nefarious political actions. Every nation where you find considerable oil reserves you will find attempted western intervention and regime change to suite their needs
I suppose its shear coincidence that in 2003 just as the Sudanese government was coming to an agreement with the SPLA, that’s when the SLA and JEM decide to attack. Just the other day the Sudanese were criticizing the Bush regime for meeting with JEM which encourages them to defy efforts to end the conflict.
Also, as a conscientious historian how could you use the anonymous “Black Book” as proof of anything when it has all of the traits of CIA regime change propaganda. If Qadafi is such a racist conspiring against Blacks how do you explain him devoting a chapter in his “Green Book” entitled “Black People Will Prevail in The World”?
Back to the topic
Yes, the easy answer is to shout Ellison or Carson down and call them cowards and what not, but let’s reverse it, all the Muslims who are willing to demand that put their careers and family livelihood in jeopardy, I have a challenge.
Why don’t the all Muslim doctors, lawyers, gas station owners, attorneys, nurses, professors, managers, store owners, cab drivers, police, engineers and university students all take one day off or close YOUR business to protest and say to America you have taken us for granted so we are going to take a day off to show what we contribute to this society?
That will never happen of course because the ease and comfort is loved.
It is one thing to ease one’s conscience by blasting a bunch of emails with horrific pictures of babies dying or making calls insisting SOMEONE else sacrifice themselves, yet it is quite another to do the same yourself and risk being branded a radical.
Yes it is easy to ask or demand someone else be the canary in the mine shaft. So to the persons that’s thinking about making the call to complain that these brothers risk their livelihood and careers, I ask that you look in the mirror first and ask yourself have you done the same, have YOU placed your ALL on the line in OPEN support of the Palestinian people?
Salaam alaikum Abu Usamah al-Aswad,
Okay, that statement that you did quote from me was a diatribe. I meant it t as a general statement about the concerns of the Muslim American community for Darfur. I apologize if I depicted you as not caring about Darfur. But I will say that most American Muslims aren’t concerned and there is little work on our part to encourage peace and deplore the violence in the region.
But back to the historical arguments:
British chess moves against the French aside, I’d argue that colonial conquest was not just some friendly competition on part of the European powers. The British had some real economic interests in Nigeria, and they used slavery as auspices of conquering the Sokoto Caliphate. You will find that in Nigeria, as well as Sudan, slavery did not go away with European rule. In fact, they were very slow in abolishing it.
I find it interesting that you would call my stance unnuanced and ill informed, I’d say that about some of your arguments that Darfur is a tribal conflict and the root cause is colonialism. You claim the roots of the conflict go back to the 19th century, but I argue that it is much more complicated involving oil, international and national politics, desertification, ethnic tensions, and underdevelopment. Hasan Turabi seems to be making some power moves, China in there for oil, Eritrea who supported rebels, Chad supporting rebels, and the International court tripping hard about indicting Bashir. Sure, the colonial legacy set the stage, but there are plenty of actors on this stage making a bloody mess of the whole affair.
I think you missed the point about my argument about the significance of the late incorporation of Darfur into Sudan. I’d say that it is more nuanced about the detriment of colonialism than your argument about miliatry conquest. My primary argument is that the people in Western Sudan have been marginalized from central power in Khartoum because the British established a system of government and education that privileged Arabized Sudanese in the Nile Valley. Darfur was an undeveloped region largely due to its late incorporation and little investment went into administrating the regime from 1916 to 1956 when Sudan became independent. This underdevelopment and questions about resources in Sudan is a major cause for conflict in Sudan. I don’t understand how that can be ignored?
The tribalism argument has been used time and time again by racists to dismiss the real complexities of violence in Africa. I used the Black book because JEM has used it to make their arguments, also because scholars in Egypt have analyzed it and have taken the grievances that Khalil Ibrahim articulates more seriously than you do. I think that by dismissing the rebels’ arguments, and their actions, you miss an important point. This is not to say that all their claims are legitimate, but it says that we should at least understand their claims. Similarly, in Rwanda, people did not understand the complex regional and international aspects of that conflict. As in Rwanda, regardless of whether the Hutus were Black and the Tutsis were Black, there was a genocide in which 800,000 people were killed. The dichotomy between the two groups doesn’t make sense, there were half Hutu and Tutsi participants of the genocide. I agree that the boundaries between Arab and African in Sudan and many other places are fluid there still are ethnic categories that do operate. And you have victim accounts of Janjaweed using racist terms to insult them.
While he devoted a chapter in his Green book on Black folks, he still has been involved in some crazy ideology of Saharan nomadic group as Arabs, even though they might be Tuareg, Sanhaja, or some other Berber group. Qadafi is a bonafide nut. But I don’t think he intentionally trained the Janjaweed to be racists. But he did train them on his ludicrous notion of all nomads are Arabs concept. I think inadvertantly, by helping spark that imagination of Arab nationalism, it made a number of the Janjaweed more racist. I think it is apparent that Qadafi plays both cards as African and Arab leader. He invited all the Arabs to Africa, do you even remember that speech?
I also think that your claim that I am looking at history from the viewpoint of the agressor is a bit off the mark. Darfur was not part of the colonial creation of Sudan in the late 19th century, it was largely part of the Keira dynasty. The fact that Ali Dinar declared his loyalty to the Ottomans was the auspices for the British conquest of the region. They then in turn, did not invest hardly anything in the development of Darfur. I think that is a reasonable argument. The British privileged collaborators in the Nile Valley. They also contributed to the social construction of racial binaries. While Ali Dinar took a principled stance in his nominal allegiance to the Ottomans, the British collected signatures of Muslim notables in Sudan declaring their loyalty to the British.
People always focus on colonial conquest, but they rarely look at how independent African nations inherited colonial governments and colonial systems for managing their nations. If you look at the root cause for state failure in Africa and rebellions like what we see in Darfur, it is because the central government is not interested in sharing power or distributing resources in a way that would benefit the majority, but rather they have become gatekeeper states where international companies or other nations extract resources. And in order to maintain power, most of the authoritarian governments pass out some goodies to a few in order to maintain political power.
I will look up the stances of these scholars that you mentioned. I personally think some of the solutions some American scholars are a bit convoluted. I’ve never argued for regime change, but rather that we as Muslims do something, whether that is work to alleviate the suffering, write or encourage all governments and international organizations involved to do the right thing, and at minimum hate what is going on with their hearts.
Margari, I was talking about violence committed by white police officers towards blacks and comparing it to black-on-black violence. The latter occurs in much larger numbers than the former. I don’t see blacks or people like you protesting the black-on-black violence with the same vehemence that they protest the violence of white police officers. It is a double-standard despite your denials. You are accusing Arab Muslims of hypocrisy on this matter as if they are only ones guilty and others are innocent even though other ethnic and religious groups are guilty of this too.
Ron, you are a ridiculous charlatan as is evident by your posts. If you consider the fundamentals and ahkaam of Islaam, “Arabic culture”, then you are the one who needs to learn the deen. What does illiteracy have to do with knowing the deen? The Prophet(SAWS) was illiterate? Are you going to attack him too?!
As for your hatred of black-on-black crime, I don’t see you protesting it with the same vehemence as you are protesting the violence of Arab Muslims.
Your defense of the war criminal, Rice, who enabled many of the American government invasions of Muslim countries exposes your true colors.
Wa Laykum Salaam, Margari,
I truly believe we are on the same team and want to accomplish the same goal on this issue, and that is to end the suffering of the people of Darfur.
We can go back and forth about whether the British created the problem in 1916 when they murdered ruler under a false pretext or if the British created the problem in 1956 when used their typical “pigmentocracy” approach to develoment in Africa.
Yet we would have to agree that there is a common denominator.
And as for Rwanda it was the Europeans who created the environment which allowed that hatered to build by favoring the Tutsi (due to complexion, look how many of their leaders were trained in America) over the Hutus,
Pardon me if I have been remiss in empassioned pleas for the world community to do something for he people of Darfur. As Imam Talib says attribute it to my head not my heart. As much as hate whats going on, there I understand enough to know that Muslims must consolidate in America first in order to project our strength abroad. It was the Blacks in America mobilizing in america which helped the South African people. And Muslims must do the same for the people of Darfur WITHOUT adding to the Black \ Arab divide here America because of lies.
Please understand that there is an active ongoing effort to prevent the Muslims in America from being united.
Thats why the Darfur crisis is being billed as Blacks vs. Arabs, so as to create fissures in the Muslim community. And play on the legitimate problems at play in the Muslim american community.
While I will never accept to follow those who seek regime change in order to further exploit Sudans resources, I agree somthing must be done. Instead of blindly thinking the American government and Israel want the best interest of Muslims in the Sudan, it would be more beneficial to advocate for something more like 2009 Bandung Conference.
@Bashir
You said “I don’t see blacks or people like you protesting the black-on-black violence with the same vehemence that they protest the violence of white police officers.”
You make a good point if you are talking about the Blacks or liberal elite who get the national media spotlight, Yes, you are correct that the proverty pimps for the sweet chariot doesn’t swing low to stop black on black murders, however you couldn’t be more wrong if you are reffering to the grassroots brothers and sisters who are in the hood making a difference. whether speaking against it or stopping it with their hands, yet they never get the cnn camera time.
There are many brothers and sisters in different cities working programs to reduce the violence.
Plus what need is there to blog hey guy down the block is shooting while children are out? No, you just go and check him period.
Bashir,
Your argument is too convoluted and argument to muddled to fully address. You draw comparisons that don’t match. You say it is a double standard that Black folks protest police violence (with the perpetrators being the arm of the state), but not protesting gang violence (when the perpetrators being criminals). The role of police officers is to protect the public, and criminals prey on the public. Criminals when caught are tried, and we expect the same of police officers. The difference is that often police officers that assault or kill civilians are often protected by a culture of silence. This is what people are angry about, and that has nothing to do with a double standard. Yes other ethnic groups are guilty of anti-Black racism and racism against other groups too. But the reality is that your argument is really weak and if I was you I’d wrap it up before you get embarrassed.
@ Abu Usamah al-Aswad,
I agree, there are some serious opportunists who have jumped on the Darfur band wagon. And I agree that Muslims in America get their act together. But as a Black American Muslim, I do get miffed when issues that concern Black American Muslims and African Muslims gets put on the back burner. That is not to say that we shouldn’t care about Gaza, because I do. When I interviewed African students at al-Azhar this past summer, they all stated that Darfur was a disaster. It is an important concern for African Muslims, as well as the experience of Africans in learning centers in the Middle East. How we deal with each other and the respect we show each other should be our top priority. I have a hard time focusing on unity of the community when all I see is fragmentation and the inability to respect that we have different interests and various perspectives to a number of issues.
I’m in 100% agreement with you on the pivotal role Muslims in America can play without playing into that binary of Black versus Arab in Darfur. Sometimes I fear that we missed our chance to play an important role. But other times I am hopeful that a new leadership can arise that will address these issues head on.
What needs to happen more is open discussion like what we have had here in this comments section. We were able to argue our positions and come to some mutual understanding. That’s the point of dialog. And this has been a stimulating and fruitful one.
Margari, my argument isn’t weak and you are the one who is making it convoluted. You’re accusing Arab Muslims of racialism and ethnic nationalism of which you and your kind are just as guilty of. There’s still way more black-on-black violence then there is white-on-black violence in our times.
Bashir,
We have a right to condemn occupation, oppression, and racism whether or not the victimized population abuse each other. In fact, much of that violence is due racist systems and the internalization of racial self-hatred. You can use that argument in the Arab world. How many Palestinians were killed by Hamas Fatah fighting. How many Iraqis are killed by Shi’ite versus Sunni fighting? More Muslims kills Muslims, but we all condemn imperialism. The ANC killed more Black South Africans than whites, but does that mean we should have kept apartheid. Please, clean up your logic, especially when the results of taking your logic to its fullest conclusions renders any cause invalid. But then again, you line of reaasoning is a result of sloppy thinking. At this point, it makes no sense to continue this because you keep digging yourself into a deeper whole all the while wasting my time with asinine argument. I recommend focusing on loftier endeavors like taking a sociology course on urban America or a world history course. Maybe that would sharpen your thinking. Peace!