YOUR WORST NGHTMARE IS ABOUT TO BE A REALITY!
Cheryl Sudduth is set to become the second Muslim woman to run for Congress in the United States.
Seeking to enter the House of Representatives to represent the 11th congressional district of California, she hopes to improve the public education system, and close the achievement gap among underserved and vulnerable members of the community.
As an African-American Muslim woman, she enjoys the support of many people in her community from African-American and Muslim minorities as well as women.
Although it looks all well and good (and harmless) in print, the fact is she is one more muslim in our political system - one more muslim that we absolutely cannot allow to gain superiority status over regular, "every-day", unsuspecting, and ill-informed Americans.
"Why" you ask? Well, let's just look at the ramifications of a devout follower of the prophet of Islam being in such a strategic and opportune position; representative of the people (muslims), legislator (one who makes and helps with the passage of laws), and lastly - and MOST important - she is a muslim. (do I REALLY have to stress this point?)
Is it religiously legitimate for the believer to be politically active in a system of government which is not only non-Islamic but is potentially anti-Islamic from time to time? Should a Muslim agree to vote under the United States constitution and against the background of the role of the United States' controlling if not intimidating many Muslim countries? We could use some of the categories of medieval Islamic jurists who divided the world between Dar el Islam (the Abode of Islam) and Dar el Harb (the Abode of War). Are Muslims in America an enclave of Dar el Islam lodged in the body politic of Dar el Harb? Where does the political participation of Dar el Islam fit into the political process of Dar el Harb? Or should we abandon altogether these medieval Islamic divisions of the world as being outdated?
One of the factors which have influenced most political parties in India to be tolerant towards Muslims has been the voting leverage and participation of this 12% of the population. Had Indian Muslims opted out of politics completely Indian Muslims would have been more marginalized and perhaps even more victimized than ever.
The following distinctions need to be made concerning Muslims and U.S. laws:
* Can Muslims live in the United States without obeying U.S. Laws? - Can they refuse to pay U.S. taxes, even if the taxes are not remotely Islamic?
* Can Muslims become U.S. citizens without allegiance to the U.S. Constitution which is not Islamic?
* Can Muslims insist that their money should not be used in wars against Muslim countries abroad?
Since Muslims in America cannot long endure without obeying U.S. laws, should they not try to influence the process of making those laws? Voting for Members of Congress and for the President constitutes part of the process of influencing the making of those laws - and not merely obeying the laws. Even those militant opponents of Muslim voting in U.S. elections do obey U.S. laws.
The Third domain is not merely Muslims voting but also Muslims running for office. This would be a process of Muslim empowerment. If elected, Muslims would not only be more directly affecting the making of the laws. The Muslims would also be influencing the implementation of the laws and their enforcement. Overtime the judicial and legal system of the United States would become more sensitized to the Muslim experience and related issues.
More than 85 percent of American Muslim voters picked President Obama in November 6, 2012 election, according to an exit poll released by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. It may be recalled that a similar CAIR exit poll in 2008 showed that 89 percent of American Muslim voters picked then-candidate Barack Obama. Two percent of respondents said they voted for Sen. John McCain. The CAIR’s informal survey of more than 650 American Muslim voters indicates that just four percent of respondents cast their ballots for the Republican presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney. The Poll findings indicated that 95.5 of the registered Muslim voters went to the polls on November 6. 85.7 percent cast their ballots to re-elect President Obama while only 4.4 percent of respondents said they voted for Mitt Romney. Just over two percent (2.2) of respondents said they voted for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson while the same percentage (2.2) voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
According to the poll, states with the highest number of survey respondents (in descending order) were California, New York, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio. On the party affiliation, the poll found 41.5 percent considered themselves Democrats. A similar number, 40.6 percent, consider themselves politically independent. Only 7.4 percent said they are Republican. “The fact that more than 95 percent of Muslim respondents went to the polls is a clear indication that they are fully participating in our nation’s political process and are part of the fabric of America,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad . “Muslim voters in swing states such as Florida, Virginia and Ohio seemed to have played a critical role in tipping the balance in the president’s re-election victory.”
A pre-election CAIR survey released on October 24, 2012 indicated that at least 25 percent of American Muslim registered voters were still undecided about who to vote for in the presidential election. The survey also indicated that 91 percent of registered Muslim voters will go to the polls on Nov. 6. “It appears that undecided Muslim voters broke decisively in President Obama’s favor at the polls,” said CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor. Saylor also expressed appreciation that a number of anti-Muslim candidates were rejected by voters nationwide.
ASK YOURSELF:
Can a devout Muslim be an American patriot and a loyal citizen?
Theologically, no. Because his allegiance is to Allah, the moon god of Arabia.
In the Qur'an, we read that the earth in its entirety belongs to God, and humans can settle anywhere as long as they do not encroach on the rights of others to that piece of land where they will settle. As such, wherever Muslims live, they have the responsibility to defend the community and take care of the environment and other related matters for the good of all. "Patriotism", in the sense of "love for a place where one lives and has a home and family" is part of one's faith in Islam. Hence, "loyalty" and "patriotism" to one's country of residence is an obligation that stems from one's faith commitment. "Allegiance" to God means allegiance to the betterment of this earth and its inhabitants without the extremes of negative nationalism and patriotisms.
Scripturally, no. Because his allegiance is to the five pillars of Islam and the Quran (Koran). Geographically, no. Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.
In Islam there is no concept of Promised Land to which one day all Muslims must return before the Final Days. There is no allegiance to any part of the earth, not even to Mecca. Allegiance is only to God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. No Muslim has "allegiance" to the Five Pillars. The Five Pillars are nothing more than the means to show one's obedience to God. Mecca is important simply because it has one of the holiest places of worship - mosques - built by Prophet Abraham and his son Ismael. No Muslim ever dreams of returning to Mecca for permanent residence. There is always a desire to visit and to worship God in the sanctuary.
Socially, no. Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews.
Again, there is no "allegiance" to Islam. There is faith in God and "Islam" is an act of submission to God's will that requires Muslims to live in peace with all communities on earth, including the Jews and the Christians. However, if any group of humanity engages in hostility against Muslims then they are required to defend themselves. There is no blind friendship or loyalty in Islam. If friendship to any human being, regardless whether that person is a Muslim, Jew, or Christian leads to corruption in society, then Muslims are to shun such company and loyalty.
Politically, no. Because he must submit to the mullah (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America, the great Satan.
In Islam there is neither "church" nor "priesthood." No Muslim has an obligation to follow a scholar (Mullah) who teaches hatred and harm to others. To the contrary, it is the duty of Muslims to follow the leaders who represent the moral and spiritual values of Islam. No one can stand indifferent to injustice in the world and regard himself or herself as a member of the human community, let alone of the Muslim community. At the same time, Muslims must always be alert and prepared to face the hostility and irrational attitude of other peoples. It is Satanic to demonize other human beings - whether it is done religiously or politically; whether it comes in the form of religious bigotry, or social and political discrimination.
Domestically, no, because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34).
There is no such blanket obligation in the Qur'an to marry four wives. The quoted verse occurs in the context of orphan girls under the custody of a guardian who, in the interest of preserving the property of the orphan girls, is instructed to marry one, two, three or four, provided he can treat them justly. Islam did not invent polygamy. It existed before it in every religion and civilization, and Islam is the first religion to actually limit the number of wives to four. The Qur'an also underscores the reality in spousal relationship that treating with justice among multiple wives is impossible, and, therefore, a Muslim is advised to stick to one wife. The question of honor of the home is extremely central to the Qur'an and therefore, whether it is a woman who is unfaithful to her husband or a husband who is unfaithful to his wife (Q. 4:128), the matter deserves to be resolved quickly to preserve the sanctity of the family.
Religiously, no. Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256)
(Yes, I do realize referring to Islam as a religion is quite a stretch, but humor me here for the sake of explanation.)
Quite to the contrary, of all the three Abrahamic scriptures, it is only in the Qur'an that Judaism, Christianity and Islam are treated as equally capable of guiding and saving their own flocks. God has no problem with any religion because there is only true faith that leads different peoples of the world to their Creator. It is a problem when different faith communities teach discrimination against others. In the record of the world history, one needs to examine whether it was Islam or any other religion that had problem with coexistence with other communities. The record of Islamic civilization is clear and open for anyone needing evidence of tolerance and acceptance of other faiths and peoples. Their evidence of tolerance and acceptance equates to violence, submission, subjugation, torture, and complete domination.
Intellectually, no, because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.
The Constitution of the United States of America is based on universal values taught by all Abrahamic religions, including Christianity and Islam. All religions, at one time or another, have suffered distortions in the hands of their own followers. No religious tradition is immune from such corruptive influences of some in their midst. It is self-righteous to point fingers at others while forgetting the ugliest anti-Semitic images that have haunted Western societies in the last century in the heart of Europe and other regions of the world. The American constitution is as much Islamic, as it is Christian, and Muslim Americans are proud of our constitution and our democracy.
Philosophically, no, because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and _expression.
Nothing can be farther from the truth. In fact, the Qur'an declares in no uncertain terms: "There shall be no compulsion in religion" (Q. 2:256). Philosophically, the Qur'an laid down the foundation of "natural religion" (fitrat) with which God has created all human beings. It also made sure that complete freedom existed for all humans to choose their faith and spiritual destiny. The Prophet set examples for his community to handle the fact of diversity of faiths, requiring Muslims to recognize and respect God's decision in the matter of allowing various faith communities to exist with each other and even with those who choose not to believe in God at all.
Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.
Spiritually, no, because when we declare "one nation under God," the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as our heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in the Quran's 99 excellent names.
One of the most beautiful names of God is "the Compassionate, the Merciful", which Muslims repeat at least 17 times a day. If Love cannot translate into "compassion or mercy," then it is an abstraction without meaning or application. In the Qur'an God has prescribed mercy for Himself (Q. 6:54), and that means that in dealing with humanity God will always show consideration as it improves itself to establish justice on earth. Muslims believe that they live under the God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. That God is Trustworthy, Merciful, Compassionate and Loving God who cares for all human beings more than their own mother. Islam does not encourage turning God into a political statement since humans cannot possess God. They can simply relate themselves to God by emulating God's compassion and forgiveness.
Therefore after much study and deliberation...perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. They obviously cannot be both good Muslims and good Americans. Call it what you wish...it's still the truth. If you find yourself intellectually in agreement with the above, perhaps you will share this with your friends. The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country.
I hope I have made this perspective abundantly clear. If not, then G-d help us all...
KC
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