Minn. lawmaker 1st Muslim in Congress
MrBrian
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By JOSHUA FREED, Associated Press Writer
Wed Nov 8, 9:01 AM ET
MINNEAPOLIS - Keith Ellison never ran on his religion — or away from it. Ellison, a state lawmaker and lawyer, has become the first Muslim elected to Congress, and the first nonwhite elected to Congress from Minnesota
On the campaign trail, Ellison, 43, talked little about his religious background, focusing instead on his call for an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and his support for single-payer health care.
Ellison said his campaign united labor, minority communities and peace activists. "We were able to bring in Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists," he said. "We brought in everybody."
Ellison, a criminal defense attorney who converted to Islam as a college student also won the endorsement of a Minneapolis Jewish newspaper.
Wed Nov 8, 9:01 AM ET
MINNEAPOLIS - Keith Ellison never ran on his religion — or away from it. Ellison, a state lawmaker and lawyer, has become the first Muslim elected to Congress, and the first nonwhite elected to Congress from Minnesota
On the campaign trail, Ellison, 43, talked little about his religious background, focusing instead on his call for an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and his support for single-payer health care.
Ellison said his campaign united labor, minority communities and peace activists. "We were able to bring in Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists," he said. "We brought in everybody."
Ellison, a criminal defense attorney who converted to Islam as a college student also won the endorsement of a Minneapolis Jewish newspaper.
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Comments
I was born and raised in that district and the Republicans may as well not run there.
I don't live there anymore so I do not know tons about him so I cannot say whether it is good that this specific candidate won, but I like the idea of a Muslim getting elected.
I dunno, he is a democrat.... we all know how they tend to be. All talk, no action.
Someone help me out here...what are the rules?
In all seriousness...who gives a flying F what religion he believes in?
I think it's just newsworthy because he is the "first"...
That's all
Muslims are about as respected in this country right now as child molesters. This can help alleviate that.
I think there is a positive to having a congress that resembles, a little more, the US. It is disproportionately white, male and, I suspect Christian.
We have a group that has never had a position like this in the US. If you were a muslim, you'd be happy.
Edit: I personally am not championing his religious beliefs. This is more about culture than religion. I am not championing his culture either, but I do think it positive that the US Congress reflect more of US culture.
well when it's a "first" of something it tends to be a big deal, but of course religion or color should'nt be an issue, but this is america, that stuff matters. that's why every headline is reading "first muslim" or "first nonwhite"
Is it worth celebrating Jackie Robinson?
I tend to think so.
First off, I can see your first point.
BUt I think your statement 'if you were muslim you'd be happy' hits the nail on the head as to what is wrong with this line of thinking, etc.
Why should I be happy if I am a muslim? Shouldn;t I want to know where he stands on the issues and such before I am 'Happy'?
Just another way the media attempts to divide...succeeds in dividing. By race, by class, by religion, by gender, you name it.
Acrtually, I personally loathe the Muslim religion. That being said, like Leo mentioned, Muslims as a whole are demonized, and the best cure for that problem is participation in North American/european political systems. Muslims can only truly become part of the community if they are able to participate fully in it.
although this is also a good point.
So, you are equating how muslims are treated in America today with how Jackie Robinson and other african-americans were treated back then?
I don't think so. If this guy gets death threats regularly at work, if he gets called terrible names while he is on the floor of congress, if he has to use separate facilities and can't eat in the congress lunchroom...then maybe you have a point.
And I see yours. But I'll stand by that I'd be happy if I were a Muslim. And what I mean is that nationwide, I am sure that they are. If you were a Muslim in his district, you should not just vote for him for that reason. If I were black, I'd be happy that Mass just elected a black Governor for the aformentioned "place at the table reasons" and I am not from Mass. But if I was, I would have to decide whether he is someone I would vote for.
Of course, if I were black, I would still never want to see Alan keyes win a race.
Should blacks have been happy that Jackie Robinson made the majors? Yes. Because their race had a place at the table in baseball. (I know this is different because there are no political issues to "vote" for, but I still feel both are a victory for the culture)
Blacks--we've gotten to the point where we don't notice every time a black wins a House seat. That's a good thing. Maybe someday a Muslim will win a seat and nobody will need to make a thing of it either...
It's not about how they are treated. It's about groups that are disenfranchised because they don't even have a place at the table.
Ok, ok, I kinda see the point. I still don't like it though. But it is what it is.
And we should not have cared that Jackie was a "black ballplayer" just that he was a "good ballplayer" right? But that's hard to do when he is first.
Ryan Howard is a black ballplayer, but this is the first time I have really concsiously thought that...because it matters less now.
i think tihs is a very good thing to have someone of a different faith, color and culture...
same with obama...
maybe a woman will be president someday.
this is all good news.
Yeah. It's human nature.
Giving charity, fasting, taking care of human life, repsecting women, doing good, education, This is what true islam teaches, how can you loathe it?
Now I understand that you may have dislike of some or many muslims, but take a look at Islam and I think maybe you will change your view on it.
Another cure for that problem is education, Muslims can only truly become part of the community if the community accepts them, which also comes down to education. Tell me, please, how much do you know about Islam, what exactly is it that made you loathe that religion?
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Correction ... You're right, its not the doctrine itself I hate, because in its basic form, it is benign and not that different from my own basic values.
What I hate is not the people per se .... I hate what many people do with these doctrines. Respecting women may be a part of "official" Muslim doctrine, but holy shit ... Look at all these nations and how they actually treat women. And homosexuals, for that matter ... What I hate are versions of the doctrine that are warped, I guess is a better way to put it.
See my response to Mr.Brian. I was careful to say that I loathe the religious doctrine itself, not the people, not Arabs (just waiting for some limpdick remark about how racist I am ... I said the RELIGION) ... I have some friends who are Muslims, some of the nicest people I've ever met are Muslims. But nevertheless, I still feel that the way many people practice Islam is just not my cup of tea, and this is after getting "educated" about the subject. I deliberately left mention of it out before, but for the record, I feel the same way about some forms of Christianity. This doesn't mean I think that Islam should be banned, or that Muslims have no place on our communities. There are political doctrines that I dislike, there are attitudes that I dislike, heck, there are sports teams I dislike (the Habs). In no cases do I think these things should be illegal. I am a huge proponent of religious freedom, assuming the rights of others are respected. I am also a huge proponent of freedom of speech, and intellectual freedom. I dislike how many Muslims interpret their faith, and I should be able to say it. I am sure many of them think Buddhism (pretty close to my spirituality) is a joke, power to them. What's nice is that both sides can say this without fear of being killed or imprisoned.