What is your reaction to Mrs. Clinton making the statements that she did about returning money that Muslim organizations donated to her campaign?
Answer
Wa Alaikum Salaam,
My initial reaction is anger, frustration and wanting to kick somebody. However, once I cooled down, I called John Zogby, the pollster, and asked him what the percentage of Muslims and Jews in New York. He said that in New York, 12% of registered voters is represented by Jews whereas Arabs and Muslims don't make even 1%. But, he said that the race is so close that this 1% will make a difference. I cooled down and realized that this is part of politics and that I should try and use it for the sake of the community.
Name
Ismail
- United States
Profession
Question
Salam,
How much of an influence do you think the Zionist lobby has on Washington?
Answer
Wa Alaikum Salaam,
To tell you the truth, I don't care because you know the answer more than me. Your question should be, "How can we influence Washington to protect our community and for the betterment of America." See brother, I try to focus on what I can do and not how strong or weak are my distracters.
Name
Mustafa
-
Profession
Question
Salamu Alaikum,
What do you think is the reason that Muslims are yet to be convinced that political involvement is permissible and necessary?
Answer
Wa Alaikum Salaam,
I don't agree with you! Alhamdulillah, I believe and I am right that 60% of Muslims are convinced and In sha Allah, we'll make history on November 7th. Br. Mustafa, I and you have to work hard on the rest for the sake of Allah and again for the betterment and protection and our community, for a better America and for a better future for all of us.
Name
Joseph
-
Profession
Question
Why did the Muslim poitical organizations decide to back George W. Bush? Do you think that either one of them is truly more balanced than the other?
Answer
The Muslim organizations have been following both candidates for a long time. We even had discussion with both camps as much as we could. To the best of my understanding, three things made it possible for the organizations to go for Bush:
1) The openness and the inclusion that we have seen from the higher-ups in the Bush campaign, including some meetings with him personally. Unfortunately, there were no meetings with Gore or his campaign that were done with the organizations or their associates. The only the=ing that I can meniton, out of fairness, is that he has a good with Dr. Jim Zogby of the Arab American Institute. Unfortunately, Mr. Gore raised lots of money from our community through individuals who had lavish fundraisers for him, but to no gain to the community at large.
2) In the second debate between the candidates, George Bush did a miracle by uttering the buzzwords that Arab Americans are effected by secret evidence. Unfortunately, Mr. Gore lost a great opportunity and did not echo what Mr. Bush said.
3) Mr. Bush, in the 3rd debate, admitted that Israel is a friend of America, but also talked about our friends in the moderate Arab world. I talked to people in the Department of State who said that they were shocked and one of them even said that he was about to fall from his chair when he heard those comments from Bush. Mr. Bush didn't say that out of vacuum. He lended his ears to our community and that's why he reacted the way that he did. Although some people might not appreciate this, I tell you my friend, this will be refelced upon the milestones that Muslims are achieving as Muslim take our place at the political table in our great country.
Name
Aisha
- United States
Profession
Question
Salam,
Do you feel that the situation in Palestine is impeding our progress in establishing good political connections, or do you think that is good for us?
Answer
I can't say that it is good, but there is a blessing in disguise. Especially if you have a courageous man like Ralph Nader, who called Al Gore a coward for not standing up and saying the truth of what is going on in Palestine. I believe that Muslims should circulate what Ralph Nader said because you know, Ralph Nader is originally an Arab and because of the icon that he is, even Jews accepted what he said. You can find the article in the Jewish magazine Forward and try to circulate it. Again, the situation would be impeding if we keep on referring to the crisis in the Holy Land as a Muslim or Arab issue. I will boldly say that Muslims have to carry that issue as an American or humanitarian issue or even a Christian issue to rally the support of the Christian majority in America. I'm sure that you know that there are not only Christian Palestinians in the Holy Land but there are also many Palestinian Americans living in the Holy Land and therefore our issue is an American and a Christian issue and Allah Knows best!
Name
Alamoudi
-
Profession
Question
Is AMC kicking you off the board?
Answer
I wish they would do that, but I tell you, I am proud that I left AMC at its zenith because I don't believe in people starting organizations and staying there all their lives. I think that it is time to move on, especially after the hoopla in New York. I would like to start a watch dog group that would keep an eye on the American media and defend our 1st Amendment rights. By American media, we need somebody to have a scorecard for all major media outlets whether they are TV stations, print media, or radion media due to their many biases towards Muslims and Arabs in general. If we have somebody who keeps an eye on them and responds to every bias statement that they make and then once a year roast them for their biases in a press conference and a yearly report, I will never forget in my entire life that the killing of Muhammad Al-Durra, the 12 year old boy, was at the 12th or 14th page of the Washington Post and his picture was buried there. If he was a Jewish, European or Caucasian lad, his picture will be front page, in color, with an outrageous statement. I don't know if any American newspaper, magazine or tabloid carried Muhammad Al-Durra's killing in their front page. The list goes on and on...
Back to AMC, I have to tell you my friend, I am cntemplating resigning from AMC because now, I think that AMC can carry the load on its own, so I wish they would kick me out. It would be good for all parties and Alhamdulillah.
Name
Adam Chisti
-
Profession
Question
Asalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah,
I would like to know your opinion on some Islamic political websites. There are two to my knowledge - www.MuslimVote.com and www.MuslimPolitician.com. Thank you! and Keep up the GREAT WORK
Answer
Wa Alaikum Salaam wa Rahmatullahi wa Birrikatuhu,
As far as the first website, I don't know much about it, but it seems that it hasn't been reloaded since May 2000.
The second website seems very good. It is well maintained and we know them and we know people that contribute to it and I think they need to be encouraged.
Also, if you want the latest news on the campaigns, go to AMC website at: amconline.org.
Name
Akbar Jones
-
Profession
Question
Dear Brother,
Would you support Mccain in 2004?
Answer
I would support McCain in 2004. I think John McCain is a good force for the next 4 years as long as, hopefully, he can do something about campaign finance reform. We Muslims have to support him on this issue. It is a disease that has to be eradicated and if he succeeds, he will be a hero of American politics. We need to help him and support him to push the new president and the new congress and if he does that, then he has my vote in 2004.
Name
Saladin
- United States
Profession
Question
As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Birrikatuhu,
I had heard that the statement you made concerning Hamas that eventually made Hillary Clinton announce that she would return the campaign contributions made by Muslim organizations was made to try and initiate a dialogue with Hamas BEFORE the group was placed on the US's "terrorist" list. Is this true?
Answer
Wa Alaikum Salaam,
About Hamas, I went to the White House in 1993 and met with the National Security Advisor for Middle East Affairs, Mr. Martin Indyk. I asked him why the U.S. government doesn't restart its communication with Hamas so that they may join the peace process one way or the other. Mind you, then, in 1993, Hamas was not on the terrorist list. I also mentioned in a Charlie Rose Show that people should not stop supporting Hamas because in fact at that time, Hamas was contracted even by the Israeli government to do the social work that they were doing. There was nobody at that time that Hamas did a lot to help the suffering of the Palestinian people to the extent that it has been reported that 95% of Hamas activity has been in social work. I think anybody with a good, clear conscience, would support anybody who does a good deed no matter where he does it.
On the issue of terrorism, there is nobody whether Muslim or otherwise, who would support using the third party to send a message to the second party, especially if it will involve the killing of innocent men, women and children. I do not support in a ny way, shape or form of terrorism whether it is perpetrated by a government, organization or an individual. But, I have to tell you my friend that what Mr. Lazio did, as far as I'm concerned, was a form of terrorism to use me, Muslim organizations or any other Muslims to get to Hillary Clinton. As Mr. Richard Cohen (a conservative columnist) said in his op-ed piece in the Washington Post today that Mr. Lazio had a lot of issues to challenge Mrs. Clinton with besides pornography.
