Before I begin: may I be allowed one rant–then I’m done until campaigning starts after Labor Day weekend? I have submitted the following piece to THREE publications…and it’s been kicked to the curb. I’m no Maya Angelou when it comes to writing, but I’m flexible…and willing to revise. But this piece has been flat out rejected three times…by outlets that I’ve written for in the past. Thanks, the floor is now open for a war of words in the comments section.
Source.
On July 25th, I participated as my blogger persona, PITAPOLICY, in the Global Voice Hall Live Pangea program. The topic was Arab and Muslim Americans Voting in the 2012 Elections. Its host, Guy Taylor, drew attention to Arab, Middle Eastern, and Muslim Americans populations, who may impact voting “swing states.” Take note that there are 1.2 million American Muslims registered to vote. This means that there is a potential power behind a diverse voting “bloc” — assuming that they’ve registered. Such optimism brought me back to my conversation with Ambassador Maen Areikat of the PLO Delegation on a need for advocacy against Islamophobia, but the even GREATER need for lobbying if the above groups could form a coalition along secularist lines. Ambassador Areikat touched upon three themes that pinpoint the intersection of Muslim American engagement in the U.S. and issues that Islamophobes conflate. The first theme is a reconstructed definition of secularism. The second draws on the experiences that face many diplomatic missions from Muslim-majority countries working in D.C. to improve international relations. A growing number of missions and their staff highlight how they see their roles expanding from cultural, political, and economic officers to “interfaith engagement officers.” Finally, the third draws upon the first and second themes: how to balance interests and issues via institutions that differentiate between civic engagement and formalized lobbying.
The discussion of Islamophobia as a political impediment for both Muslim Americans, and those representatives from Muslim-majority countries, prompted studies by Center for American Progress. Taking the case of Palestine provided an opportunity to engage Ambassador Areikat on a fear that yields profits for a security industry, as well as paychecks to fear campaign participants — or Islamophobes — not to me ntion the increasing number of so-called “Islam experts” in the last ten years, observes Areikat.
All themes presuppose that Islamophobia operates as an industry. According to Patheos, a resource site for all faiths, the Top Ten Islamophobes list: 1) Robert Spencer, 2) Pam Gellar, 3) Frank Gaffney (Jihad Watch blogger), 4) Brigitte Gabriels, 5) Daniel Pipes, 6) Ayaan Hirsi Ali, 7) Steve Emerson, 8) David Horowitz (listing the 101 “most dangerous academics”), 9) Sean Hannity and 10) David Yerushalmi, who leads the anti-sharia movement.
In addition, Stephen Schwartz characterizes Islamophobia as an industry. Schwartz founded the Center for Islamic Pluralism, a nonprofit international network of moderate Muslim journalists, intellectuals, clerics, and activists, headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center for American Progress specifies in Fear, Inc.: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America found that there are seven primary funders of Islamophobic institutions, which amount to over 42 million dollars.
Negotiating Is One Tool; Lobbying Is Another
Islamophobia also feeds off of the psychological insecurities of Muslim Americans. Interfaith dialogue may only go so far. In particular, Areikat reflected, “We as Muslims are not doing enough to clean the reputation — not just grassroots lobbying, but on the organization level.” Areikat says that Muslim Americans enjoy the privilege to participate in a variety of institutions that Muslim-majority country diplomats and missions cannot utilize. Specifically, the advent of lobbying does not have to evoke negative images of money buying power. For example, stronger blocs of Muslim Americans conjoined with other blocs would be more strategic on a civic as well as a political level. Forming coalitions, or coalescing around issues present opportunities for different types of advocacy groups, including protracted lobbying efforts.
On a broader level, civil rights groups, advocacy groups, and other types of interest groups like PACS, all engage in some type of lobbying. Essentially, advocacy groups engage and facilitate “grass roots” lobbying in that its general membership uses its manpower rather than expending significant funding to influence legislation on issues. However, lobbying groups that dedicate substantial funds to influence legislative actors, congressmen and senators, fall under the entity of PACS and do not enjoy the privilege of federal tax exemption like its 501C-3 counterparts.
Moreover, the distinction between an advocacy organization and the more specific activity of “lobbying” is crucial in that it is not just about the focus, but the extent to which funds are spent on “political activity” by the entity. According to IRC 501(c)(3), lobbying is described as “carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation,” while political activity is described as “participat[ing] in, or interven[ing] in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.”
Advocacy groups like CAIR, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), and ISNA protect civil rights of American Muslims, organize educational seminars/trainings, and serve as watchdogs as crises emerge for over two million American Muslims. As a result of their non-profit status, however, none of the above advocacy groups will be allowed to dedicate substantial funding to categorically target elected officials. This raises further challenges when elected officials are running tight races against opponents who receive funding from Islamophobic entities.
Considering Ambassador Areikat’s interview, there is only so much a Muslim-majority country’s mission can do within the construct of American politics, civic engagement–not withstanding concerted efforts to confront Islamophobia. Muslim Americans are not as politically engaged: Gallup found that Muslim-Americans are least likely to be registered to vote (65%) despite demonstrating the most confidence in the honesty of US elections. There was, and continues to be a mismatch between Muslim-American voice and voter action. Maybe the lower level of political engagement is why Gallup’s study found that Muslim Americans feel that “their repeated condemnations of terrorism seem to go unheard,” for instance. Consequently, the vacuum of political voices fills with more Islamophobic rhetoric, which is just another form of xenophobia and uninviting to any diplomatic mission. Since the US is admired for its institutions by so many Muslim-majority countries, then building dialogue through institutions, like lobbies and PACs, provide another set of tools for Muslim Americans who already have many advocacy organization–and goes beyond interfaith dialogue and Islamophobia. American groups know that preparing for US elections 2012 call for taking advocacy to the next step. American Muslims: where’s our diverse coalition if we’re not lobbying?
Filed Under advocacy, American Muslims, coalition building, elections 2012, Islamophobia, lobbying, pacs
Great article. Whodrewdatcartoon??
Posted by Arthur Little | August 12, 2012, 4:39 amI believe the author of the site that I sourced it to: Source: http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2011/12/usccb-poli…
Posted by pitapolicy | August 12, 2012, 9:24 amDo Muslims support gay marriage? Y or N
Do Muslims support abortion? Y or N
Do Muslims support teaching about homosexuality in grade schools? Y or N
Do Muslims support higher taxes? Y or N
Why on earth would Muslim Americans vote Democrat?
Posted by wtf | August 13, 2012, 10:40 pmDo Muslims support gay marriage? This one does.
Do Muslims support abortion? I don't. There are kids without parents and parents who can't have kids but desperately want kids. Seems like a perfect solution to match them up together, no?
Do Muslims support teaching about homosexuality in grade schools? Homosexuality shouldn't be taught in grade school, nor should ANY sexuality. They're little kids…don't rot their minds.
Do Muslims support higher taxes? I don't..and I'm sure 99.9% of the world's population wouldn't either. If you told someone "are you ok with paying more money and getting less in return?" I can guarantee you that no one would say "yes."
Why on earth would Muslim Americans vote Democrat? THE LESS OF TWO EVILS
Posted by Arthur Little | August 14, 2012, 6:41 amIslamophobia? It's more like Islamo-nausea. And it is so strange that you would deny the facts:
List of foiled Islamic terrorist plots in the post-9/11 United States
There is one group that wants to kill you more than any other group on earth. And they are constantly trying.
Posted by wtf | August 13, 2012, 10:45 pmpho·bi·a
an abnormal intense and irrational fear
IRRATIONAL?
List of foiled Islamic terrorist plots in the post-9/11 United States
It is not FEAR it is VIGILANCE. Vigilant: keenly watchful to detect danger. Do you want to lobby to lower the guard? To advocate to weaken the defenses? Fat chance.
Posted by wtf | August 13, 2012, 10:56 pmAdvocacy groups like CAIR… CAIR's sympathy for terrorists, and its ties to them, are extensive, well-documented, and yes, they have resulted in charges and convictions.
Perhaps the most obvious problem with CAIR is the fact that at least five of its employees and board members have been arrested, convicted, deported, or otherwise linked to terrorism-related charges and activities.
In 2009, federal Judge Jorge Solis denied CAIR's attempt to have its name struck from all of the Holy Land trial's documents — the group had been named as an unindicted co-conspirator. "The government," Judge Solis noted, "has produced ample evidence to establish the associations of CAIR, [the Islamic Society of North America] and [the North American Islamic Trust] with [the Holy Land Foundation], the Islamic Association for Palestine, and with Hamas."
According to the Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report, which covers the brotherhood, the deputy leader of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood recently gave an interview confirming a relationship between his organization and CAIR.
All ties between Americans and Islamic extremist groups need further and serious investigation.
Posted by wtf | August 13, 2012, 11:11 pmSince 9/11, three CAIR associates in the U.S. have been indicted on terrorism-related charges.
In September, 2003, CAIR community relations director Bassem K. Khafagi, pleaded guilty on immigration and bank-fraud charges, in Detroit. Khafagi interestingly co-owned a print shop with another man who has since been charged with illegally sending goods into Iraq.
Randall Todd Royer, a communications specialist at CAIR's Washington headquarters, pleaded guilty in January, 2004, to belonging to the Kashmiri Lashkar-i-Taibi terrorist group and illegally acquiring firearms and explosives in order to train for terrorist missions against India. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
A founding member of CAIR's Texas chapter, Ghassen Elashi, was convicted of conspiracy and money-laundering charges in connection with the shipment of high-technology items to Syria and Libya in July, 2004.
Posted by wtf | August 13, 2012, 11:12 pmNew York Senator Chuck Schumer has charged that CAIR members have "intimate links to Hamas."
Illinois Senator Richard Durbin, a political leader noted for his sensitivity to Islamic concerns, has said that CAIR is "unusual in its extreme rhetoric and its association with groups that are suspect."
Posted by wtf | August 13, 2012, 11:13 pmWhy is having a "link" to Hamas a bad thing? And what defines a "link" per se? If I went to a university, and sat next to a Palestinian exchange student from Gaza, whose government was Hamas, and he asked me what Tuesday's assignment was, and I repsonded and gave him a photocopy of the assignment questions……does that "link" me with Hamas?
If such is the case, we can link 90% of white america with slave owners, white supremacists, the KKK, the Hell's Angels, radical southern militants, war-mongering zionist evangelicals, the extreme right, the far left, fascists, socialists, communists, hippies, red necks, black panthers, bloods, crips, latin kings, hell…NKOTB while we're at it. Did you're sister go to a New Kids concert back in the day? Then that means you have a homo-erotic obsession with Donnie Walberg!
Posted by Arthur Little | August 14, 2012, 7:16 amBe that as it may, it still doesn't change the fact that CAIR members have "intimate links to Hamas."
I think it insults everyone's' intelligence to pretend this information is somehow difficult to understand. It is what it is.
Posted by wtf | September 3, 2012, 12:57 amI'm confused: Who's "WTF"? Is this a group or individual response?
Posted by pitapolicy | August 17, 2012, 10:11 amHello. Individual response.
Posted by wtf | September 3, 2012, 12:52 amReading your blog makes my day. I was in a terrible mood but after reading your blog I instantly understood. Im sure to share this tho my friends.
Posted by breast revisions | October 19, 2012, 8:56 amMuslims are also humans. Our society should learn to respect the feeling of others too. In the name of few people nobody can blame the whole community. All are humans and all have the same right to live here. Society should show maturity.
Posted by Omni Tech Scam | November 19, 2012, 6:16 amI would have to go with lobbying since what is going on is a clear case of trying to eliminate the competition through the rule of judicial activism. What I mean is, family-friendly game makers might benefit the most from such a ruling in favor of the video game restriction, which would effectively interfere with the free market process.
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Posted by josef | December 3, 2012, 7:01 amIn addition, Stephen Schwartz characterizes Islamophobia as an industry. Schwartz founded the Center for Islamic Pluralism, a nonprofit international network of moderate Muslim journalists, intellectuals, clerics, and activists, headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center for American Progress specifies in Fear, Inc.: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America found that there are seven primary funders of Islamophobic institutions, which amount to over 42 million dollars.カムカム
Posted by blogc2011 | December 6, 2012, 11:15 amHi there, do you have a arabian translation from this article????
Thank you
Posted by Übersetzung | December 20, 2012, 7:49 amIn 2009, federal Judge Jorge Solis denied CAIR's attempt to have its name struck from all of the Holy Land trial's documents — the group had been named as an unindicted co-conspirator. "The government," Judge Solis noted, "has produced ample evidence to establish the associations of CAIR, [the Islamic Society of North America] and [the North American Islamic Trust] with [the Holy Land Foundation], the Islamic Association for Palestine, and with Hamas."
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Posted by new peugeot | December 23, 2012, 3:45 pmHomosexuality shouldn't be taught in grade school, nor should ANY sexuality.
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Posted by essay | January 7, 2013, 9:24 pmMotives for action may be based on a shared political, faith, moral or commercial position. Groups use varied methods to try to achieve their aims including lobbying, media campaigns, publicity stunts, polls, research and policy briefings. Some groups are supported by powerful business or political interests and exert considerable influence on the political process, others have few such resources.
Posted by CLU | January 17, 2013, 3:51 pmProfessional lobbyists are people whose business is trying to influence legislation on behalf of a group or individual who hires them. Individuals and nonprofit organizations can also lobby as an act of volunteering or as a small part of their normal job…
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Posted by best dissertation | February 3, 2013, 6:41 amThis fear is due to our own actions, whenever you will harm others you will feel insecure and scared of being harmed by others as well, I think this is the real situation of us (Americans) we are making policies against Muslims so we have islamophobia inside our hearts. We need to be fair and clean then we will feel our self secure.
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Posted by tucson law firm | February 11, 2013, 6:31 amIt takes the injustices, those that are hardly comprehensible, and certainly unconscionable in reasonable people's eyes, and it bends them back valiantly to justice. And justice can only work where justice is left to the Lord. Advocacy respects such justice even in the midst of personal injustice. It can do so because advocacy is its own outlet.
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Posted by Mary Upton | February 17, 2013, 11:51 amIn 2009, federal Judge Jorge Solis denied CAIR's attempt to have its name struck from all of the Holy Land trial's documents — the group had been named as an unindicted co-conspirator. "The government," Judge Solis noted, "has produced ample evidence to establish the associations of CAIR, [the Islamic Society of North America] and [the North American Islamic Trust] with [the Holy Land Foundation], the Islamic Association for Palestine, and with Hamas."
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