“Others May Doubt My Patriotism, But I Never Will” 

by with One Comment CultureFeatured

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, patriotism is “love for or devotion to one’s country.” As an American Muslim female living in the United States, my patriotism is likely different from that of a typical American.

I was born in the United States to an immigrant father and an American mother. Three of my four grandparents are immigrants. My grandfather came to the United States to flee religious persecution in his home country. Although he was raised in a small village, his migration to the United States led him to pursue a college education and eventually end up as a professor with a Ph.D. His love for his country stems from the opportunities that his immigration afforded him, both religiously and professionally. Most immigrants in his situation feel similarly in their devotion to this country.

Being born and raised in the United States, my situation is slightly different. While the US was a second home for my grandparents, it’s the only home I have ever known. I can only call myself an American – I was born and raised here, and the only language I speak is English.

This past year’s presidential race changed the way I conceptualized patriotism. I have always been fairly aware of people who have racial, ethnic, and religious prejudices, but I always found solace in the idea that these people do not represent the majority. However, witnessing Trump’s presidential campaign forced me to reconsider. If someone who not only condoned but also promoted intolerance and bigotry gained traction with so many people, what did that say about my fellow American citizens? Regardless of whether or not he ended up becoming president, I no longer found solace knowing that many Americans supported him.

When Trump enacted a travel ban that prevented immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, it made me rethink my patriotic ideals. Yes, I still have the opportunity to practice my religion freely. But the man who is leading our nation explicitly stated that he wanted to find a way to ban Muslims from entering the very same country that I cherish for its religious freedom. He regularly equates Islam with terrorism, whether explicitly or implicitly. To think that the nearly half the country thought Trump would be fit to be leader of the free world was mind-blowing to me.  

Seeing people’s reactions to the ban; however, restored my faith in the citizens of the US. Several demonstrations were planned at our local airport and around the city as soon as the ban was enacted. Much to my surprise, the majority of people protesting were not Muslims or immigrants. They were concerned citizens who were not okay with Trump’s attempt to prevent an entire religious group from entering the “land of the free.” Several non-Muslim friends reached out to me that week. One of my friends texted me to say that he was sorry that there were people in this country who were intolerant enough to support these policies, apologizing on behalf of people he had never met. While I was comforted by the unconditional support, I was forced to make peace with the fact that there are still a significant number of people who will never accept me or my fellow Muslims as they accept others.

Perhaps naively, I have always believed that people who have racist and prejudiced beliefs cling to them out of ignorance. Yet, even if out of ignorance, those people elected a president who reflects many of the dark aspects of America – aspects that most of us would rather live without.

Do I love my country? Yes. Does my country love me? That’s more complicated. I am fully aware that a large portion of this country, including its leadership, will always view me as an outsider. But I am American born and bred. I love watching football, July 4th fireworks, and a good barbecue. I’ve never sung another national anthem, and I never will. Others may doubt my patriotism, but I never will. 

Similar Read: Patriotism Is A Dirty Word

This article was originally published on 4 July 2017.

The Turkey Is Almost Done

by with No Comment Diversity & InclusionFeaturedPolitics

Democrats were hoping for a “blue wave” in this weeks Midterms elections. Though the “blue wave” failed to make shore for nationally followed races such as Beto in Texas, he lost by the thinnest of margin which is encouraging by any standard. The other nationally followed races for Governor in both Georgia and Florida are still too close to call and on the verge of a runoff election. Some Democrats were looking for more than a wave, rather a Tsunami. Polls regarding the approval of the Trump administration have been historically low, and the midterm elections were seen as the chance for said Democratic wave to begin the drowning of Trump’s influence through Congress, which would build momentum for a hopeful defeat of Trump in 2020. Though the wave wasn’t a big enough splash in certain places, the blue wave did swallow up enough seats to take over the House of Representatives.

So a Tsunami didn’t happen, but historic waves did make landfall, and the waves were dominated by women. Surfing to shore were the following:

Two Muslim women to Congress, both equally being the first to do so.

The first Native American woman to Congress…

The first lesbian mother to Congress… 

The youngest woman ever elected to Congress… 

The first Black woman ever elected as the Attorney General of New York… 

Also, the first every openly gay man was elected Governor of Colorado.

In my opinion, that’s a splash to be proud of. 

In addition to people, major progress was made nationwide regarding policies. Marijuana is now legal in Michigan, and medically legal in Utah and Missouri. The unsung victory from the midterm elections was without question Amendment 4 passing in Florida, which now grants voting rights to nearly 1.5 million Floridians who were former felons. (I’ll stress that importance in a little bit.) 

Twenty years ago (1998), there was no such thing as legalized Marijuana, and gay marriage was still illegal! We now have an openly gay Governor and legal Marijuana of any usage in ten states. That’s important.

Here in Texas, Hillary Clinton lost by 9% to Trump in the 2016 Presidential election. Two years later, Beto O’ Rourke lost by less than 3% to the well-funded incumbent in Republican Senator Ted Cruz (in the largest red state in the country). The fact that Beto realistically only had a punchers chance against Cruz and almost come away with a victory, is a victory. Here’s why the “moral victories” in Texas are a sign of possible change. For Republicans, big states in which they depend on like Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, can have blue tendencies. Not Texas. Texas is counted on to hold down the GOP fort, due to its 38 electoral votes, second to only California’s 55. The next pure red states with as many electoral votes are Georgia with 16, North Carolina with 15, and Arizona, Indiana, Tennessee each with 11. I think it’s important to note that the unaspiring candidate in Hillary Clinton only lost by nine points in Texas with very little effort in campaigning, and Beto who actually campaigned barely lost. Such improvement in only two years should awaken the Democrat brass to start putting more money and effort into Texas for maybe not a blue wave, but a good ole Texas blue twister to stir things up. 

The way Andrew Gillum destroyed his Republican opponent Ron DeSantis, sparred with Trump via twitter, performed extremely well in the gubernatorial debates, and considering the changes in demographics… Gillium should have won by double digits. Gillum is down by less than .5 percent, which means they’re likely headed towards a recount. Is it not a fair assumption that the 1.5 million formerly convicted felons who just had their voting rights restored could’ve helped him out? 

I know Democrats and Progressives didn’t win every seat they wanted to; however, the numbers are increasing in the right direction in this nation. It’s like hearing “still not done” being yelled by grandma in the kitchen on Thanksgiving regarding the Turkey and her famous side dishes you’ve been patiently waiting for all day. The food isn’t done but you can smell how close it is. You can even see the plates coming out the cabinet. And that’s okay, long as you stay in your chair and don’t get up. No one can take your spot and you’ll be sure to get first dibs on whatever you. 

The Day After: 2018 Midterm Elections

by with No Comment FeaturedGen ZPolitics

Two years ago I wrote a piece on the day following the 2016 presidential election. I was full of emotions that day—sad, angry, confused, frustrated, devastated, scared, and most of all, hopeless—and I needed to express them somehow. Two years later I’m here again to write a new version of my post-Election Day thoughts. This piece, however, will not be nearly as emotionally charged as the original. I have a lot of feelings about last night’s election, but above all else this time I feel hopeful.

​I want to start by talking about Election Day itself. One question that often gets asked is why Election Day is not a national holiday. I believe it should be. People are missing out on the opportunity to vote because they have to go to work or class. I also believe that on Election Day, all public transportation should be free. All people should have fair and equal access to voting and I believe that includes free transportation to get to the polls. Uber and Lyft have already implemented free rides to polling places on election day, so public transportation should be doing the same in order to ensure that everyone has a chance to vote. If we want to continue the pattern of growing voter turnout, we need to make sure that everyone has equal opportunity and access.

I also believe that every state should have same-day voter registration. A lot of people miss out on the opportunity to vote because many states require registration to be completed weeks before Election Day. Allowing people to register through the day of the election gives more opportunity for people to be able to vote. Voting should be a quick and easy process that everyone should have access to. After speaking to a few first-time voters yesterday I realized the process of voting might not be intuitive to those who have never done it before. There should be someone available at all polls to assist first time voters and anyone else who might need help.

​When it comes to the results of yesterday’s election, I have a lot of mixed feelings. However, like I said before, the emotion I’m feeling most strongly is hopefulness. As a registered Democrat, I am overjoyed to see the flip of the House of Representatives. Although the Dems were not able to flip the Senate as well, I find some joy in other smaller victories. For example, record-breaking numbers of women were elected to the House. There were many firsts of this election as well. For example Sharice Davids, the first openly gay and Native American woman to be elected to Congress, Jared Polis, the first openly gay male Governor, and Ihan Omar, the first Muslim woman in Congress.

​Although we may not have come away with the “Blue Wave” that so many people were hoping for, I see the victories from this election as a step in the right direction. I feel very optimistic about our future and I hope we continue to make history going forward in our elections by pushing for more minority representation in out Congress.

[2017 In Review] Kaepernick Vs. The NFL… The LCR Responds…

by with 3 Comments Sports

Kaepernick certainly made his mark in 2017, and whether you agree with his position or not, he sparked a national conversation that everyone was forced to address. While the protests might be dying down, NFL viewership took a huge hit and even the President surprisingly jumped into the conversation.

Many people thought Kaepernick and other players were disrespecting the military despite Kaepernick saying his peaceful protest had nothing to do with the military. Many people chose to focus on the actual protests instead of WHY they chose to protest in the first place, which was police brutality and social injustice. How convenient and comfortable to focus on the former and not the latter?  

Different perspectives matter. We asked 5 of our contributors with different political views to weigh in on the Colin Kaepernick situation during the height of the protests earlier this year, and this is what they had to say…

“As someone who has worked in sports, I have tried to understand Colin Kaepernick’s dilemma in light of some athletes with less than perfect pasts. Michael Vick is one of the first names that comes to mind. He was involved in dogfighting, which led him to serve 18 months in prison. Just months after his release, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and went on to sign a $100M contract. Regardless of his wrongful actions, Vick continued his NFL career. | Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault on multiple occasions. His actions led him to being suspended for four games because he was found to be in violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Regardless of his wrongful actions, Roethlisberger continues his NFL career. | Colin Kaepernick is not a convicted felon, he has not been accused of any crimes, nor did he commit any acts deeming him worthy of suspension. He peacefully protested by not standing for the national anthem, and he consistently works to achieve social justice for his community. Yet, he still remains unsigned while the Miami Dolphins recently pulled Jay Cutler out of retirement to fill an open roster spot. There are clearly other factors in play aside from athletic ability. Some NFL owners are claiming that they are concerned about the reactions of their fan bases if they were to sign Colin Kaepernick. Let’s assume that this is a legitimate concern. There have been NFL teams who signed convicted felons and athletes accused of committing serious crimes. If owners are more hesitant to sign a social activist than a convicted felon, what does that say about the fan base they are catering to?” – Muslim Female Democrat

“Professional athletes are in large part entertainers – and public desire to tune in is why they’re paid. Most often, if they don’t introduce their views into the game, that means their athletic ability and future prospects drive their earnings potential. Kaepernick’s difficulty isn’t that different than the issue a local businessman has when he runs for local office – not everybody likes it, and some customers walk. Publicly speaking about a controversial topic is generally not a good business idea if that’s his first concern, and if owners believe he hurts their franchise value and their own personal brand image, it will be reflected in his value as a player. I disagree with Kaepernick’s method of protest, because I thought it was disrespectful to veterans. I do respect deeply his right to make his statement as an American with the right of free speech.  But now he’s discovering what many veterans have known for a long time in defending the rights of citizens – that freedom isn’t free.” – Right Army Veteran

“Are NFL owners anti-controversy? Their support of players who have been arrested throughout the league (1 in 40 each year) suggests not. Is Kaepernick truly just not a good enough Quarterback to make a roster? His performance over the last 6 seasons and Super Bowl experience suggest this is not the case. Is the NFL racist? I don’t know for certain, but if so I believe racism is only one part of a larger issue here. “Us vs. Them” is the driving force behind the Kaepernick snub. He’s not doing what the NFL thinks everyone ought to do: fall in line and support the flag, the League, the Country. Consequently, it seems he is being blacklisted (ironic terminology intended). Many White athletes protested the National Anthem in the 60’s over conscription, Vietnam, civil rights, etc. There were cases of school expulsions, verbal abuse, and public ostracization. This demonstrates that when someone protests against the Status Quo – regardless of Race – there will be a backlash. It takes courage to make a stand against something you think is wrong and if you are not in the majority, there will be consequences. For tearing up a picture of the Pope on live television in protest of the Catholic Church’s well-documented history of child abuse scandals and cover-ups, Sinead O’Connor nearly lost her entire music career. If Colin Kaepernick’s intention is to create controversy to draw attention to an issue that he believes in, then this current NFL spurn might be more helpful than harmful to his cause.” – Unaffiliated Humanist Musician

“Let’s be honest. Kaepernick doesn’t have a job right now because owners see him as a liability and distraction.  The issues Kaepernick represents are the very ones they want to ignore – and it probably doesn’t help that New York plans on holding a major rally for him. But let’s be even more honest, if Kaepernick had won a Super Bowl or was a huge star, these issues would probably be overlooked, i.e. Ray Lewis. Kaepernick may not be the same athlete to be considered a starter, but physically he could still be a mentoring 3rd string QB.  If Mark Sanchez still has a job, then whay can’t Kaepernick? Sanchez stays quiet and doesn’t ignite the public – but that doesn’t mean Colin should be quiet on the issues that are most important to him. | What makes Kaepernick different from Ray Lewis, Michael Vick, and the majority of the Cincinnati Bengals? Kaepernick represents a social injustice issue that he is standing up for while the others were individual incidents that one can be apologetic, reprimanded, and or proven/deemed innocent.” – Independent Marketing Pro

“A man of color who stands his ground on an issue that he feels passionate about risks his successful career to stand tall and stick up his middle finger to White America. We want our men to be strong and stand for something; yet, White America wants to dictate what that “something” is. Nothing in his contract dictates that he has to forego his moral beliefs in order to use his talent to make the the NFL millions and millions of dollars. So is White America trying to prove a point by not signing him? How dare them try to tell this grown man what to think and how to feel. Are they just angry because a public figure is taking a public stand against the racist core of America? The truth hurts.  Kaepernick should be applauded for his courage and lack of desire to sell out for a few pennies… Stand tall my Brother.” – Apolitical Elected Official

This article was originally published on 9 August 2017.

Crime Pays

by with One Comment CultureFeaturedPolitics

More than half of Detroit Public Schools have been closed as a result of “low performance.”  Meanwhile, business is booming for MDOC (Michigan Department of Corrections).  Let me explain. School closings lead to overcrowding and unemployment. Overcrowding and unemployment lead to crime and depression. Crime and depression lead to a steady influx of new prisoners for Michigan’s Department of Corrections, which some might argue is the state’s goal.

We must end this school-to-prison pipeline! The powers that be have implemented a strategy that’s proven worthy of mass destruction!

“Prisoners are the new slaves” is a popular phrase echoed throughout Michigan’s prisons. Most inmates are earning a little more than $1 per day, while others may earn a few dimes more. This is practically free labor for the state’s facilities, maintenance, and other operations. (Prisoners are paid monthly). Inmates are compelled to work while incarcerated or otherwise face sanctions. These consequences are referred to as a loss of privileges, top-lock, or lock-down, which is commonly known as the hole.

Loss of privileges – allows the prisoner(s) to stay in general population (within the prison) without the privileges of possessing electronics, purchasing food products from the commissary, or participating in any recreational activities.

Top-lock – restricts prisoner(s) from circulating with the general population (confined to their individual cell), no phone calls, and limited commissary (commissary restrictions are the same as “Loss of privileges”).

Lock-down – prisoners are stripped of all their properties and transported to stricter confinement, also known as the hole.  All visits are non-contact and held in an isolated section of the facility.

These penalties range from minor to major offenses. Punishments can be enforced from a couple days to indefinitely. Conveniently, Michigan’s Department of Corrections is basically securing their savings account via the school-to-prison pipeline. To make things worse, they primarily receive taxpayer dollars and other funding to house their prisoners. In fact, it costs more than 30k annually per prisoner; yet, the System continues to strive towards future success by fishing for fresh product and making sure the school-to-prison pipeline is running its course.

Abrupt school closings throughout the city of Detroit almost guarantees higher incarceration rates, or at worst maintaining them. Our young people struggle in poor communities with bad schools systems. Resources are limited, and the current System creates obstacles at every turn, which makes it’s nearly impossible for young people to stay out of trouble. Ultimately, our leaders are encouraged to educate and provide for themselves with little concern for the disadvantaged youth that needs their help the most. The System and their leaders prosper while the young people and their communities suffer. Business as usual for Michigan Department of Corrections! 

Similar Read: Dancing with the Devil… a Brooklyn Perspective on Gun Violence

“1995: 8,000 Muslims Killed in U.N. Safe Haven”

by with No Comment FeaturedGlobalInternational

This week marks the 22nd anniversary of the genocide in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, where 8,372 Muslim men were killed in an area that was designated as a U.N. “safe haven.” Most of their bodies were thrown into mass graves, and some of their bodies are still being discovered today. Countless women, many of whom were the wives and mothers of the men killed, were tortured and raped by Serbian soldiers. This genocide has been called the worst mass murder in Europe since World War II.

My grandfather was born and raised in Bosnia, so as you can imagine, I heard about this massacre at a very young age. I recall learning about the Srebrenica massacre in high school, but it wasn’t called a massacre. My history textbook devoted just two sentences in a sidebar mentioning the massacre, and they referred to it as an “ethnic cleansing.” The word “cleansing” implies that the killing of 8,372 Muslims made Bosnia purer. I couldn’t help but think that if the victims were a group other than Muslims, the coverage and the historic context of this massacre may have been dramatically different.

Winston Churchill said, “History is written by the victors.” This was obvious to me considering that our history textbook devoted multiple sections to other genocides, notably the Holocaust. Are the numbers between the Holocaust and the Srebrenica genocide comparable? No. But both involved large groups of people being killed for no other reason besides their religion. The Holocaust is a well-known historic occurrence that almost everyone can recall learning about in school; yet, the Srebrenica genocide is something obscure-sounding that most people have never even heard of before.

Let’s switch gears and fast-forward to 2017. ISIS (or ISIL) is in the Middle East systematically massacring a minority religious group called the Yazidis (ISIS is responsible for killing many other people and groups of people, but their massacre of the Yazidis is the only one officially classified as a genocide by the U.N.). A minority group is being systematically killed for no other reason besides their religion. After the Holocaust, the world said, “NEVER AGAIN.” Fifty years later, the genocide at Srebrenica happened, and much of the world didn’t even know, let alone bat an eye. Twenty-two years later, in a world abundant with media outlets and 24-hour news cycles, much of the world doesn’t know about a genocide happening right in front of them. If we don’t know enough about our history to learn from it, how can we prevent it from happening again?

Convenient Advocacy

by with No Comment CultureFeatured

On June 20, 2017, a 17-year old Muslim girl named Nabra Hassanen was beaten to death in Northern Virginia after she left the mosque during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. She was walking with friends when she got into an argument with a driver, who later beat her to death with a baseball bat and threw her body into a pond. Most news outlets called this “an act of road rage,” not a hate crime, as people had initially speculated. As expected, this became a prominent news story in the Muslim community. Considering a large percentage of my social media contacts are Muslim, I saw this story being shared on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other group chats. Understandably, people were upset that a Muslim teenager was killed in an everyday situation that could’ve easily been them or one of their relatives. Regardless of whether or not this was actually a hate crime, most Muslims were extremely concerned. A fellow Muslim was murdered unjustly, and there was outrage from much of the Muslim community.

Less than 24 hours after Nabra Hassanen was murdered, a pregnant African-American woman named Charleena Lyles was killed in Seattle, Washington by two white police officers. She had called the police because she suspected a burglary. Because Lyles wielded a knife when they arrived, the two officers shot and killed her in front of three of her young children. Lyles had been dealing with mental health issues prior to her murder. As expected, this became a hot topic in the African-American community. This is obviously not the first time an African-American civilian has been killed unjustly by a white law enforcement official, nor will it be the last. The African-American community I am connected with was understandably furious about Lyles’ murder, and many of them were vocal about her murder on social media. A fellow African-American was murdered unjustly, and there was outrage from much of the their community.

The murders of Nabra Hassanen and Charleena Lyles did not occur under the same circumstances, nor are their facts comparable. There are bigger questions to explore regarding both of them (i.e. defining a hate crime, mental health issues, etc.). But I found it extremely notable that the groups of outspoken advocates for Hassanen and Lyles, respectively, did not seem to overlap at all. The Muslims I know were speaking out about Hassanen’s murder, and the African-American people I know were speaking out about Lyles’ murder. It was rare to see a Muslim speaking out about Lyles or an African-American speaking out about Hassanen.

It makes logical sense that minority groups are concerned about issues that directly affect them and their communities. As a Muslim student, hearing about the murder of a Muslim student hits home because I could picture myself as Nabra Hassanen. In the same way, an African-American mother could probably see herself as Charleena Lyles. While the specific details of both murders do not align, there is a common thread: two people of minority groups were killed unjustly by members of a different group. Many people who spoke out on either incident claimed to be standing up for justice, but their advocacy is convenient for them. Convenient advocacy will not be effective when trying to engage in social reform. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As humans, can we really say we stand up for justice if we are only concerned about injustice in our own communities?