LONDON – Beneath the white noise of rolling news, a new America is emerging. It may be one of internment camps, monitoring and racism as political policy. Or, it may be a very different image to the one trumpeted on our screens.
Either way, as Muslims we are commanded by Allah The All Merciful to stay positive and know that help, in all matters, is close at hand.
‘So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief: Verily with every difficulty there is relief. Therefore, when you are free (from your immediate task), still labor hard. And to your Lord turn (all) your attention. The Holy Qur’an 65:2-3
We are duty bound to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who call to justice, fairness and freedom.
With this in mind, AboutIslam is pleased to present our USA Good News Awards 2016. These awards recognize individuals and groups who exhibit attributes such as determination and wisdom in the face of adversity.
United We Stand Award: Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council (MJAC)
November, two organizations from the Jewish and the Muslim community announced the formation of a new national group MJAC. Determined not to begin at loggerheads with the new administration, Robert Silverman, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) director of Muslim-Jewish relations has stated that, “This (new body) is not at all a reaction to Trump,” but more “a reaction to divisions in our country.” Wise words indeed at a time when polarizing comments are as common as confederate flags. MJAC full policy agenda will be presented at its first public meeting in February. An event which will take place on Capitol Hill and whose guests will include Members of Congress.
We look forward to MJAC having a positive impact on sensitive policy areas, which will affect the lives of millions of people of faith across America.
Standing Up For Truth Award: Khizr and Ghazala Khan
How often do we sit and boil with impotent rage at the dumb and increasingly dangerous statements made by public figures about our faith and our community? However, one couple, already grieving the loss of a son, took their complaints to the country, putting themselves in the public firing line as a result. At a Democratic Convention in Philadelphia, alongside his wife, Ghazala, Khizr Khan paid tribute to his late son, Cpt Humayun Khan, who was killed whilst serving in the US military in Iraq.
Khan described his family as “patriotic American Muslims with undivided loyalty to our country” before calling out the Republican candidate “Donald Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims. He disrespects other minorities, women, judges, even his own party leadership. He vows to build walls and ban us from this country.”
Khan had written the speech with his wife who stood beside him on the stage. Trump chose to ignore the question posed by Khan “Have you even read the United States constitution?” Instead, the soon-to-be President elect appeared to mock the parents of the US soldier, telling ABC News: “If you look at his (Khan’s) wife, she was standing there,” Trump said. “She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.”
Surely, forgetting the innumerable times his own wife has stood silently next to a podium.
We salute the couple for saying to the world what so many of us just shout at our TV’s.
Inspiring Forgiveness Award: Asma Jama, Minnesota
December. A judge has sentenced a woman to prison time for third-degree assault for smashing a beer mug into the face of Asma Jama, at a branch of Applebee’s restaurant. Jodie Burchard-Risch, 44, pleaded guilty to last year’s assault which left the Somali-American diner with a bloodied face and in need of 17 stitches to her lip. Burchard-Risch and her husband, were seated in the next booth, to Asma Jama and her relatives. The woman became upset that Jama “was speaking in a foreign language,” as she spoke Swahili to her family during their meal. Burchard-Risch, first threw a drink, then grabbed a beer mug telling Jama to “speak English” before smashing the glass into her face and fleeing the restaurant.
In court, Jama bravely held back tears, asking the judge permission to address her attacker directly. With great humility Jama gave exhibited the beautiful, Islamic trait, forgiveness.
She told her attacker “My religion teaches me to forgive so I can go on with my life. If I hold a grudge and I hold the hate you hold towards me against you, it’s not going to serve me well. So, in front of everybody here, I do forgive you, and I hope that you choose love over hate.”
Burchard-Risch is serving six months in prison. Asma Jama’s speech will serve as a positive reminder to all who access it online, for much longer than that.
Tell It Like It Is Award: Anthony Kapel “Van” Jones
Sometimes it seems Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau is the only non-Muslim public figure in the western hemisphere who says positive things about our communities’ contribution on a regular basis. But, the good traits and successes of the Muslims in North America has another champion. AboutIslam recognizes the no-nonsense contribution to truth and justice made tin 2016 by author and attorney, Van Jones of Jackson, Tennessee.
This month the CNN analyst and commentator took on the lazy assumptions being put forward by other guests on a news panel show, that, ‘thousands’ of unchecked immigrants are America’s main and major threat. Jones referenced a recent Pew Research Centre study in his striking response. The report has shown that amongst other achievements, Muslim Americans have nearly 14 years of schooling (well above the US average). This leads to higher job rankings and greater input into the economy. The former adviser to President Obama and co-founder of Color for Change, told a CNN presenter (clearly stunned into silence), “If a Muslim family moved in next door to you, you would be the happiest family in the world. The Muslim community has the lowest crime rate, the highest entrepreneurship, the highest educational attainment for women in the country, they are the model American community…”
Van Jones, we thank you for being truthful and fighting for the rights of all US citizens to live in safety and with respect.
Woman of the Year Award: Ilhan Omar
It’s been quite a year for our Somalian community. Suffering a growing number of hate attacks, both verbal (from the incoming President) and physical, on the streets, to now boasting the first Muslim woman elected to Minnesota’s state house of representatives. Ilhan Omar, is a practicing Muslim who wears a hijab and now the first Somali-American lawmaker in the US. She says, “This really was a victory for that 8-year-old in that refugee camp.”
Her path to election was far from easy, coming less than seven days after President-elect Donald Trump referred to Somali immigrants in the area as “a disaster” during a Republican rally. 34-year-old, Omar came to America aged 14, from a refugee camp in Kenya. She learned English in three months later gaining a degree in political science. Her political efforts were met with not just prejudicial headlines but violence and she even received a concussion after being beaten by seven or eight people during a heated caucus session, which erupted in violence in 2014. The mother of three said:
“This was a victory for the young woman being forced into child marriage. This was a victory for every person that’s been told they have limits on their dreams.”
We salute your bravery and courage and wish all our winners continued success and support from the most important source, in the coming twelve months and beyond.