Good Morning Village Peeps. Not much from me today because what has not yet been said about this recent episode of hellaciousness??? This whole Muslin Ban did however get me thinking. What is the history of Islam in the United States? Now, I am not an Islamic scholar and I am only relying on Wikipedia because I don’t have time to do full on research but here are a few interesting facts (all extracted from the same page and really just presented for discussion rather than academic purpose so please be kind or if you have better information, contribute). It is a large entry so hopefully I am not going over in fair usage.
en.wikipedia.org/…
Islam is the third largest religion in the United States after Christianity and Judaism.
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American Muslims come from various backgrounds and, according to a 2009 Gallup poll, are one of the most racially diverse religious groups in the United States.
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One of the earliest accounts of Islam's possible presence in North America dates to 1528, when a Moroccan slave, called Estevanico, was shipwrecked near present-day Galveston, Texas.
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"Muslims' presence [in the United States] is affirmed in documents dated more than a century before religious liberty became the law of the land, as in a Virginia statute of 1682 which referred to 'negroes, moores, molatoes, and others, born of and in heathenish, idollatrous, pagan, and Mahometan parentage and country' who 'heretofore and hereafter may be purchased, procured, or otherwise obteigned, as slaves.'”
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Records from the American Revolutionary War indicate that at least a few likely Muslims fought on the American side. Among the recorded names of American soldiers are "Yusuf ben Ali" (a member of the Turks of South Carolina community), "Bampett Muhamed"[20] and possibly Peter Salem.[
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The first country to recognize the United States as an independent nation was the Sultanate of Morocco, under its ruler Mohammed ben Abdallah, in the year 1777.[23] He maintained several correspondences with President George Washington.
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Two hundred and ninety-two[31] Muslims are known to have fought during the Civil War.
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Between 1701 and 1800, some 500,000 Africans arrived in what became the United States.[40] Historians estimate that between 15 and 30 percent of all enslaved African men and less than 15 percent of the enslaved African women were Muslims.
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In 1797, President John Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli, declaring the United States had no "character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Mussulmen".[50]
So I focused on the early history of Islam in the US. I did this on purpose to illustrate that Muslims have been a part of the fabric of the United States since before there was a United States. A Muslim country was the FIRST to recognize the United States as an independent country. Muslims fought in wars supporting the US’ bid for independence as took up arms with their American “brothers” during the Civil War. Muslims are still fighting with their brothers and sisters to defend the United States and other countries worldwide. Muslims are just like the rest of us, they want to live happy, peaceful, healthy and free lives. Of course there are some bad elements — just as there are in EVERY culture and race. This Muslim Ban is horrible and it should not be tolerated by people of the USA, by the courts and by the World.
In other news (related or otherwise)
Susan Yates “betrayed” somebody but I don’t think it was the DOJ. Monday Night Massacre is trending on Twitter.
For those of us not aware of the context of MNM...I was not as my political memory does not go back quite that far.
General reaction on Twitter (tweet is representative)
Was this a surprise? First thing I’ve ever be able to thank Our Revolution for digging up.
This is what is happening on the streets. People (crazy people) feel emboldened.
from the article
Two people in a massive pickup truck—with a Donald Trump "Make America Great Again" flag next to the United States flag flying from the back—drove around a pro-immigrant rally at Terry Schrunk Plaza in downtown Portland this afternoon. The passenger, police say, "displayed a handgun as the driver passed a peaceful demonstration in the park." After pulling them over, the police also found an "AR-15 style rifle" inside that belonged to the driver.
So it starts with a display of aggression and then what happens? Maybe this might help crystalize the danger.
Next up the NYT’s and President Bannon?
From the article
Presidents are entitled to pick their advisers. But Mr. Trump’s first spasms of policy making have supplied ample evidence that he needs advisers who can think strategically and weigh second- and third-order consequences beyond the immediate domestic political effects. Imagine tomorrow if Mr. Trump is faced with a crisis involving China in the South China Sea or Russia in Ukraine. Will he look to his chief political provocateur, Mr. Bannon, with his penchant for blowing things up, or will he turn at last for counsel to the few more thoughtful experienced hands in his administration, like Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and General Dunford?
This is very serious question because who do we want dealing with things like this?
Anyway, that is all for me this morning. I just want to say that I am more than a little saddened by the banning of two of our Village peeps yesterday. RTO and Batch, we will miss you.
Happy chatting peeps.