Wow..someone finally stood up for us- for American Muslims. And not just anyone, but Colin Powell..a man who is well respected across the nation and across party lines.
And he didn’t have to.
But he did.
What is says about his strength of character is enormous. What it gives our community is immeasurable.
As we have struggled to come to terms with our new lives in a post 9/11 world ( and yes, it is definitely a new life, we are all forever changed by that day and that event), the longing for someone to stand up and say.."hey, it’s okay to be Muslim" has been palpable.
And as a community we have struggled on whether to retreat into our own communities or whether to go out there and show everyone that Islam and Muslims are not the monsters that they have been made out to be.
Those of you who know us can see that we have opted for the "go out there and educate strategy." Retreating into our own insular communities is really not an option in our book.
As we go about our daily lives, working and contributing to this great nation, as we try to raise our children to live in a pluralistic and diverse society my heart has longed for someone to really stand up and say, "Hey, it’s okay to be Muslim."
And when Barack started to emerge as a viable candidate and the smears started on his character, "He’s a Muslim," my heart could not help but ache and long for him or David Plouffe or someone to say, "he’s not, but what if he is. It shouldn’t be a big deal."
And yet we knew it wouldn’t happen. Because we knew that America is not ready to accept that we are the same, children of Abraham..with the hopes, dreams and aspirations that all Americans hold.
It would be political suicide.
And we took comfort in the fact that at least Barack understands us. He has Muslim friends, he roomed with Pakistanis in college, he spent his early years in Indonesia. He gets Islam. He has witnessed Ramadan and Eid. He knows what our values are. He’s one step ahead of everyone else.
That it took being 16 days away from Election Day for someone to stand up and say that for us..I can’t decide if I should be happy it’s been said or wonder "what took so bloody long."
Because the truth of the matter is that what Al Qaeda seeked to destroy that cool, crisp morning in September was a way of life.
And I hate to say it, but in some ways I think they have succeeded. We are now a divided nation, separated by mistrust, misunderstanding and divisiveness. The direction that the Republican Party has taken in this election shows that so clearly. Their strategy seems to be one of "divide and conquer." Don’t let "them" get in. "They are un-American."
When in fact nothing could be further from the truth. The movement that Barack has created, the ground swell grass roots effort, the involvement of the people. Nothing could BE more American. Democracy in action. The power of the people to create change, in the same way that the power of the people created this great nation to begin with. The total inclusiveness.
I keep coming back to this. But this really is a pivotal moment in history, an election that we will remember for generations to come. It will truly define who we are as a nation to ourselves and to the rest of the world.
And I tell you, if Barack loses on November 4th, a light in my soul will be extinguished forever.
So, if I’m a basketcase these last 15 days, forgive me my friends, I have only one objective now. And that is to make sure that Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States.