Keith Ellison the First American Muslim Legislator
Keith Ellison has made American political history. As the victorious Democrat
in Tuesdays mid-term elections for a seat in the U.S. House of
Representatives, Ellison is the first African American Congressman from the
Midwestern state of Minnesota and the first Muslim legislator ever elected to
Capitol Hill. It was, however, neither race nor religion but social issues that
were the focus of his successful run for Congress.
His win along with many other democrats have made a historic turn-around as far
as American politic goes: (1) Hes the first Muslim to be ever elected as
American legislator; (2) Democrats controls the House of Representative after
12 years.
For us in Indonesia, where Muslims are in majority, having a minority
personality to occupy high level offices is not an issue at all even during the
authoritarian rule of Suharto. Benny Moerdani, a devout Catholic, for example,
got the Defence Ministry portfolio during Suhartos regime, something
unthinkable ever happen in America or Britain, the forefront campaigner of
democracy.
Marie Pangestu, an economist is now holding Trade ministry office under
Presiden SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono), the first directly-elected Indonesian
president, and there are many more who belongs to non-Muslim communities who
hold important executive portfolios.
So, to see the brouhaha over the election of Keith Ellison, and mind you hes
elected only as legislator and NOT as minister/secretary of significant post,
is ludicrous from Indonesian Muslim perspective.
One main idea of democracyand why I wholeheartedly support it is the concept
of equality and pluralism. Every single individual should be seen on his/her
personality, capability and skill and what one can do and contribute to the
nation. Any prejudiced or discriminatory act on personal preferences be it a
religion, ethnicity or political leaningshould not be a hindrance to occupy a
certain important government offices. Post-independent Indonesia has done just
that.
America, as a nation many other countries look up to as dynamic precendence of
democracy, should encourage many other Keith Ellisons to be elected and
occupy important duties. Right-wingers honeymoon for the time being is over.
Im looking forward to seeing America as a friend of the world under Democrat
and Im looking forward to seeing another Clintons not Bushes sitting on
the oval offices.
The main problem with the Republican post-9/11 is the pre-emptive action policy
meaning that you will be invaded and destroyed, just like Iraq, if youre
dreaming of or conceived to be dreaming of, attacking America. And as it
happens to Iraq, no parties involved in the quagmire; neither Iraq nor US, are
safe. Not now, nor is it in the foreseeable future. America should heal the
wound quickly and make reconciliatory gesture to the world before everything
comes too late. American people, by electing Democrats, should be seen as
stepping in to the direction of reconciliation. We, however, still need to see
another verdict in two years time whether they (American people) will make
another Bush or Clinton as their special envoy to the world peace.
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