Aref Assaf, 10-03-07

It  is not often that good news comes our way from Congress. We have gotten accustomed to Congressmen and even Senators defacing Islam and its adherents. Remarks by Congressman Peter King and Senator  John McCain are expressive of the continuing Islamophobia that rears its ugly head on the airwaves or in the print media. There is a ray of hope however emanating from a most welcome resolution which was passed unanimously on October 2, 2007. This resolutions states: 

Celebrating the blessings of faith and enjoying the rewards of patience, discipline and commitment are in keeping with the highest principles and most honored traditions of all cultures.  As followers of Islam observe Ramadan, non-Muslims across the United States should take this opportunity to learn about the beliefs and traditions of this historic, world religion.”

  We at AAF thank all the representatives who voted for it especially our NJ congressional delegation. To read the full text of the resolution, please click here.

Now the bad news. Almost all of those who voted "present" were Republican representatives. Among this list is our own Scott Garret (R-NJ)  was " too troubled" by the Ramadan resolution. "There were a number of members who, as we call it down here, 'stayed off' that vote and did not support it because I think that they looked at it as something that Congress really should not be doing, should not be picking one faith out and commending that faith."

Among those who voted present was freshman Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado). "I couldn't bring myself to vote 'yes' on that resolution," he admits. "I hope that we have more and more moderate Muslims speaking out about the cause of peace in the future." Lamborn says a recent attempt in Congress to honor Christmas was met with a great deal of opposition.

His colleague GOP presidential candidate and Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) also voted "present" on the measure. Tancredo released a press statement after the vote, citing the resolution as "an example of the degree to which political correctness has captured the political and media elite" in America.