Ramadan Bill – US Congress

RAMADAN BILL – US CONGRESS

http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2007/10/ramadan-bill-us-congress.html

This is HISTORIC for American- Muslims and Muslims around the world. This is the first time in history that the United States Congress will commemorate and recognize the month of Ramadan as the Islamic holy month. The language from the bill text is below for your viewing.

Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. MEEKS of New York, and Mr. ELLISON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.

Whereas since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, threats and incidents of violence have been directed at law-abiding, patriotic Americans of African, Arab, and South Asian descent, particularly members of the Islamic faith;

Whereas, on September 14, 2001, the House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from South Asia in the wake of the terrorist attacks;

Whereas it is estimated that there are approximately 1,500,000,000 Muslims worldwide;

Whereas Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal for Muslims worldwide, and is the 9th month of the Muslim calendar year; and

Whereas the observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan commences at dusk on September 13, 2007, and continues for one lunar month: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That–

(1) during this time of conflict, in order to demonstrate solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the world, the House of Representatives recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world; and

(2) in observance of and out of respect for the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, the House of Representatives acknowledges the onset of Ramadan and expresses its deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this significant occasion.

…………………………………………………….

As-Salaamu Aliakum,

Ilhaam “illy” Jaffer has worked hard in getting this bill through the Foreign Affairs Committee and it will be voted on the House Floor tomorrow by Congress. Call your congressman tonite or in the morning to support the bill. Please log on to http://www.congress.org/ and enter your zip code to get the information about your congressman. One call does more good than all the talk in parties.

I have worked closely with Ilham Jaffer on Congresswoman Johnson’s youth initiatives. Illy was instrumental in making that program a grand success, where some 36 youth learned about leadership, interfaith dialogue and getting along with all to create a beautiful America.

YOUR COMMENTS: http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3462242975774901312&postID=3357333312394703584

GOP lawmakers balk at Ramadan recognition
Posted October 3rd, 2007 at 4:40 pm

One of the most common elements of a day in Congress are votes on non-binding, symbolic resolutions that honor some person or event. They’re harmless votes, which are generally ignored.

Yesterday, however, the House took up a resolution recognizing the commencement of Ramadan and “demonstrat[ing] solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States” during this Muslim month of fasting. The measure passed without any opposition, as these resolutions nearly always do.

But this time, there’s a catch. 376 House members voted for it, while 42 members (41 Republicans and 1 Dem) voted “present.” Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) explained why.
“This resolution is an example of the degree to which political correctness has captured the political and media elite in this country. I am not opposed to commending any religion for their faith. The problem is that any attempt to do so for Jews or Christians is immediately condemned as ‘breaching’ the non-existent line between Church and State by the same elite,” Tancredo says in his statement.

Tancredo, predictably, doesn’t know what he’s talking about. First, Congress passes similar resolutions for all kinds of religious holidays, including Christmas, with nary a complaint from “elites” or anyone else. Second, unless Tancredo and his allies managed to turn the country into some kind of theocracy without anyone noticing, the line between church and state is not “non-existent.”

The ugly xenophobe’s spokesperson said he voted “present” instead of “no” because “a no vote could be construed as not commending religion in general.”

No, Tancredo is only hostile to some religions in specific. That’s much better.

………….. Tancredo refuses to Vote …………..

Tom ‘Bomb Mecca’ Tancredo Refuses To Vote For House Resolution Celebrating Ramadan
Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a resolution “recognizing the commencement of Ramadan” with 376 votes. The resolution sought to “demonstrate solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States” during this Muslim month of fasting.

But some lawmakers couldn’t muster the courage to vote for the uncontroversial legislation. Forty-one Republicans and one Democrat chose to vote “present,” including Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO).

After the vote, Tancredo issued a press release decrying the Ramadan resolution:
“This resolution is an example of the degree to which political correctness has captured the political and media elite in this country. I am not opposed to commending any religion for their faith. The problem is that any attempt to do so for Jews or Christians is immediately condemned as ‘breaching’ the non-existent line between Church and State by the same elite,” Tancredo says in his statement.

Tancredo voted “present” and not “no” because “a no vote could be construed as not commending religion in general, which Tom is for,” said Tancredo spokesman T.Q. Houlton. Instead, Tancredo seems to only selectively hate religion. He had no problem voting for a House resolution celebrating Christmas.

In 2005, Tancredo suggested that the United States consider bombing Mecca as a “deterrent” against terrorist strikes on the U.S. homeland. He received intense criticism from conservatives for these remarks.

Also voting “present”? Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA), who earlier this year came under fire after expressing his fear that “we will have many more Muslims in the United States.”
The lessons Tancredo and Goode appear to have learned is that they need to do a better job masking their anti-Muslim bias.