In 2000 encouraged by their Imam's, Mosques and Communities, a group of Muslims proposed voting as a block for George Bush. At the same time a group of Christians encouraged by their Pastors, Churches and Communities decided to continue to vote as a block for George Bush also. As a political tactic this was effective and very successful.
Now as a back story African American Muslims including the Nation of Islam did not join the block citing Bush's record in Texas, their opposition to his domestic policies and the Afrikan American history with the Republicians. Most African American Christians or otherwise did not vote Bush or Republican. Ya see, there was a disconnect there. What did African American Muslims see or believe that non Afrikan American Muslims didn't? I respectfully pose the same questions for the Christians.
Here's my theory on it. Muslims and Christians are not monolitic in their thinking as groups but the Muslims proposed to vote monolithically as a show of strength in order to possibly influence the agenda. This is the same thing that Dr. Dobson and The Late Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson have always proposed and put into action but the other factors involved dividing the Muslims were culture and history. The Muslim Bush Block were mostly foreign born Muslims who through their strength of communities, government backed small business loans, education and perseverance have achieved some simplence of the American Dream.
They also bought into the Social conservative agenda presented by the Republicans. The majority of Afrikan Americans regardless of political or religious stripe weren't buying that.
Now in 04 the Repubs reached out to so called socially conservative Afrikan American congregants appealing to them on hot button issues such as gay marriage and abortion.
Now, my point....to everyone Abortion and Gay marriage or not real issues! They're not!
How much tax you will be charged and how much of that tax will actually be translated into things that benefit you is a real issue. See if Abortion is done away it in the next hour it will have little effect on your life. Hardly any at all. So you have the baby, you will need social programs to assist you. You will need quality education for those children from pre-k to college. You will need parks and green space for those kids. You will need jobs that pay an actual living wage in order to support those kids and raise them. If you are working two low paying jobs then you ain't home to watch them. That's the real issues!
So why the big brew ha over Abortion? It's cause you got Church folks trying to make Heaven on earth through legistration. They tryna legistrate a particular narrow view morality for everybody. Abortion is private and should remain that! It is personal! It should remain that!
This is a basic Republican principle that was discarded years ago in order to win the elections. I personally do not want you in my affairs when it comes to a decision so important. The church will not be the one's grieving with someone or a couple faced with a health issue or just some no account who happen to get lil girl pregnant but won't do much else! It's none of your business!
Gay marriage is not an issue because Gay folks are less than 10% of the population. There is no logical reason why gay folks should not be allowed to marry. They are denied solely by a religious tradition that can not be enforced constitutionally! Two legal aged consenting adults choose to live together and enjoin themselves by contract to decide each others affairs can get married because of what reason? They citizens right? Pay taxes? Signed up for selective service? Serve and are willing to serve in every aspect of American life and they vote! What restricts them someone's enforced interpretation of Judeo Christian/Islamic scripture. This is not a real issue. It just gets everybody riled up and brings their prejudices to the front! Furthermore they are not hurting anyone and it's none of your business!
So are you willing to risk a possibly better future by voting on these divisive non constitutional hot buttons? I hope not cause ya did it with Bush, and now our resources are low, we are threatened by big brother, we are in two badly fought, but one unnecessary war. You are poorer than eight years ago, you are not as free as you were eight years ago and we might not ever be that free again.
Choose America!
Choice and Tolerance or A rigid narrow spiritual view enforced and continued war!
BE Careful! BE Mindful! BE Prayerful!
Jaycee
