Why Muslims Should Support Dennis Kucinich for President
I've written an article that sets out why I think that Muslims should support Dennis Kucinich for president. It pulls together things I've mentioned in passing in a few other blog entries or in comments here or elsewhere. This gets back to my original purpose in starting this blog, although I hope that it can serve as a resource for all Kucinich supporters, inshallah.
Please follow the extended entry link to read the article. Or download a PDF version.
(updated 11/13/03)
Since 9/11, Muslims in America have been in a state of siege and it seems to be getting worse rather than better. Increasing numbers of Americans have negative views of Islam(1) and increasing numbers of Muslims are experiencing harassment or worse(2). Much of the blame for this has to lie with the Bush Administration and its "war on terrorism". Not only do policies such as the Patriot Act, round-ups and detentions of Muslim immigrants, and over-hyped arrests of "sleeper cells" damage those Muslims caught up in them, these policies also create a sense for Americans that Muslims are aliens, enemies within.(3)
The Bush Administration's foreign policies have also negatively affected Muslims. First and foremost are the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq. The United States has also given unreserved support to Israel, Russia, and India in their campaigns against the Palestinians, the Chechens, and the Kashmiris, respectively, all in the name of the "war on terrorism". Despite reassurances to the contrary by Bush and others, it seems that the war on terrorism does not extend beyond Muslim targets.
None of what I've said so far should be news to anybody. We all know it and despair over it. We wonder if there's anything we can do to stop it or to change it. The good news is, there is something that we can do as Muslims in America. That something is to vote.
But wait! Isn't voting haram? Doesn't it mean supporting a kufr system? Muslims who seek to become politically active will hear this one a lot. So let's deal with it head on. Shaykh Muhammad al-Munajjid, a very conservative Saudi scholar, was asked about voting in elections in a non-Muslim country(4). He replied:
It may be the case that the interests of Islam require Muslims to vote so as to ward off the greater evil and to reduce harmful effects, such as where two candidates may be non-Muslims but one of them is less hostile towards Muslims than the other, and Muslims’ votes will have an impact on the outcome of the election. In such cases there is nothing wrong with Muslims casting their votes in favour of the less evil candidate.
America is a democracy. Bush can be voted out and another president elected in his place. That other president may be someone who will bring benefit to Muslims. Or he may just be somebody who will do less harm to Muslims. In either case, by voting for this other president we will have done something to help the umma, even if it is a small thing. That is exactly what Shakyh Munajjid is talking about. Bringing benefit to the umma and reducing harm.
The election isn’t until November 2004, so why am I writing this now? Because we have an even greater opportunity than just voting Bush out of office. We can also help select who his opponent will be on Election Day 2004. There are currently nine Democratic candidates for President. We can examine each of them and give our support to the one we feel will bring the most benefit or do the least harm to Muslims.
That brings me to the topic that forms the title of this article: why Muslims should support Dennis Kucinich for president. You probably haven't heard of Dennis Kucinich. The media are ignoring his campaign. They probably wish he would just go away. What he's saying isn't popular with those in power. So let me tell you a little bit about Dennis Kucinich.
Dennis Kucinich is the only one of the Democratic candidates who voted against the Patriot Act. He has promised that as president he will repeal it. As a member of Congress, he introduced legislation(5) in September 2003 to start rolling it back.
Dennis Kucinich is also the most vocal opponent of the Iraq war among the Democratic candidates. He first began speaking against it in July 2002. He mobilized 126 Democrats in the House of Representatives to vote against the use of force authorization. He marched in the antiwar rally on February 15, 2003. He continues to call for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and has set out a detailed exit plan(6). He is also pursuing the Bush Administration vigorously about the false and misleading claims it made to promote the war.
Dennis Kucinich also opposes Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. He believes there can be no peace in the Middle East without justice for the Palestinians. He has even taken part in a teach-in(7) to his fellow members of Congress to counteract the influence of AIPAC, the pro-Occupation lobbying group. He is the only one of the Democratic candidates to hold this view.
A Kucinich presidency would be a great change for the better for Muslims in America, and even for Muslims abroad. No, he isn't perfect. His views on social issues are more liberal than the views of most Muslims. But I think that the benefit he can bring greatly outweighs any harm. And we are going to face that problem with any Democratic candidate, without getting as much benefit.
If we want to see Dennis Kucinich as the Democratic candidate for President in 2004, we have to start supporting him now. Speaking up for him in our communities and convincing people to vote for him in the primary elections. Giving our time, efforts, and money to his campaign. It's a big commitment and it means more involvement with the American political process than some Muslims may be comfortable with.
This is a decision each of us must make for ourselves. What is the harm if we act, and what is the harm if we don't act? What is the course of action that will bring the greatest benefit to Muslims and is it worth the price? I sincerely believe that Dennis Kucinich can help the umma if he is elected president. He may not be in the end. But I don't want to look back and say "if only I had spoken up, he might have been."
To read more about the campaign and keep up-to-date with the latest happenings, please visit my Muslims For Kucinich website at http://www.muhajabah.com/muslims4kucinich. To connect online with other Muslims who support Dennis Kucinich for president, sign up at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/muslims4kucinich.
The official campaign website is http://www.kucinich.us
Footnotes
(1) http://pewforum.org/publications/surveys/religion-politics.pdf
(2) http://www.cair-net.org/downloads/crr2003-Sample.doc
(3) http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0328/pyne.php
(4) http://63.175.194.25/index.php?cs=prn&ln=eng&QR=3062&dgn=3&dgn=2
(5) http://www.theorator.com/bills108/hr3171.html
(6) http://www.kucinich.us/statements.htm#100903
(7) http://www.tikkun.org/index.cfm/action/current/article/173.html
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Comments
As-salaamu 'Alaykum sister,
It's all very good but what about the fact that Bush is an unelected president (as is known to many)? What will stop the ones controlling him from repeating this farcical voting game come 2004, thus preventing Kucinich from any possibility of succeeding?
Just a thought.
Was-salaamu 'Alaykum
Abdurrahman
Posted by: Abdurrahman | August 11, 2003 05:12 AM
So what exactly do you propose to do about this should it occur? Just sit back and let it happen?
Or get involved in the political process so that we can bring as much good as we can and reduce harm as much as we can.
There are many bad things that could possibly happen. That shouldn't be an excuse for us not to try our best.
Posted by: Al-Munaqabah | August 11, 2003 08:30 AM
Thank you for a wonderful article. I will get it printed and distribute it in San Francisco and email it throughout the country so it can help the campaign.
Posted by: Inaru | August 13, 2003 12:15 AM
As-Salaamu Alaikum,
What about the Green Party(www.gp.org)? They are just as liberal in social policies! But what is more important they are ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT! IT is time for new parties to be represented in Congress! I have written much about them in my local paper where I live at. I get many positive responses however GOVERNMENT people from Washington, DC are trying to go against it! When government people whom are Neo-cons from the Bush administration reacts that shows you who is the threat. To be honest, also they react to Gov. DEAN supporters and his proposed policies. But my reasons for supporting GREENS are in the fact they are NOT part of the establishment. If they ever win the Muslims could introduce policies which would radically change foreign policy for the betterment of humanity. In'sha'Allah!
Posted by: Hasan | August 24, 2003 07:11 PM
Hasan,
Ralph Nader stated on Crossfire that if Kucinich wins the Democratic nomination, there will be no need for a third party candidate. Many Greens are joining the Kucinich camp.
Posted by: Zeenat | August 27, 2003 04:12 PM
Few Dem's have Jewish links: Kucinich, Lieberman, Kerry, Dean and Clark.
This (gleefully) from the Jewish Journal Forward:
http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.02.28/ed.html
"We Couldn't Make This Up
Dedicated readers of E.J. Kessler's presidential campaign coverage in the Forward will hardly be surprised to learn that the latest entry into the Democratic presidential field, Rep. Dennis KUCINICH of Ohio, has adopted a kosher vegan diet in deference to the religious practices of his long-time "best friend," Cleveland labor lawyer Yelena Boxer. Bemused, perhaps, but not surprised. Not at this point.
By our tally, Kucinich's entrant means that of the eight announced Democratic contenders at press time, no fewer than four have first-degree ties to the tribe of Abraham [Make that five, with Clark's entry!].
Massachusetts Senator John KERRY, the reputed front-runner, would be the first president with a Jewish father — halachically, at least; Kerry's paternal grandparents were both Jewish converts to Catholicism. Both Kucinich and Vermont Governor Howard DEAN, if victorious, can be expected to preside over the first White House Seder, with the extended family of the first lady (or first best friend) crowding around the table, joined no doubt by selected world leaders, big donors and perhaps Barbra Streisand.
Then, of course, there's the man who started it all, Connecticut Senator Joseph LIEBERMAN.
We didn't go looking for this. Honest. It all started because we were curious about what motivated Dean to take the politically daring step of appearing at an Americans for Peace Now dinner. Then we approached General Wesley CLARK, an unannounced candidate,
because of rumors that his late-in-life discovery of his Jewish roots may have helped fuel his passion to stop a new genocide in the Balkans. Then came Kerry's self-outing, then a few Middle East-related policy interviews, and bada-boom, bada-bing, we're hearing that Kucinich davens Conservative. We couldn't make this stuff up."
Posted by: Yusuf | August 30, 2003 10:50 PM
What a load of rubbish. If you want to know where Kucinich stands on Israel/Palestine, try looking at his voting record. Take your attitude somewhere else. It is not welcome here.
Posted by: Al-Munaqabah | August 30, 2003 11:47 PM
I am jewish and my children are both jewish and muslim according to the presepts of these two religions -- and I campaign for Kucinich -- not because of his stand on Palestine (which I support) but because of his fundamental understanding that we are all related and we are all related, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and experientially.
And like everything in life, we have a divinely given nature, a divinely given place in nature. And to respect that and act accordingly brings harmony to us and great joy. To violate that brings pain to ourselves and to others.
Kucinich is a vegan. He is that way because he perceives the sanctity of all life. If all could have this vision, these ages of war and inequities, hatred and ignorance would end.
Kucinich, if elected, will stand his ground for what is right (to the best of his understanding for he is absolutely a man of integrity) but the outcome is up to us.
And if you wish peace and justice in Palestine, Iraq and the US. Ask yourself to look at your sense of justice in meeting out experience in those domains where you are king.
Whose life was carelessly trammeled for last night's supper? If no animal's, well then, we are surely on the road to peace...
http://www.allinharmony.com/The_ultimate_gift.htm
Posted by: cheryl | September 5, 2003 10:24 PM