The #WhiteHouseIftar controversy

Last updated on: July 24, 2013 at 6:45 am by Aziz Poonawalla

The #WhiteHouseIftar controversy 2013-07-24T06:45:12-06:00 Aziz Poonawalla

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ramadan Kareem everyone –

This blog is still under hiatus until the next election cycle, but I did want to draw people’s attention to a post I wrote at City of Brass about the controversy over the Iftar to be hosted by President Obama tomorrow night. An excerpt:

this year these Iftars have come under fire by certain political activists in the Muslim American community. Their basic argument is that Muslims who accept the Iftar invitation by the President or the Administration are “house muslims” who are somehow betraying the Muslim community. The intention of these activists is to shame and embarrass any Muslim who embraces Barack Obama.

…

The litany of major complaints is a familiar one: the drone war (which targets Muslims abroad), domestic spying on Muslims (which Obama had nothing to do with), and force-feeding of Muslim prisoners at Guantanamo Bay (which Obama did try to close but was stymied by Congress). They consider any outreach by Obama to the Muslim American community as hypocritical and self-serving appeasement, and blame Muslims who accept that outreach for essentially validating those policies and even perpetuating and being complicit in them. There is even a hashtag – #WhiteHouseIftar – where these activists are making their case.

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/cityofbrass/2013/07/honored-to-be-invited-to-the-state-department-iftar-and-grateful-for-the-whitehouseiftar.html

As you might imagine, I take issue with this and lay out reasons of my own that the Muslim American community should welcome this outreach by the Administration and be grateful for the opportunity to meet with the President. I also point out how such access and Iftars in the past – under Presidents Bush and Obama alike – have benefited the community as a whole. Check out the full post at City of Brass!

(and see you in 2014…)

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 6, 2012

a few words about third parties #MuslimVOTE

Next Post

September 26, 2013 the silence libel: do muslims condemn?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Aziz For America Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 April 2018 November 2017 October 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 July 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 June 2014 April 2014 March 2014 September 2013 July 2013 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did King Nebuchadnezzar order everyone to worship?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A golden statue The sun His crown A lion