I came across this headline MN Poised to Make History, Send First Muslim American to U.S. Congress through veiled4allah blog where I find her views informative and refreshing.

Keith Ellison said,

“I think it’s time for the United States to see a moderate Muslim voice, to see a face of Islam that is just like everybody else’s face,” Ellison said. “Perhaps it would be good for somebody who is Muslim to be in Congress, so that Muslims would feel like they are part of the body politic and that other Americans would know that we’re here to make a contribution to this country.”

I just think Muslims have gotten a bad rap and have become obviously, a scapegoat. The saturation of negative media images is a mile long. Ten miles long. And as a result, anyone with middle eastern heritage seems to get lumped in with that and so have to deal with a special slice of racism directed their way, just for them.

Consequently, keep your Islamic friends in mind--or brown friends who fit the "profile" (because they may not even be Muslim)--and make it very clear you appreciate them. If you don't have friends of this or related heritage, find some.

I remember just after 9/11 an activist friend of mine organized a vigil outside a shop owned by brown-skinned middle-eastern folks. We loved them and knew they were not at fault or connected in any way to 9/11 and wanted to make sure others in the community knew we backed them. Plus keep a watch as a sort of protection. This made a big impression on me.

The first time I had seen this sort of "watch" was at age 17 when I stayed with the Yippies in New York. One of the gals and I were walking her dog late one night and encountered a street arrest in progress. This gal stopped and made it clear we were observing what was going on.

It's time, really time, to be there for each other and notice what groups are getting unduly targeted and speak up, befriend folks and make a difference.

You make a difference in everything you do. You make a difference in the world by the choices you make and in each relationship you put attention on.

YOU DO! Yes, YOU!

Sea Ganschow is Parenting by Connection facilitator, and director of Listening for Change in Portland, Oregon.

Sea's Blog