(Disclaimer: I was a participant in the program Hamid describes below.) This article is so necessary, and so timely: The importance of continuing in politics not just when, but especially when, the odds seem stacked against you. When it seems hopeless. Ive heard a lot of people reflexively dismiss political engagement without offering any credible strategic alternatives. Here is Shadi Hamids latest for Washington Post, arguing the contrary: ...Muslims, lacking a strong lobbying presence in Washington, may feel particularly disadvantaged, but the dilemma is a universal one: Are changes in policy more likely to come about as a result of working “within the system,” or through a more oppositional, protest-oriented politics? In his response to the boycott calls, Rep. Keith Ellison, one of the two Muslims in Congress, looked back to the civil rights movement for guidance. “The leaders of the Montgomery Bus boycott and the United Farm Workers’ boycotts didn’t have the opportunity to speak directly to the White House about the issues affecting their communities,” Ellison said in a statement. “Boycotting was one of the few tools on the table at that time.” The iftar wasn’t just a photo-op. Attendees had the opportunity to discuss a variety of sensitive issues with Obama and his team, and several of them took full advantage. According to various accounts, the discussions appear to have been tense… A must-read. And a must-share.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 17:08:51 +0000
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