A reality TV-like campaign has now been with us for more than a year. The golden prize is the White House. From promises of building separation walls and deporting millions as an immigration policy to carpet bombings, torture, and waterboarding of suspects as antiterrorism methodology to ridiculing individuals with developmental disability. Painting minority populations including American Muslims with one brush of misconception, demonization, and dehumanization. As a result, there has been a significant rise in hate crimes, speech, and vandalism against minorities, Muslims, and mosques.
The GOP nominee’s recent appointment of Steve Brannon as campaign CEO raised more legitimate questions and concerns. Brannon, the chairman of the right-wing website Breitbart, was behind the anti-immigration rhetoric.
The ongoing opponent bashing by both political sides and their surrogates must stop. The focus should be the major issues facing our nation for the next four years and beyond and who would be the best commander in chief at such nationally and globally challenging times. Critical issues facing us include national security, creating more living-wage jobs, providing excellent education for all Americans, ending hunger in the most affluent country in the world, and ending ongoing racial imbalance and tensions.
To address the ongoing negative rhetoric, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission partnering with several local and national organizations will host on Oct. 13 a Joint Solidarity Event, Building and Crossing Bridges Together, to demonstrate solidarity, propose an action plan, and fight against ongoing hate and fear-mongering tactics/rhetoric spread during the current presidential campaign and its shadow.
Our nation is one immigrants from all over the world. We are the best hope for so many. Our diversity is our strength and is what makes America such a unique nation. Working tirelessly together building our great nation while living respectfully and inclusively together are the only pathways to prosperity for all.
It is poignant to remember the following words of a giant peacemaker, Desmond Tutu, who lived through similar tumultuous times in his own country of South Africa.
“When we see others as the enemy, we risk becoming what we hate. When we oppress others, we end up oppressing ourselves. All of our humanity is dependent upon recognizing the humanity in others,” he said.
Please join us on Oct. 13 in the Iowa City Public Library for this grass-roots, free event focusing on how best to move beyond superficial dialogue and engage one another to become one cohesive community across real and/or perceived differences.
— by Shams Ghoneim, coordinator, Muslim Public Affairs Council of Iowa.
