What Does It Mean To Be A Patriot?
January 8, 2021
THIS WEEK IN DC
**Pro-Trump anarchists breached U.S. Capitol in unprecedented insurrection.**
117th Congress sworn in and began considering first bills; Pelosi re-elected House speaker; Norton Introduces D.C. Statehood Bill with 202 Original Cosponsors in 117th Congress; Trump heard on phone call urging Georgia officials to "find" enough votes to overturn presidential results; Ossoff and Warnock elected to US Senate in razor tight race; Biden selects Merrick Garland, Obama-era SCOTUS nominee, to serve as U.S. Attorney General; D.C. mayor calls in National Guard for protests as Congress is expected to affirm Biden victory; Following insurrection Capitol Hill police chief resigns; Pelosi vows to impeach Trump again if Pence doesn't remove him; Trump Concedes the election.
In This Issue
- Feature Story: What Does It Mean To Be A Patriot
- The Muslim Public Affairs Council Supports Congressional Action to Remove Trump From Office
- CLDP: The Fast Pass to Working on Capitol Hill
- Implications of a Buttigieg-Led DOT for American Muslims
- Two MPAC Allies Earn Government Appointments
- Palestinians Need an Immediate End to Medical Apartheid
Featured Issue
What Does It Mean To Be A Patriot?
MPAC POLICY PROGRAMS MANAGER M BAQIR MOHIE EL-DEEN REFLECTS
Addressing the attendees at the Save America rally in Washington D.C. that took place shortly before the US Congress was scheduled to confirm the electoral college vote, President Trump stated, “looking out at all the amazing patriots here today, I have never been more confident in our nation’s future.” Shortly after his speech, those “amazing patriots'' stormed Capitol Hill, damaging the infrastructure, looting, engaging in combat with capitol police, and causing violent mayhem that ended up costing the life of a citizen, while instilling fear in the rest of America who followed the events as they transpired.
What does it mean to be an American patriot, and were those who are responsible for this week’s chaos ‘American patriots’?
This Week at MPAC'S DC Bureau
MPAC releases a statement on their support for the Congressional call to remove Trump from office.
MPAC Policy and Programming Coordinator Iman Ali shares the importance of CLDP for our youth.
MPAC Policy Analyst Adam Beddawi analyzes how a Pete Buttigieg-led Department of Transportation may impact American Muslims.
Biden selects MPAC allies, Xavier Becerra and Vanita Gupta, for key appointments in HHS and DOJ, respectively.
MPAC Human Security Manager Prema Rahman covers the policy of the Israeli government issue to withhold vaccines from Palestine.
Good to Know
- This Week in History - Jan. 5, 1972, Founding Father and President of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman freed by the newly elected President of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto; Jan. 5, 1957, US President Eisenhower asks Congress to send troops to the Middle East, where they have remained ever since; Jan. 6, 664, Amr ibn al-A'as, Arab general who led the Muslim conquest of Egypt, dies at about 90; Jan. 9, 1972, Led by future Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks beat LA Lakers, 120-104, ending LA's consecutive win streak at 33, the longest winning streak in major league sports history; Jan. 3, 1521, Martin Luther is excommunicated by Pope Leo X; Jan. 3, 1853, Solomon Northup is freed after 7 illegal years in slavery with aid of Washington Hunt, Governor of New York; Jan. 6, 1773, Massachusetts' enslaved population petition legislature for freedom; Jan. 6, 1941, US President Franklin Roosevelt makes his "Four Freedoms" speech (freedom of speech and worship; freedom from want and fear) during his US State of Union address; Jan. 8, 1790, 1st US President George Washington delivers 1st state of the union address; Jan. 8, 1867, African American men granted the right to vote in Washington, D.C. despite President Andrew Johnson's veto; Jan. 9, 1861, Mississippi secedes from the Union (US Civil War); Jan. 8, 1835, US national debt is $0 for the first and only time in history.
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This Week's Feature
By: M. Baqir Mohie El-Deen, Policy Programs Manager |
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What Does It Mean To Be A Patriot?
A | DDRESSING THE ATTENDEES at the Save America rally in Washington D.C. that took place shortly before the US Congress was scheduled to confirm the electoral college vote, President Trump stated, “looking out at all the |
amazing patriots here today, I have never been more confident in our nation’s future.” Shortly after his speech, those “amazing patriots'' stormed Capitol Hill, damaging the infrastructure, looting, engaging in combat with capitol police, and causing violent mayhem that ended up costing the life of a citizen, while instilling fear in the rest of America who followed the events as they transpired.
What does it mean to be an American patriot, and were those who are responsible for this week’s chaos ‘American patriots’? Thomas Jefferson is credited with stating that “dissent is the highest form of patriotism,” while on the other end of the spectrum, Oscar Wilde reflected that “patriotism is the virtue of the vicious.” Patriotism is defined in the dictionary as “the quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.” Patriotism is supporting one’s nation. Standing with your country, in support and admiration, through thick and thin, throughout the rise and fall of its inspirational, yet oft-fraught waters. However, like many concepts in life, there’s a healthy and ethical way to be patriotic, and one that’s filled with mal-intent. America’s history doesn’t leave a lot for the heart to desire; however what has made the United States different has always been its ability to address it’s faults, and attempt, and reattempt, to find its way towards justice and equality for all. That has always been the true-north of this nation, regardless of what path America finds itself on. Today we find ourselves at one of those crossroads where we must ask ourselves what kind of America we want to leave behind for our children. And it is our duty to ensure that the America that we leave behind after our Lord calls us back is an America that we are proud of, for our faith teaches us to better the society that we live in.
In the Quran, we are taught that Satan lost his place among the pious and the Angels because of pride and supremacy. This story in the Quran teaches us that using one’s identity as a form of supremacy is a sin so great that it could create the devil.
As Americans, we should have the humility to know that God didn’t create us better than the rest of His creation, and that our national identity shouldn't be what makes us proud to be American. What should make us proud is the ability to yield our constitutional rights to advocate for the less fortunate and the oppressed in our own neighborhoods, and around the world.
Prophet Muhammed also taught us that charity starts at home. When offering help, one should first look within their own home, and see if any of their kinfolk are in need. Once the need in one’s home has been fulfilled, then one helps out others around them, in their neighborhood, their city, their nation, and then, the rest of the world, working their way out from those closest to them. This prophetic tradition teaches us that an essential element of patriotism is the desire to tend to their own. Our patriotism begins by envisioning how we can heal our own nation first before criticizing others around the world.
In his last sermon, Prophet Muhammed reminded Muslims that “all mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action.” Similarly, the preamble of the U.S. Constitution states that “...all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator...” Those that were on Capitol Hill protesting the election results by insurrection, are demanding that many American votes should not count, because many of the disputed votes were cast by African Americans, and other minorities. Not only is this demand unconstitutional, but it also sets a dangerous precedent. It echoes President Trump’s 2016 victory speech in Grand Rapids, MI where he thanked African Americans for not showing up to vote in big numbers. “The African American community was great to us. They came through, big league. Big league. And frankly, if they had any doubt, they didn’t vote, and that was almost as good, because a lot of people didn’t show up, because they felt good about me.” Throughout our nation’s history, American minorities have fought and bled for their civil rights, and the fight continues today to address the racial inequalities that exist in this nation. These demands, if met, will set our nation back decades and make the sacrifices they have made in vain. An American’s voice is an American voice, and no voice should be louder than another, regardless if one disagrees with that voice or not.
American patriotism should never put us in a position where we question our values, nor should it be the sole factor that causes us to believe that we are exceptional to the rest of the world. Our patriotism should be the compass that guides us to hold our elected officials accountable for our nation’s actions. American patriotism is our tool to make America a nation that leads the world by example, showcasing how a population should be rightfully and justly treated, and how no individual is above the law. Those who were responsible for the mayhem that transpired this week are not patriots. They did not serve the Republic, nor the Constitution. They engaged in illegal activities for their own personal sake, and not for the sake of the greater good.
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IN THIS SECTION
- Policy Analysis
- Statements & Press
- White House Nominates Rashad Hussain as Ambassador for Religious Freedom
- The Blackhouse Foundation and MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau held their first-ever Television Screenwriting Lab for Black Muslim Writers.
- MPAC CONGRATULATES NUSRAT JAHAN CHOUDHURY ON HISTORIC NOMINATION
- GOP Blocks Coronavirus Bill
- Protect Rights During COVID-19
- Coronavirus Joint Statement
- Senate Passes Coronavirus Relief
- Iran Sanctions In COVID-19
- Historic Senate Relief Package
- Coronavirus Stimulus Problems
- Trump Immigration Suspension is Nothing but Cynical Opportunism
- House Introduces the HEROES Act
- Joint Action to Condemn the Murder of George Floyd
- Toward Pluralism: DA Rosen Must Retract His Whistleblower Complaint
- Supporting of Attorney General Keith Ellison Leading Prosecution for Murder of George Floyd
- Trump’s Executive Order on Census Is Unconstitutional
- MPAC Stands with the NBA Players
- What Muslims Want Heading into the 2020 General Election
- Declare Rittenhouse a Terrorist
- MPAC Firmly Denounces the Failure of the Criminal Justice System for Breonna Taylor
- There Is No Place For Violence in Civil Society
- Updates
- A Win Against White Supremacy
- Mosque Safety & Security
- How We’re Confronting White Supremacy
- Our Work on the Muslim Ban
- 2020 Muslim Voter Guide
- Responding to Covid-19
- Census 2020: What You Need To Know
- Human Security During COVID-19: Our Right
- Quarantine Webinars
- Make an impact in 1, 2, 3...
- Mark Kevin Lloyd is Unfit to Serve in State Department
- SoCal Muslims Show Gratitude To Frontline Workers
- DREAMERS are here to stay!
- A Ramadan Like No Other
- Creating inclusive content for kids & families
- National Muslim Task Force Recommendations for Ramadan During This Pandemic
- Ramadan Mubarak!
- Tale of Two Futures: American Muslim Life After the Election
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