Keith Ellison the First American Muslim Legislator

Posted on August 19, 2007
Filed Under Fatih Syuhud, Islam, Muslim, Politics, Religion

Keith Ellison has made American political history. As the victorious Democrat in Tuesday’s mid-term elections for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Ellison is the first African American Congressman from the Midwestern state of Minnesota and the first Muslim legislator ever elected to Capitol Hill. It was, however, neither race nor religion but social issues that were the focus of his successful run for Congress.

His win along with many other democrats have made a historic turn-around as far as American politic goes: (1) He’s the first Muslim to be ever elected as American legislator; (2) Democrats controls the House of Representative after 12 years.

For us in Indonesia, where Muslims are in majority, having a minority personality to occupy high level offices is not an issue at all even during the authoritarian rule of Suharto. Benny Moerdani, a devout Catholic, for example, got the Defence Ministry portfolio during Suharto’s regime, something unthinkable ever happen in America or Britain, the forefront campaigner of democracy.

Marie Pangestu, a Chinese origin and an economist is now holding Trade ministry office under Presiden SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono), the first directly-elected Indonesian president, and there are many more who belongs to non-Muslim communities who hold important executive portfolios.

So, to see the brouhaha over the election of Keith Ellison, and mind you he’s elected ’only’ as legislator and NOT as minister/secretary of significant post, is ludicrous from Indonesian Muslim perspective.

One main idea of democracy—and why I wholeheartedly support it— is the concept of equality and pluralism. Every single individual should be seen on his/her personality, capability and skill and what one can do and contribute to the nation. Any prejudiced or discriminatory act on personal preferences —be it a religion, ethnicity or political leaning—should not be a hindrance to occupy a certain important government offices. Post-independent Indonesia has done just that.

America, as a nation many other countries look up to as dynamic precendence of democracy, should encourage many other ’Keith Ellisons’ to be elected and occupy important duties. Right-wingers honeymoon for the time being is over. I’m looking forward to seeing America as a friend of the world under Democrat and I’m looking forward to seeing another ’Clintons’ not ’Bushes’ sitting on the oval offices.

The main problem with the Republican post-9/11 is the pre-emptive action policy meaning that you will be invaded and destroyed, just like Iraq, if you’re dreaming of or conceived to be dreaming of, attacking America. And as it happens to Iraq, no parties involved in the quagmire; neither Iraq nor US, are safe. Not now, nor is it in the foreseeable future. America should heal the wound quickly and make reconciliatory gesture to the world before everything comes too late. American people, by electing Democrats, should be seen as stepping in to the direction of reconciliation. We, however, still need to see another verdict in two years time whether they (American people) will make another ’Bush’ or ’Clinton’ as their special envoy to the world peace.

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