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110th CONGRESS
1st Session - H. RES. 635
1st Session - H. RES. 635
Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 5, 2007
September 5, 2007
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. MEEKS of New York, and Mr. KEITH ELLISON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.
Whereas since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, threats and incidents of violence have been directed at law-abiding, patriotic Americans of African, Arab, and South Asian descent, particularly members of the Islamic faith;
Whereas, on September 14, 2001, the House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from South Asia in the wake of the terrorist attacks;
Whereas it is estimated that there are approximately 1,500,000,000 Muslims worldwide;
Whereas Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal for Muslims worldwide, and is the 9th month of the Muslim calendar year; and
Whereas the observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan commences at dusk on September 13, 2007, and continues for one lunar month: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) during this time of conflict, in order to demonstrate solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the world, the House of Representatives recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world; and
(2) in observance of and out of respect for the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, the House of Representatives acknowledges the onset of Ramadan and expresses its deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this significant occasion.
The Congress passed the resolution unanimously 376-0 on October 2,2007.
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6 comments:
Historic moment?
It's more like a token bill. They are taking steps to appease the American Muslim community.
Let's not forget the hands that were raised to vote in favor of this bill are also SOAKED with the blood of our brothers and sisters everywhere.
It's all PR on their end. Oooh let's recognize Ramadan and host a White House iftar, it'll help the Muslamics forget we are killing Muslims everywhere.
The bill is essentially Congress pouring salt on our wounds, except we're naive to notice.
All talk - no walk.
agreed. this bill says nothing. its like the eid stamp. who cares? lets not fool ourselves to believe that these amendments mean anything.
Hey! I like the Eid stamp - it's creation means nothing, our using it is tiny dawah?
insha'Allah you rocked your midterm Shahtaj. Hopefully it doesn't need to be said but my previous rant was directed at the resolution, not you. Lame as Congress is, Muslims need to stay up on what their reps. are (and are not) doing .
Salaam,
I whole heartedly disagree and in fact am surprised at the short sighted by all you activists.
This is the FIRST time this amendment has ever been passed. Every time in years (a decade now of concerted effort) past it has been killed even before it got to the floor.
If you know anything about history of minorities this is a GREAT moment. Why? Because it gives the community an idea of how to lobby, how to work on building consensus amongst the members and to also educate others who were daft enough to remain silent on this issue.
Wasn't Bush all talk with his Neocon buddies and then whaam we got a war in Iraq. Wasn't the anti-war movement all talk and dismissed in the US before the reality of the ineptitude of the war management and planning become reality? Walk starts with talk, we should know that. Were not the terrorist all talk, declaring all Muslims to be living jahiliyya and hence not Muslims, then targeting them and blowing up, killing thousands of innocent people. Was it not all talk before the walk?
There are other reasons, I would love to go into it, however it will be a post in itself. I am saddened that people would be short sighted to not see the significance of the bill. I feel people might be disconnected from the reality that the community is in.
Anyway, for Muslims against Sharia. I find you to be quite ironic. You obviously have no clue what the sharia is and how it functions. If your against sharia you are against the very mechanics that make Muslims Muslims.
You might as well call your self Muslims Against Islam. The reality is that is what you represent. You're the type that has fallen into the trap of feeling ashamed of Islam due to the lack of proper understanding and even appreciation of the religion, or you might just like to sell out and feel accepted by a group of bigots and hate mongers.
If you believe in the "separation of church and state" then state it as such. I would argue then that this bill has nothing to do with supporting one religion over another- do not forget the prayers that open each session, or the ten commandment issue that "your" collaborates (i.e. Atlas Shrugs and others) so vehemently support.
I mean you might as well pull the party line and say Islam has no place in America and that America is a Christian nation. Your name could then be Muslims believing in Christ (HUH?)!
OK -- I am not willing to take sides in this argument where I see both. I am withholding commentary on my post.
I think this bill is a joke, rather than a historic moment. While I do understand how this can be seen as a step forward, in my opinion, I'm not sure what it is a step forward towards: acceptance, absorption, assimilation? This doesn't strike me as simply an affirmation of tolerance.
It's one thing to be happy that Muslims are understanding the mechanisms and processes, however ridiculous as they can be, used to lobby for power in this democracy, a generous term. It's another thing though to find a legitimacy of self in the votes of rich white men.
And as for Muslims Against Sharia: it seems that this amendment of the US Constitution, like many other amendments and clauses, has been violated long before and is now called into memory only in reference to groups of exception or exclusion. I'd like to see your right-wing friends use it to remove Christmas, I mean Winter*, break.
Ma'asalama
Amer
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