I'm Grateful for Ramadan's Recognition

This is in reference to this article that I am so glad to have come across while visiting the ICNA webpage, ICNA is short for Islamic Circle of North America.

 http://www.icna.org/icna/news-briefs/u.s.-house-passes-historic-ramadan-resolution.html

I shall apologize for my pessimism and lack of trust in the current plane of American politics and policies, and my lowered expectations of the government and people.I was (might still be) starting to lose the faith I once had in people and their ability to tolerate and try to accept religious differences.

OH, religion- the controversial- constantly discussed, ever-present, forever center of almost all people’s lives.It’s all good and well if we can not be unreasonable and unknowledgeable when we make assertions or claims about other people’s religion but I plead that people start learning about a faith before they attack it.

ANYWHO…I digressed too much and the point was to inform that a “resolution recognizing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and expressing the "deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world" was adopted.” It was actually “introduced by Texas Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson and co-sponsored by 30 legislators, including Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota.  Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Congress.”

[Side point, how many people know that Minnesota has a huge Muslim population? Well, that is why they were able to elect the first Muslim to Congress.]

I like what Californian representative Brad Sherman said, "The observance of Ramadan requires devotion to faith, community and family, truly universal values we all share."

Basically, the resolution, to me, is a way that I now feel that I am being respected and recognized as a Muslim because the acknowledgment of Ramadan. I am learning that people do know that Muslims and Islam isn’t what has become the popular image or idea thanks to the media--it’s like even though Islam’s rep. has been so tainted and stained by those few out of millions, thankfully, people are not judging all of us and Islam by that.

  I am just content with knowing that the House of Representatives--on October 2^nd, 2007-- voted 376-0 for this resolution which mainly “reiterates support for American Muslims in the face of hate crimes, and maintains a strong stand against intolerance.” 

THANK YOU. Appreciate it and respect the US for these reasons because it is open and welcoming (to an extent) to so many people of varied back grounds.

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