I try to avoid politics. Yet every once in a while I feel the
need to speak up. In this case it is about the use of the phrase “Muslim ban.”
The United States is a melting pot of residents with differing
backgrounds. We have citizens, permanent residents, and visitors from all over
the world. We welcome diversity of race, culture, and religion. I fully support
the preservation of our way of life, which includes the right to assemble. Our
forefathers fought hard to keep the Government from establishing a national church.
We have the “free exercise” of religion, and Congress cannot pass a law “abridging
the freedom of speech.” [Amendment I, Constitution of the United States of
America, 1789].
However, the President of the United States has issued an
Executive Order delaying the processing of visa applications from six countries,
and increasing scrutiny for a seventh. Yes, these country’s dominant religion
is Islam, which appears to some people to breach that commitment to freedom of
religion and right to assemble. But the Executive Order is not a “Muslim ban.”
Read the Executive Order. It specifically states, “Executive
Order 13769 did not provide a basis for discriminating for or against members
of any particular religion. While that order allowed for prioritization of
refugee claims from members of persecuted religious minority groups, that
priority applied to refugees from every nation, including those in which Islam
is a minority religion, and it applied to minority sects within a religion.
That order was not motivated by animus toward any religion, but was instead intended
to protect the ability of religious minorities – whoever they are and wherever
they reside – to avail themselves of the USRAP in light of their particular
challenges and circumstances.”
There are many other countries in the world who have Muslim
citizens. Like India, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia. These countries are
not listed on the Executive Order. Saying that the Executive Order is a “Muslim
ban” is like saying countries that ban travelers from the United States have a “Christian
ban.” Continuing to call it a “Muslim ban” does not make it true.
So please, stop saying it’s a
Muslim ban.
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