The GOP war on muslims: Rima Sinclair

I've praised president Bush for emphasizing that the war on Terror should not be construed as a war against Islam, but the Republican Party has been enthusiastically waging a war against muslims.Even muslims who are members of the Republican Party are potential targets - consider the case of Rima Sinclair, a Republican in Colorado who ran in the primary for Colorado House District 6. Ms. Sinclair wrote the following editorial about her experience with her own party, and has graciously given me permission to publish it here on City of Brass.

"This Is Not The Way We Should Be Doing It In America" Colin Powell

By: Rima B. Sinclair

For twenty-first century America, election 2008 has brought back to the surface issues that many believed to be things of the past. Once again, the color of one's skin, or one's faith, have been misguidedly presented as considerations to use when evaluating a citizen's eligibility to take part in the highest endeavors of our society. Here is my story:

On  March 1, 2008, the Republican Party Assembly elected me to run for the Colorado House of Representatives. I felt honored by this chance to give back and appreciated the great responsibility I just committed to uphold. I believe in the basic values that made this nation great: upholding the Constitution, individual freedom with responsibility, and small government with prudent tax and spending policies. An integral part of my beliefs are values like equality, justice, freedom of religion, the sanctity of human life and that our responsibility toward  children does not end at birth. It means giving the young a fair chance at becoming contributing members of society.

Soon after my nomination, a certain segment of the Republican party made it known that they rejected the nomination due to my ethnic and faith background. They claimed that I was not a "Real" Republican and launched an intensive "character assassination" campaign, in which I was labeled a "radical" and "terror apologist." My Republican opponent claimed that my intentions "may not always have been so benign towards America." He invited volunteers to join him to defend the "home front in the War on Islamist Terror."

Regrettably, the Republican leadership refused to address the problem. The Colorado Republican Chairman, dismissed the claims as the usual "campaign business." The Republican US Senate Candidate announced  his unqualified endorsement of the abuser. Others, like the Colorado former Speaker of the House went so far as to circulate e-mails that accused me of being an "Islamist mole" and a "strong threat" to Western civilization. My attackers were invited to bring forth any evidence to sustain their charges, but none did.

"She should be jailed for treason" and "The wombs of Arab women are bomb factories," said the letters in multiple media outlets. To no avail, I pleaded with party officers to urge a minimum standard of decency and truthfulness in campaign politics. The response was that the attacks had not reached the "extreme or outrageous" level which would warrant action to "arbitrate campaign rhetoric." Instead, I was warned to drop out of the race or face a scandal that would so completely ruin my reputation that I "won't find anyone in town " to talk to me. Needless to say, I felt relief when the so-called "real" Republican won the Primary election. Only God knows what other trumped-up claims they would have made, if I had won.

The onslaught of ethnic and faith attacks for political gain have marked election 2008 as the dirtiest that I have witnessed. It is not a surprise that similar Machiavellian rhetoric is now being employed against Barack Obama. The agents of hate have been successful in whipping-up enough anger to precipitate calls of "traitor", and "kill him." Recent history has demonstrated the horrible consequences of such irresponsible agitations. The late Israeli prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, was repeatedly labeled "a traitor" just before he was murdered by a right-wing Jewish zealot.

Nonetheless, Sarah Palin found it defensible to brand certain parts of the country as not "Pro-America." The wholesale labeling of a large segment of Americans as harboring "questionable" patriotism was another abominable example of this year's gutter politics. No wonder some Republicans are in need of the services of a Savior Plumber. The drains have backed-up and they hope that "Joe" can snake out the Grime.

I grew up in a country where I could not vote and where women are often treated as second class citizens. Twenty years ago, I came to America inspired by the ideals of freedom, equality and the rule of law. In Colorado, I have built a business, I married a wonderful husband of my own choosing, I do not have to fear repressive authority and can seek to participate in government. Immediately after becoming a naturalized citizen, I joined the Republican Party because I felt that it best safeguards these blessings of liberty that exist in America and nowhere else.

Sadly for America, the right-wing demagogues remain largely unchallenged despite the personal and destructive tactics they have used against Americans who do not fit to their definition of the "Ideal" citizen. Perhaps next, they will up the ante, with charges of treason that targets whole groups of Americans. For the sake of  Freedom and Democracy, this treacherous campaign must be stopped.

Rima Barakat-Sinclair is Denver resident and an American-Arab Muslim
citizen. She is a frequent speaker and an advocate for greater
participation in civic affairs and interfaith dialogue.

I think Ms. Sinclair's story speaks for itself. I applaud her for her courage and desire to serve her country, and her party. More information about Ms. Sinclair is at her campaign website. I for one hope she decides to run to represent her district again in the future - and I hope she stays a Republican, because it's people like her who will reclaim her party from the madness that infects it today. Perhaps, ironically, Obama's victory next Wednesday will pave the way.