Fast forward four years, and Muslim voters backpedaled considerably, voting nearly 90% with Bush's Democratic rival John Kerry and creating what is most likely the greatest demographic shift in US political history. This, of course, begs the questions - where will Muslim voter sensibilities eventually settle along the political spectrum?
Seeing that our community is in a state of poltiical flux, I see a great opportunity to make the case that Muslims belong firmly in the progressive camp in US politics. First of all, Muslims now more than ever need to cast their lot with the group of people most likely to respect their uniqueness and resist the prevailing urge to restrict their rights (or worse, lump them in with the "evil-doers"). Second, Muslims seeking to serve society through political involvement will find it easier to participate in progressive organizations and the Democratic Party (the vast majority of Muslims holding elected office are Democrats) rather than their right-leaning equivalents.
And Muslims need not leave their personal moral views at the door when entering the progressive camp. Unlike conservative tendencies to make society abide by a particular moral code, progressives (despite a scattered few who are anti-religion in general) seek not to impose their morality on others but to allow people to live their lives as they see fit. That's not just good for Muslim Americans - it's good for everyone.
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