President Obama, since 2008, has been able to move forward on important progressive legislation like the Lilly Ledbetter Act and the Affordable Care Act, while simultaneously working with the public and private sectors to bring the U.S. back from the brink of financial disaster. He had an ambitious set of goals when he started, and while he didn’t accomplish everything he set out to do in his first term, I think the country is a better place after four years of his leadership.
Like most American Muslims, Guantanamo Bay is more then troubling. While Congress takes part of the blame for keeping it open, President Obama campaigned on the promise to close the facility when he was elected in 2008, and I can’t help but be disappointed that this wasn’t accomplished during his first term.
In his second term President Obama administration willis going to continue focus working on the financial recovery of the nation. He’ll also take a hard look at ways to update our domestic infrastructure and explore alternative energy sources. These issues might not seem pertinent to American Muslim concerns focus on human rights and civil liberties challenges or ignored by various branches of government.
It is important for American Muslims, regardless of our individual issues of interest, we all need to stay vigilant to make sure the government does exceed constitutional limits.
The level of organization seen in this past election, by the Muslim community, for all levels of government, was impressive and mature. The community a broad range of perspectives and this election was a clear indication of our diversity. With the next Presidential election in 2016 this range of voices will give us a unique opportunity to engage all political spectrums and push our solutions and policy concerns for the challenges we face as a nation.
Read other perspectives here.
Amanda Quraishi is a blogger, interfaith activist and technology professional living in Austin, Texas. She currently works full time for Mobile Loaves & Fishes, a non-profit organization that addresses the issue of homelessness in the U.S. She regularly contributes to online journals Tikkun Daily, The Religious Left and ILLUME, as well as blogging about religion and politics on her personal blog muslimahMERICAN.com
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