Archive for the ‘Leaders’ Category

Hey… I voted for him and all, but now it’s becoming clear that it’s irrelevant who is in the White House. The pattern I’m seeing reminds me of a book I read in college – The Unseen Hand by A. Ralph Epperson. But, just a reminder, I do not subscribe to a (traditional) conspiratorial view of history.

By the way, I’m longing for a day when I can vote by choosing the best of 2 goods, rather than the least of 2 evils, but I digress… Obama called for an international order (see the video below), echoing the call of George Bush Sr when he mention a ‘new world order’. Maybe that pyramid on the back of our dollar bill is closer to completion than we thought?

Related Links:

• President Obama vows an ‘international order’ as part of new national policy
• The Unseen Hand
• Why I do NOT subscribe to a (traditional) conspiratorial view of history

For those of you out there who say “Where’s the Muslim voice?”… Check this out:

Seriously… I have no idea how these Congressmen and Congresswomen can say what they say with a straight face.

Pay close attention to their language… “infiltrate”?! It’s 100% normal and expected that any advocacy group encourage it’s folks to become interns in the political process. It’s happened with every single ethnic group, religious group, and industry in the history of the US. Somehow, being Muslim makes it different.

Unfortunately, the nature of a two-party system will be for people to polarize and say, “Oh, this Rachel Maddow woman is a liberal… I am not a liberal… so I disagree with Rachel Maddow.” Which, of course, is backward logic.

We (the US) used to be a nation of thinkers… not anymore… to many people are going to watch this and become emotional one way or the other. When, in reality, watching this should spark thought… it should spark investigation and exploration of ones own thoughts and feelings and why they are the way they are.

Too many people will do no such thing… after all, there are other videos one click away… there’s email… there’s football… there’s American Idol… and Rush is trying to buy the Rams…

…there’s no time to think.

Frankly, I don’t know how this guy can sleep at night.

I’m not asking for much…

All I’m asking is for world leaders, local leaders, and even leaders of households to reflect on some of the great leaders of the Muslim past.

First, the inaugural address of Abu Bakr (the first Khaleefah after the death of the Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him):

O People! I have been put in authority over you and I am not the best of you. So if I do the right thing then help me and if I do wrong then put me straight. Truthfulness is a sacred trust and lying is a betrayal. The weak amongst you is strong in my sight. I will surely try to remove his pain and suffering. And the strong amongst you is weak to me I will – Allah willing – realize the right from him fully. When obscene things spread among any nation, calamities generally continued to descend upon them. As long as I obey Allah and His messenger, you should obey me, and if I do not obey Allah and His messenger, then obedience to me is not incumbent upon you. (Now prepare for prayer). (Source of translation: Anwar Al-Awlaki audio series)

Second, a quick story about Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (the second Khaleefah after the death of the Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him). I cannot verify the authenticity of the story, but there’s a lesson in it nonetheless… It is said that when asked why he slept very little Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) responded that he spends his days serving the people and his nights in worship and that if even a goat tripped on an obstacle in the road at the farthest reaches of the khaleefah’s domain, he (Umar) fears that he will be questioned about it on the Day of Judgment.

Reflect on these two stories for a moment… Where are these types of leaders these days?

Well, it starts at home. How are you with your family? Your neighbor? Your workplace? Your own self? I’m not complaining that these leaders don’t exist right now… I’m imploring you (& me) to become these leaders in our own domains.