Sikander Hayat's America

The love affair between certain segments of the Confederacy and Donald Trump , the 45th President of the United States , is a complex phenomenon that intertwines historical, cultural, and political factors. This blog aims to explore the reasons behind the affinity some individuals in former Confederate states developed for Trump , examining how his policies, rhetoric, and persona resonated with certain aspects of their identities. The legacy of the Confederacy and its Civil War history continues to influence some individuals in former Confederate states. For some, Trump 's " Make America Great Again " slogan might have stirred sentiments of nostalgia, harking back to an era they perceive as a time of greater prosperity and traditional values. This historical resonance could be seen as an appeal to a lost past, which Trump implicitly promised to restore during his campaign. The Confederacy' s love affair with Trump can be linked to cultural conservatism . Many resid

Donald Trump 's presidency evoked strong reactions from various groups within the United States , and American Muslims were no exception. From his controversial statements on the campaign trail to his policies while in office, Trump 's relationship with American Muslims has been a topic of significant discussion and debate. This blog aims to explore the multifaceted nature of Trum p's engagement with the American Muslim community, highlighting key moments and policies that shaped this complex relationship. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump made several controversial statements regarding Muslims , which ignited concerns and fears within the American Muslim community. One of the most significant moments was his call for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" in the aftermath of the San Bernardino shooting. While Trump 's supporters viewed these statements as a bold stance on national security , many Americ

The relationship between President Donald Trump and white supremacists has been a topic of considerable controversy and debate. During his tenure as the 45th President of the United States, Trump' s rhetoric and actions often sparked discussions about his association with white supremacis t groups and the extent to which he may have emboldened them. This blog aims to explore the complexities of this relationship, considering key incidents and statements that shed light on the matter. To understand Trump' s connection to white supremacists, we must first examine his rise to political prominence. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump 's appeal was rooted in populism, voicing concerns shared by a portion of the American population regarding immigration, trade deals, and economic opportunities. However, some critics argue that elements of his rhetoric, such as the infamous "Muslim ban" proposal and his emphasis on border security, inadvertently resonated wit

The relationship between Donald Trump and the Bush family has been an intriguing and multifaceted aspect of American politics. Spanning several decades, it has been characterized by both camaraderie and contention. This blog post delves into the complexities of their association, examining the pivotal moments and the underlying dynamics that shaped their interactions. The Trump -Bush connection began as one of amicability. Prior to Donald Trump 's entry into politics, he enjoyed a friendly rapport with members of the Bush family, particularly George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States. Their ties were rooted in their shared backgrounds as wealthy businessmen and socialites. Both families moved within the same elite circles, attending similar events and parties. George H.W. Bush, who was once the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and later the director of the CIA, had garnered respect in political circles, which facilitated the connection with Trump. The Trump -B

Home - The last real conversation Gasser Shehata had with Syed Rizwan Farook at the Dar-al-Uloom al-Islamiya mosque was about ISIS. After Islamic State extremists claimed responsibility for downing a Russian airliner above Egypt’s Sinai desert, Shehata voiced his indignation to Farook and Shehata’s friend Abdurrahmaan Ali in the parking lot following afternoon prayers. If they hate Russia, then they should fight its army rather than kill innocent people, including 17 children, Shehata recalled telling them. Farook, a man of few words, just stood there and said nothing. In fact, they said they never heard Farook, who had been coming to the mosque two to three times a week on his lunch break for two years, make any comments about politics or violence at all. About a month later, Farook, a San Bernardino County environmental health specialist, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, opened fire at a social service center in San Bernardino, killing 14 people — including many of his co-worker

“And then the cynicism, the cynicism tonight to spend a significant amount of time talking about discrimination against Muslims,” said Marco Rubio, Florida senator and US presidential candidate, incredulously, in response to president Obama’s Dec. 6 speech on terrorism. “Where is there widespread evidence that we have a problem in America with discrimination against Muslims?” A quick Google search would have yielded Rubio plenty of evidence. A Pew study from 2014 gauging how Americans feel about different religious groups showed Muslims coming in solid last. According to the FBI, although the number of hate crimes fell in 2014 from the preceding year (in most categories, including anti-LGBT, anti-black, anti-Latino and anti-Jewish crimes), the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes rose. Muslim Americans are five times more likely to be the victim of a hate crime today than before 9/11. Read the full story here.  Home 

“We love everybody, you know? We’re scared,” one woman, wearing a head scarf and holding a small child, told WUSA-TV. At a rally following the worship service, the national lawmakers joined state representatives to slam anti-Muslim rhetoric and pledge their support for those at the mosque. “We can come today to say that we stand in total solidarity with you, and we represent millions more,” Holmes Norton said at the rally. “Religious freedom and anti-discrimination are paramount importance to me and to most, almost all, of our colleagues,” Beyer said. The mosque of choice for the elected officials, as reported by the Washington Times, is the same mosque that Anwar al-Awlaki, an accused al Qaeda recruiter, served as an imam at the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Washington Examiner reported that some of the hijackers worshipped at the mosque as well as the Fort Hood shooter. WUSA reported that only Democrats attended the service in Virginia. Read the full story h

Only hours after news broke that a suspect in a mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., had a Muslim name, the well-practiced organizations that represent American Muslims to the broader public kicked into action, as they routinely do after each terrorist attack attributed to Muslim extremists. They issued news releases condemning the attacks as inhuman and un-Islamic, posted expressions of grief on Facebook and held news conferences in which Muslim leaders stood flanked by American flags alongside clergy of other faiths and law enforcement officials. “Groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda,” Salam al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday, “are trying to divide our society and to terrorize us. Our message to them is we will not be terrorized and we will not be intimidated,” either by the terrorists or, he said, “by hatemongers who exploit the fear and hysteria that results from incidents like this.” But the messa

When I was writing this piece for Layali Webzine, I was asked by one of its editors on whether or not I was afraid as a Muslim American in the wake of so many tragedies around the world. I had to take a second to think about it. It wasn't a simple yes or no answer. I looked back at the 27 years of being Muslim in America and being able to practice my faith in this country, my country. I thought of the many times I was able to pray in public without fear. The day I chose to wear the hijab in fourth grade, despite my parents' hesitation, I knew I would be supported by loving neighbors, classmates and friends. My faith has always been the foundation of my identity. My character. My style. The hijab has never been just a piece of fabric on my head, but it was and still is me. Read the full story here.  HOME

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — I SPENT this semester teaching creative writing at Lehigh University. I’ve been a soldier, a police officer and an interrogator. So hearing students call me “Professor” and assigning homework was a significant change of pace. But the course’s title, Writing War, kept me from straying too far from the memories that have haunted me over the last decade. I am grateful to Lehigh for the opportunity to teach the course. The school’s willingness to put a veteran in the classroom is the very thing this country needs to be doing in order to collectively process what the last 13 years of war have wrought. But teaching a class about war reminded me daily that I am no college professor. I was an interrogator at Abu Ghraib. I tortured. Continue reading the main story RELATED IN  OPINION Editorial: The Senate Report on the C.I.A.’s Torture and Lies DEC. 9, 2014 Here Come the Torture Apologists DEC. 9, 2014 Torture and Responsibility DEC. 9, 2014 Op

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