I was there. One of the 84,000 at Invesco Field witnessing history. The day and the moment were as inspiring as it was profound. As the chants of "yes we can" reverberated through the stadium, they re-ignited feelings of optimism about America's future, which in the last eight years had been jaded by the politics of fear and divisiveness. Perhaps no group has been more vilified and continues to bear the brunt of this politics of fear than Muslims and Arabs.

Seated next to me at Invesco was Mazen Asbahi, the Chicago attorney who was appointed as national coordinator for American Muslim and Arab outreach by the Obama campaign. Mazen lasted only a few weeks. His resignation came in the wake of discredited websites spuriously alleging his links to an imam (Muslim spiritual leader) and that imam's links to the Muslim Brotherhood, a socio-political, albeit often controversial, movement that originated in Egypt.

Mazen resigned not because he did anything wrong but simply because he put his country first. He understood the importance of this election and did not want smears to distract the American public from failing to heed Obama's message of change. He firmly believes that Obama will restore America's respect abroad while addressing many of the pressing issues of our time from the economy to global warming.

In Mazen's story is a lesson for all Americans. The first lesson is for those who fail to stand up to the merchants of fear. The American public and the mainstream media need to realize that there is a well coordinated effort to discredit promising American Muslims and thus marginalize the American Muslim community. These thugs of bigotry feed on ignorance and fear of the unknown. Not standing up to these bigots is not only un-American, but also leads to bad policy.

Although the Obama campaign never asked Mazen to resign, the perception remains that the campaign did not stand-up and challenge the underlying bigotry that led to his unfortunate departure. Obama was correct in denying that he was a Muslim, but in addition he should have added a Seinfeld moment by simply asserting, "Not that there's anything wrong with it (being a Muslim)."

The second lesson is for American Muslims. Community organizers are reporting a lack of enthusiasm in the Muslim community's support for Obama. Standing at the crossroads where history is being shaped, the American Muslim community must not backslide into the familiar comforts of cynicism. Despite the hurt that the Muslim community feels and the scorns they bear they need to look beyond their immediate discomfort to what serves America and the world best. Instead of the all too familiar horse-trading that special interest group's engage-in, the American Muslim community needs to transcend their disappointments and look to the future and take into account the seriousness of the issues at stake in this election: the rule of law, war and peace, economic justice, education and health care. They must understand that an Obama presidency will not be perfect (no presidency ever is), but a John McCain presidency will only be worse. McCain's selection of Sarah Palin reinforces the perception that McCain lacks both judgment and temperament. We had enough with one decider who makes decisions from the gut. We can ill-afford another.

Beyond the emotions, objectively is there any doubt that from economic policy to environmental stewardship, Obama offers superior solutions? Is it not plainly obvious that Obama prefers diplomacy over war? In Denver he clearly stated that the decision to commit our nation to war can only be made in the face of a clear and present danger and not in the pursuit of some ideological utopia. Is it not refreshing to hear Obama's view that hearts and minds in the Muslim world can be won over by sustained American engagement in improving the lives of those affected by years of war and neglect? Yes not all is palatable in Obama's position, especially his appeasement of the pro-Israeli lobby. But if Muslims define an Obama presidency by only one issue, then we will be as guilty of parochialism as AIPAC and ADL (major pro-Israeli organizations), which often ignore all other realities in their blind and obsessive defense of Israel.

Undoubtedly American Muslim participation this election cycle is at record highs. However, given the closeness of the race and the enormity of its consequences, the community will have to provide all hands on deck to make sure that the right candidate gets elected.

Muslims cannot repeat the mistakes of the past when major American Muslim organizations hastily endorsed George Bush over the objections of African American Muslims, the largest sub-group in the community. Nor can they tread the path of 2004 when they gave a "qualified endorsement" to John Kerry, which understandably dampened Muslim enthusiasm at the polls.

Back to Mazen. He has every reason to sulk because he was unfairly "swift-boated." Yet he remains optimistic and enthusiastically chugs along (although not officially part of the campaign). Throughout the evening in Denver while remaining fully cognizant of the historicity of the moment, Mazen did not waste any time and kept furiously working his Blackberry making phone calls and texting friends urging them to support Obama and in the process hoping to contribute to the transformation of American politics. Just as Mazen looks beyond the dirty politics he fell victim to, so should American Muslims look beyond the flaws of the Obama campaign and take into consideration the bigger picture.

The time has come for American Muslims to demonstrably show that they can make the contributions necessary to return American politics to the universal values of peace, liberty and justice for all. It is time for the Muslim community to join the growing legions of fellow Americans who are inspired by hope and powered by a sense of optimism that things can and do change. Change does not come from just wishing for it. The way forward is clearly indicated in the Quran, "God does not change the condition of a people unless they change that which is within themselves.”

(Photo courtesy of mafo2008.com)

I am glad to see some Muslims get that there are bigger issues at stake than our own limited need to be recognized.
We don't need Obama to fall on his sword for us- we need him to get elected, and get us off the course of the unilateralist and war-driven agenda of the admin before (and the one opposing us.)

He wouldn't have gotten to Colorado without AIPAC. I am frightened of the speech just given by Palin. We do what we have to.
Vote for Obama.

I guess nothing proves the extrapordinary apathy and complacency of the Muslim community than the non-repsonse and interest demonstrated here.
Clearly these clarion calls to Muslims to contribute and be engage are falling on deaf ears.
Even all of the links,(2008 election coverage-leftover from 2004 apparently) and there articles are embarrassingly out of date by 4 years-
I guess no one bothered to notice or read them. Even your banner is-
o forget it.

I don't even know if I want to bother coming back here.

Really this has confirmed my worst fears about Muslims- as long as I saw extraordinary disinterest and selfishness among the people in real life- I could imagine there were Muslims, intelligent and caring out there somewhere-
But I think I was wrong.

The stars and stripes adapted with a crescent in the middle. Brilliant!

>> Muslims cannot repeat the mistakes of the past when major American Muslim organizations hastily endorsed George Bush over the objections of African American Muslims, the largest sub-group in the community.

You are going to understand what I already know about Muslims in my country, South Africa. One day someone has to pull out the race card, the class based segregation, the sectarianism that's imported into Muslim minority communities, and the complete lack of a forum where disparate muslim voices can have mutual dialogue and collectivism. These things need to be discussed more and not less. Ulema want to run everything Islamic (because they have no real skills besides vociferous opinion), and the rest of the community wants to do nothing because the cost benefits are just not good enough. We have a unitary moderate view of the Ummah and majority of the times, traditional scholars have a divisive and alienating political view.

>Really this has confirmed my worst fears about Muslims- as long as I saw extraordinary disinterest and selfishness among the people in real life- I could imagine there were Muslims, intelligent and caring out there somewhere-
But I think I was wrong.<

Don't fret, Mrs.A. Many of us have come to the conclusion that the problems in this country aren't the result of a stolen election or two, its the system itself that is rotten and broken.
Despite the election year rhetoric, there is no real difference between the dems and repubs. It's all fantastically absurd drama designed to fool and trick people into thinking they have a real choice to exercise.

>> Despite the election year rhetoric, there is no real difference between the dems and repubs. It's all fantastically absurd drama designed to fool and trick people into thinking they have a real choice to exercise.

Americans have a decent political system, that allows people to impact the nature of that society in extraordinary ways. Its not perfect but it does work. There has never been and probably will never be a perfect system. But just because it hasn't worked in your favour in the past doesn't mean it won't in the future. American Muslims are more free to influence society and propogate Islam than most other Muslim communities. It is more opportunity than our Prophet SAW and the Sahabah RA were afforded and they left Makkah after suffering much duress because of that pursuit. They never cried out the unfairness of the system or mocked its lack of functioning. They influenced it as much as they could.

With the opportunity afforded to Muslims in the US to actually freely propogate and publically criticise, it is absurd to claim helplessness. Have you ever tested your ability to influence the American public? As far as I can tell, many Muslims are working everyday at doing just that and are achieving very positive results. But one or two misplaced and hateful words from a brother can destroy alot of hard work. Americans are testing for hate in the Ummah, and if found once in every thousand tests, will affirm the fear of the one and destroy the faith in the other 999.

I cannot agree Dr. M.
There is a substantial difference in my life when the Dems or GOP is in office.

Ghulam- I wish I could find these positive people.
In 10 years, and mosques all over America that I've been a member of- I cannot even get one muslim one time to help me clean the bathrooms- (I have however, been told a thousand time what blessing I will receive- which I am already aware of- so unnecessary information) let alone go to a community meeting- or get any initiative to do volunteer or grass roots work in the community past the first "committee meeting", which forms- and never meets a second time.

Even the kids! I cleaned up in front of the biggest mosque in Chicago for a year- every Thursday for jummah- I tried to get those kids many many times to get inspired to care about their environment.
I thought by setting a good and consistent example at least there would be ONE kid whose little heart would be moved-
Even the mosque itself didnt care! Their own staff never bothered.

And I never saw a muslim at community meetings- even though THEIR NAMES WERE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED AS MEMBERS!

And these are simple simple actions-
Well, I won't start on my litany of complaints it helps no one.
I would never ever complain to any outside of Islam, and even hesitate to complain- but it is hard because appeals to goodness fall on deaf ears-
I always hear the same thing- there are some nebulous muslims out there who are doing it so they don't have to-
Even the ISNA conventions-
Two times I have encountered muslims who are driven to service- one a director of a small mosque- and one a doctor at the Chicago mosque- and they had the same burnout and hopelessness that I do.

But thanks Ghulam- your suspicion for the good in people renews my sometimes flattened hope.
I haven't been to a mosque in a year.

>Americans have a decent political system, that allows people to impact the nature of that society in extraordinary ways. Its not perfect but it does work.<

Hardly, the US political system is amongst the most corrupt on the planet. The rest is all feel good nonsense the multi billion dollar propaganda machine wants everyone to believe. A dumbed down populace makes anything possible for the crooks running the show.

>I cannot agree Dr. M.
There is a substantial difference in my life when the Dems or GOP is in office.<

There really is no difference between the dems and repubs, thats just a smokescreen to give the impression that you have a choice between the 2 corporate parties. Republican economic policies favor me but I don't need the tax cut.
Although I would marginally prefer to see Obama elected, he's just going be the American Tony Blair, promise everything deliver nothing and use the PR machine to smooth dissent and banish it. The only man was stood for anything was Ron Paul, and he was taken out of the picture.

>> And I never saw a muslim at community meetings- even though THEIR NAMES WERE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED AS MEMBERS!

May Allah bless you for your tireless efforts. I think that you're probably undermining the extent of your good influence in your community. The problem with society in general is that we take things for granted and need leadership/direction to accomplish things for the mutual good. I'm sure you can easily become the person in your community who others can resort to on community issues. The muslim community is about as self-involved as any other, but having taken those first steps, you can become an ENABLER for positive action.

Doing tireless selfless deeds for the pleasure of Allah does not mean necessarily being a quiet force for good. Its like how salaah can be performed loudly or quietly. And the comparison is of the person who performs charity openly or in secret. The latter cultivates taqwa in herself, but the former encourages taqwa in others.

>> There is a substantial difference in my life when the Dems or GOP is in office.
>> There really is no difference between the dems and repubs, thats just a smokescreen to give the impression that you have a choice between the 2 corporate parties.

Absolutely. It is easier to influence public opinion and promote positive change in a global context with the Democrats in power. There are actually libertarian and socialist type participants on both the democratic and republican side whose political goals can't be so easily rolled up into the same political role. American national influence it seems, must be won one electorate at a time. My impression of the American culture is that most things are made relevant at a community level and not at a national level. Even your news it seems, shows very little stuff on national relevance. Also, it seems that less muslims die and more are educated around the world, when Dems are in power.

>> The only man was stood for anything was Ron Paul, and he was taken out of the picture.

I agree! I hear this man speak an I think that he actually represents everything Muslim politics should encompass. But his unflinching honesty and self-criticism actually costs him so much in the final run. His views aren't much different from Obama's, but Obama himself is bound to an obligation to win the election for his supporters and not just be a guardian of some broad set of values. It's a dirty game, that every society and community plays.

>> Hardly, the US political system is amongst the most corrupt on the planet. The rest is all feel good nonsense the multi billion dollar propaganda machine wants everyone to believe. A dumbed down populace makes anything possible for the crooks running the show.

Well. If the populace is dumbed down, how can that be changed? Even the Muslim community has that same problem, brothers in the first row included. I don't like these abstractions of "the machine". They intimate that the system is unrelated to ordinary people, when in reality they are the products of ordinary social interaction and propoganda "machines" can be influenced to become truth "machines". They are the product of normal society and not its masters.

>His views aren't much different from Obama's, but Obama himself is bound to an obligation to win the election for his supporters and not just be a guardian of some broad set of values. It's a dirty game, that every society and community plays.<

Its a dirty game but it doesn't get dirtier then here. Ron Paul and Obama are poles apart on the issues of Iran, health care, "War of terrorism", war on drugs, health care system and the the Federal Reserve. While Obama has claimed to against the war, he voted to continue funding it. Is he "better" then McCain? Yes, marginally, but both trail behind Ron Paul.

>Well. If the populace is dumbed down, how can that be changed?<

We can blame the media, the educational system, video games etc but the buck stops with the American people themselves. They have no one but themselves to blame, and I frankly don't think they care as long as Oprah, ipods and other forms of rabid consumerism keeps them satiated. They simply dont care. Can thing be changed? Not with the current generation no, you're going to need people who have a DESIRE to learn and understand how the world works. A second American revolution if you will.
The level of stupidity I've seen here has no comparison. That's why McCain is the republican nominee, and not Paul.