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#Can you hear us now
8-09-2016
The U.S. Presidential candidate, Mr. Donald Trump, who has a gag order in place against his ex-wives from speaking about their marriage bit off more than he cold chew when he mocked the silence of Ms. Ghazala Khan, a Muslim mother of decorated U.S. soldier, Captain Humayun Khan, killed in Iraq, at the DNC last month. He insinuated that Ms. Khan, “She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.”
Even though Ms. Khan's response was sufficient to silence Mr. Trump, for shooting off his mouth again; "Donald Trump has asked why I did not speak at the Democratic convention. He said he would like to hear from me. Here is my answer to Donald Trump: Because without saying a thing, all the world, all America, felt my pain. I am a Gold Star mother. Whoever saw me felt me in their heart."
However, it was the reaction and responses on social media by the Muslim groups, led by Muslim women had Mr. Trump running for cover. A campaign ignited on Twitter #CanYouHearUsNow by one of the Canadian Muslim woman from Saskatchewan, Dr. Alaa Murabit, a UN High Level Commissioner.
One of her tweets shows her laughing with former American President Jimmy Carter: “Hey D. I spend my time creating solutions w presidents & the like (so I guess we’ll never meet)
We dedicate this editorial to few of the Muslim women who are leading the charge in mainstream politics and eliminating misconception about Muslim women and their roles in an Islamic society and Islamic household.
Take for example, Dr. Murabit, based on our research, she Dr. Alaa Murabit is a medical doctor, and one of 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals Advocates, appointed by the UN Secretary General and a UN High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment & Economic Growth. She was recently selected as an MIT Director’s Fellow. Murabit serves as a trustee for International Alert and Keeping Children Safe.
At the age of 15 Alaa completed high school and moved from Saskatoon, Canada to Zawia, Libya. It was there that she enrolled in medical school and founded The Voice of Libyan Women (VLW) at the age of 21. With a strong focus on challenging societal and cultural norms and utilizing traditional and historical role models Murabit champions women’s participation in peace processes and conflict mediation. Her programs, such as the groundbreaking “Noor Campaign” are replicated internationally.
During last federal elections we had another Muslim Candidate for the NDP, adorning Hijab, Ms. Farheen Khan, also is a role model for our youth. Born and raised in Mississauga, Khan is a former senior manager for Peel’s women shelter, a fund development consultant as well as a published author.
She has raised more than $2 million dollars for causes in Peel and another $1 million for international development and relief aid. For more than five years, she has been part of United Way of Peel’s Speakers Bureau to help with their fundraising efforts.
And nothing is more important than the role and services Ms. Ghazala Khan, Mother of Capt. Humayun Khan is lending to Democrats to ensure Donald Trump never get the chance to lead the United States.
Although she is not running in the election or for any post or position. It is fate that has compelled her to take the lead and we must say, she is doing a wonderful job. One of her famous statements now, "Trump criticized my silence, he knows nothing about true sacrifice."
She is lashing back strongly and defending her position and making the Americans realize that Muslims are part of the American fabric.
Since Trump's criticism she has taken on the media by surprise, becoming front and center leading the charge against Trump. She told Washington Post, "Donald Trump said that maybe I wasn’t allowed to say anything. That is not true. My husband asked me if I wanted to speak, but I told him I could not."
When Donald Trump is talking about Islam, he is ignorant. If he studied the real Islam and Koran, all the ideas he gets from terrorists would change, because terrorism is a different religion.
Donald Trump said he has made a lot of sacrifices. He doesn’t know what the word sacrifice means.
New York Times headline stated, "Donald Trump's confrontation with Muslim Soldier's parents emerges as unexpected flashpoint."
Regardless of how western media portrays Muslim women, how narrow minded individuals conceptualize women's role in Islam, or how bigots like Trump insinuate about Muslim women. Muslim women around the world, and especially in the west have been able to silence all critics by demonstrating the true spirit of Islam and how Islam values both gender equally. At times they have even proven themselves to be stronger an more versatile than Muslim men, and it this that we need to appreciate and acknowledge.
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