@markpoole Unless I missed it, I do not see any of our Congresspeople or Senators directly condemning the #Hamtramck City Council and Mayor Pro Tem Mohammed Hassan.
Will Governor #Whitmer condemn this body directly and forcefully?
@adamjcook@markpoole LGBTQ+ people existing does not interfere with religious freedom. The government acknowledging their support of marginalized groups does not interfere with religious freedom. It is even more important to do so in an area where they are experiencing more discrimination.
Lumping the pride flag in with political flags is also absurd. “LGBTQ+ people exist and should be treated equally” is a completely different message than “Mohammed for Mayor!”
@adamjcook@markpoole I absolutely reject any argument that “They're just representing their constituents.” Once elected you must serve ALL of your constituents, not just the ones that voted for you. LBTQ+ people are part of that same group and deserve to be protected from bigotry.
I mean, I agree and have posted about this myself.
But nobody is demanding this kind of response about the non-Muslim parts of the state that did this earlier or at the same time (#Livingston, #Ottowa, even #Ferndale had a counter-protest and #Gennesee's statement not putting the flag up was remarkably similar) even though #Hamtramck is easily the smallest.
While the initial post claimed this was about all, it only tagged Muslims. I would suggest that there aren't real allies to be found with people who are targeting Muslims.
@imstilljeremy@markpoole My apologies. It was actually Councilman Nayeem Choudhury that opened the door, not Mayor Pro Tem Hassan.
But my point stands, in my view.
This is absolutely disgusting rhetoric from Councilman Choudhury and it is a foundation for this existing Hamtramck to hate on any number of things and people in the future.
That post did, in fact, only tag the one religions they're claiming to be critical of.
You are right, its relevant here, because this one is Muslim. But that's why I pointed out the notable absence of this for the others.
Why now, not with others, is it cowardice to not name the people specifically? Why is this a Muslim problem now in a way that the others aren't Christian problems?
Why aren't the other city councils framed as Christian-controlled? You are the one here, demanding a new standard of response, up to Senators and the Governor, when it is the first Muslim city council?
I'm not saying not to call it out, and have done so myself. I'm saying that if you are holding Muslims to different standards, talking about them in different ways, you are looking for allies among people targeting Muslims.
We don't have allies there. We just help people who are anti-Muslim.
If any elected individual or group uses their religion as a pretext or cover for bigotry, then it should be directly addressed and characterized as such.
And you are also right that I do not think that standard is upheld equally.
I do not really consider my comment as the creation of a "new" standard - words from these elected officials matter and they should be published in the context of their motivations.
@adamjcook This is happening around the nation as rightwing extremists of all stripes inflame their bases about law & order, religious liberty, parental rights & child safety being under attack by “groomers, perverts, transgenderists, pedophiles, socialists, criminals, immigrants, and the ultrawoke left” - code for any real Americans struggling for equal rights. At least Newsom, Pelosi, Clinton and others are calling a spade a spade, but the White House needs to do more.
@markpoole Sadly, it is happening all around #Michigan and it is happening quite vigorously now - by an insane Michigan #GOP that got kicked to the curb this past state election.
#Juneteenth weekend is now here and I am holding my breath for the hate and discrimination that will soon arrive for that.
Add comment