I know this is going to sound pretty sad and even though I can’t stand big brother, I’ve found myself following what’s been happening to gorgeous George. I’m sure I’m not the only one though because gorgeous, whether you love him or loathe him, has attracted a lot of attention from the Muslim community.
If you look at his career and consider his personality you will undoubtedly realise that he’s nothing but an opportunist that feeds off public attention, good or bad. Entering the Big Brother household is just one example that enforces that opinion. The people that voted for him in the last general election, predominantly Muslims, obviously didn’t think so and sincerely thought that he cared about their interests. It is very easy to criticise and sight their naivety, but I like to view it from a more positive angle.
The fact that Muslims quickly attach to personalities that champion their cause is a sign that they have real Islamic sentiments and emotions. It is a very positive sign, that Muslims living in London are willing to elect someone purely because they are against the wars in the Muslim world.
The British government is more than happy to let George Galloway represent the Muslims of Bethnal green, diluting all their zeal into this futile venture. This is what some Muslims do not understand. We are always told that if you want to make a change you have to get involved in the system and participate in the democratic processes. But the British government clearly thinks more can be achieved by working outside the system as it looks to ban and silence Islamic political groups that refuse to compromise their Islamic values and hence abstain from participating in democracy. So why go to such lengths if little can be achieved by not democratically participating?
January 27th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
The point you raise is interesting because it questions participation on two levels. The first is whether a voting for George is a compromise of our Deen, and the other is about the most effective method of affecting change.
For Muslims, the matter ought to be resolved at the first hurdle: if it is haram, we abstain from it (inshaAllah). This should be no different than any other decision made by a Muslim - I don’t eat haram meat, I don’t drink alcohol, I offer my salah five times a day, etc., all because I believe that this is the command of my Rabb and his messenger Muhammad (saws).
The primary thing we need to know as Muslims is whether something is haram or halal. This is a question that each and every Muslim should be asking before doing anything, and that includes voting for “Gorgeous George”.
With regards to the 2nd question, we should face reality: People don’t vote. Some do, but fewer each year, and certainly not the youth. I don’t accept the tired excuse that the youth aren’t interested in politics: it doesn’t explain the huge number of people who attended the “Million Man March” against the war in Iraq. Furthermore, when younger people are asked about their views, they give legitimate answers.
The reality is that they aren’t voting for George and others because they don’t want to waste their time. This is OBVIOUS to anyone who has spent more than a day in any British city: in every town centre there are young people walking up to the public and radicalising the youth. Amnesty International, the NSPCC, the RNIB, homeless charities and others - we’ve all been approached by at least one. These groups are political machines, and they are effective. Now when have you even seen your local MP? They crawl out at election time making promises and badgering you for a vote, but for the next four years they’re in hiding. Worse still is that voting pacifies people - “I’ve done my bit”.
Our interests aren’t served by MPs. George is insulting all of those people that wasted their time on him.
January 29th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Now that that insufferable egomaniac Galloway has been thoroughly discredited (politically too, he’s more anti-American than pro-Muslim, having supported Milosevic, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan), maybe Salma Yaqoob will be able to take over as RESPECT party leader. First female party leader since Margaret Thatcher, and a hijabi to boot!