Saharsh Week 6: Does Patriotism have a religion?


America portrays itself as a country where people are freely able to practice their faith and beliefs without having to prove that they belong. Yet the treatment of Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate from Michigan, makes us feel that this treatment doesn’t apply to certain ethnic groups. 

During his campaign, El-Sayed has faced attacks focused less on his policies than on his Muslim identity. President Donald Trump has called him a “jihadist” and questioned his loyalty to the country. A major part of his opponent’s campaign is built on claiming El-Sayed is unpatriotic and un-American; the irony being that El-Sayed grew up in America playing American sports and going to American schools. 


Political candidates should face criticism in their campaigns. It is reasonable to question their policies and decisions that they make, but there is a difference between criticizing their positions and their individuality. A candidate’s faith should not be the reason why they are not considered patriotic. 


The First Amendment protects religious freedom, and American democracy relies on all of the voters being able to participate in government regardless of their backgrounds. Yet Muslim candidates are other immigrants who are found defending themselves for their backgrounds rather than what they stand for. 


Modern Islamophobia in specific, stemmed from the events of 9/11—creating years of suspicion and prejudice towards the Muslim communities across the country. Muslim Americans to this day, face the consequences of being associated with extremists, despite having no connection to them. It is important to challenge this stereotype portrayed on Muslim Americans all over the U.S. 


The issue goes beyond one Senate race. This sets a dangerous precedent for who is considered welcome in American politics. For younger generations, especially Muslim Americans, it sends the message that they may never be considered American enough to participate in the government that represents them.

America should judge candidates by their actions and qualifications, not their religion or beliefs. The freedom to participate in our democracy shouldn’t fall to criteria of fitting into an image of what an American is supposed to look like. A country that promises life, liberty, and justice cannot uphold those values while questioning whether its own citizens truly belong. 

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