* From a June 20th Tribune story…
There might not be a budget, but Illinois could become the first state with a law on the books that gives Muslims a formal voice in government.
The creation of an Illinois Muslim-American Advisory Council is one of more than 400 bills awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature. It landed on the Republican governor’s desk shortly before presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump renewed his call to ban Muslims entering the U.S., after a shooter of the Islamic faith killed 49 people at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub.
Muslim leaders say Rauner’s signing of the bill would send a welcome message to the community that Illinois does not condone Trump’s approach. The governor’s office said he is reviewing the bill. […]
Along with a number of other minority advisory councils, the Muslim council that existed under Quinn dissolved when Rauner took office last year, Irfan said. This year’s hostile political climate prompted Muslim community leaders to propose a resolution that would restore it, and lawmakers took it one step further by proposing a statute that would establish the council more formally.
* The legislation has created a freakout on social media by people who are prone to freaking out. A sampling of a Twitter search for “Rauner”and “Muslim”…
* One of Illinois Review’s stories…
Not only is the proposed council the first in the nation, it’s the first such council representing a religious sector in Illinois. No similar council is in place that represents Catholics, Protestants, Jews or Hindus. Muslims are the third largest religious group in Illinois, following Roman Catholics and evangelical Christians.
Governor Pat Quinn was the first to appoint a Muslim-American Advisory Council. This legislation would make the council official, and continue its service whoever is in the Governor’s Mansion. […]
The definition of “Muslim” in the legislation did not disqualify a representative from Minister Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam from being appointed to the panel. “Muslim” is defined as “an individual who practices the religion of Islam.”
SB 574 was considered on the House floor with no substantial discussion, but a bi-partisan group of lawmakers opposed the bill, including Democrats Dan Beiser, John Bradley, Katherine Cloonan, Jerry Costello, Brandon Phelps, Susan Scherer and Andrew Skoog.
* But…
Folks, after several conversations with Governor Rauner’s office, I can report that the Muslim Advisory Council legislation (SB574) that was sitting on the governor’s desk, is dead for now.
What all Illinois voters should know is that this bill, SB574, passed the House and the Senate overwhelmingly, and it was Democrat Senator Terry Link who effectively killed the bill. In a conversation with a rep in Link’s office, he reported there were many technical problems with the bill, one of which was that it violated house rules!
* Actually, the bill’s House passage violated the state Constitution and, contrary to the Tribune report, it never made it to the governor’s desk.
Check out the bill history. The House, for whatever reason, skipped the mandated 1st Reading. So, Sen. Terry Link filed a motion to reconsider on June 30th, effectively stalling the bill in its tracks.
But, really, is it that nefarious? It’s just a little advisory council, after all. And the bill passed both chambers with overwhelmingly bipartisan roll calls.
People really need to calm the heck down out there.
- Crispy - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:10 pm:
Not a tinfoil-hatter. Still, I’m glad the bill is DOA; having a state-created religious advisory group of whatever stripe just seems like a really bad precedent–unless you’re prepared to create one for Catholics, Evangelicals, Hindus, Buddhists, and every other religious group as well. Or, better yet, truly practice separation of church and state. …
- anon - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:10 pm:
Religious bigotry looks for any excuse to evince its bile.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:12 pm:
Do these people also freak out over the village of Mahomet?
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
First reading is overrated.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:19 pm:
If we create a Muslim advisory council by statute, are we then required to create a similar council for all other religions?
That question aside, there needs to be organized outreach to the Muslim community to help integrate them into the larger American community. Their youth are particular targets for radicalization and need all the help they can get.
Most Muslims live in countries that are majority Muslim and the state supports and enforces Islam. Muslim communities are still learning how to be loyal citizens in a country that is built on a different religious history and where they are a minority.
Dialogue needs to go both ways, with large doses of compassion and humility from all.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:23 pm:
Ironically, the tweets above by Eileen and Sheila Petty are evidence that such a council might not be a bad idea. The overwhelming majority of U.S. Muslims do not support terrorism and do not want to live under Sharia.
Too many crazy white people, on the other hand, believe the opposite. Maybe a council could recommend some ways to improve cultural understanding.
- Belle - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:31 pm:
It would be a great idea if these ‘tweeters’took a trip out of this country and experienced people that don’t look like the person in the mirror.
I’m embarrassed to live here this AM.
- @MisterJayEm - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:35 pm:
“Muslims are the third largest religious group in Illinois, following Roman Catholics and evangelical Christians.”
In other words, Muslims are the SECOND largest religious group in Illinois, following Christians.
– MrJM
- cdog - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:42 pm:
The elephant in the room is the fear many Americans feel towards Sharia Law.
I am educated, cultured, and well-traveled, but I do have fears which are founded in fact. Saudi Arabia, for example, which rules their nation by fear of Sharia discipline, is not on my bucket list, nor is any other Muslim country.
Our Constitution, statutes, ordinances, and all the legal precedents that go with those, make it pretty clear how Americans roll on this subject.
The US Constitution supersedes religious law if it violates the rights of another person.
So, regardless of any advisory council success or failure, Muslim Americans would do themselves a favor by making it clear to all other Americans that they understand this fear of Sharia Law, but that they are Americans who support the freedoms for all provided in the US Constitution.
(thank you for allowing me to post this honest comment, if I make it on the blog.)
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:54 pm:
Letting the Muslim Brotherhood form a government
committee to talk about Sharia law.
I’m embarrassed for that person.
- walker - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 12:57 pm:
Clog. You made it clear why Sharia law cannot and will not ever exist in the US — which of course also proves that fears of it in the US are irrational or worse.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:01 pm:
== Muslim Americans would do themselves a favor by making it clear to all other Americans that they understand this fear of Sharia Law, but that they are Americans who support the freedoms for all provided in the US Constitution==
Why do they need to do that? You think all Muslims need to come out and affirmatively tell us this? Just Muslims? This insanity with regard to Muslims is getting ridiculous. We’ve got all kinds of people now wanting to develop criteria to be Muslim in the U.S. It makes me sick to my stomach.
- Allen Skillicorn - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:06 pm:
When will Pastafarians have a seat at the table?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-pastafarian-drivers-license-picture-met-20160708-story.html
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:11 pm:
Why aren’t there similar objections to rabbinical law or canon law? For practical purposes, we think Sharia means cutting off the hands of thieves, no rights for women, etc., which in its purest form as practiced in backward places is true.
But Muslims cannot charge or pay interest, so Sharia is used to allow for mortgages and car payments. It can be used to determine when marriages are annulled, as with canon law or Rabbinical law. There are many facets of Sharia that are not threatening and that provide guidance to devout Muslims when parties agree to use it to settle disputes.
We really need to de-mystify this stuff. Sharia doesn’t mean cutting off the heads of infidels. It means helping devout believers practice their faith in a modern world. There are parallels in both Christianity and Judaism. Sharia law in the U.S. does not replace or super-cede civil law. It enhances it.
- FormerParatrooper - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:11 pm:
In all forms, the loud minority sets the perception of the whole group. You can apply this logic to religion, race, political parties and gun owners. In each case, detractors demand that others must be louder to condemn those who act immorally.
I am not saying it is right, what I am saying it is human nature.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:19 pm:
Allen:
Well played. lol
- Chicago_Downstater - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:21 pm:
This is tricky, right?
I mean on the one hand this could be construed as a weakening of the wall between church and state. And that’s a no-no for me mostly because I’d hate to see what a very specific segment of the religious right could do to my rights if they didn’t have to ooze through that wall.
Still it feels wrong to agree with those people on anything–even if it’s for vastly different reasons.
The cognitive dissonance hurts. Ugh.
- anon - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:34 pm:
As recently as 1960, the Catholic candidate for president was accused of trying to impose papal dictate in the USA. Thankfully, we no longer hear that kind of prejudice.
- cdog - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:35 pm:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/saudi-arabia-uncovered/
Saudi Arabia is not a backward place. In wahhabism, the dominate form of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia, there is a lot of violent enforcement of Sharia Law.
I could go on but it is not my intent to inflame, only to encourage continuous research.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
cdog:
I’m trying hard to get the point you are trying to make but am failing miserably.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:48 pm:
===Saudi Arabia is not a backward place.===
A country that won’t let women drive or leave the house un-escorted counts as backward in my book.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 1:59 pm:
When (if) people choose to come to this country, they need to understand our constitution and how we function as a society. Hopefully, they do not come here to set up camp as their own society within ours. Assimilation, if one truly is choosing to become an American, is not difficult. As a first generation American, my parents came to this country to become American and seemed to believe it was a better way to be than what they chose to leave. They quickly enrolled in English classes and tried to fit in.
It seems that being Muslim is more than worshiping a religion. It brings with it behaviors that sometimes test the American way of life.
Understanding each other is important. It needs to work both ways.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 2:06 pm:
This is how you trolled before there was an Internet or blogs.
You pass legislation for no other reason than to politically embarrass an election opponent.
- cdog - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 2:13 pm:
My point is that many Americans fear Sharia Law.
Whether this fear is rational or irrational is what is debatable.
For me, I argue my fear is rational due to many world-wide factors, and there are many Americans who feel the same as I do.
I was very impressed with Khazir Khan, especially his CNN interview on Sunday morning.
More of this is needed.
- Last Bull Moose - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 2:15 pm:
I lived under Sharia law for two years. It has some good points but is fundamentally incompatible with the U.S. Constitution. Some of the features most bothersome to us; religious discrimination, legal inferiority of women, death to apostates and those who engage in homosexual acts, are in the body of the Koran and thus cannot be changed. As Walker said, it is not coming here anytime soon. It is more likely that the younger generations will fall away from the religion and become either secular or converts to another religion.
Our own Supreme Court has helped fuel the tinhat syndrome. People have seen laws that were on the books for years about abortion or marriage overturned by judicial fiat. And the judicial rulings changed with no change in the Constitution. This bothers people and makes them think that all sorts of evil things can happen.
I don’t disagree with where we are on abortion or gay marriage, but I don’t like the way we got here. Justices have made some huge mistakes and are not to be trusted too far. Dred Scott helped create the Civil War and Plessy vs. Ferguson authorized segregation.
I am more worried about the Zika virus damaging a grandchild than about them growing up under Sharia Law. Take off the tinfoil hat and put on the bug repellant.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 2:16 pm:
===My point is that many Americans fear Sharia Law.===
Thanks. My point is that many Americans don’t understand Sharia Law. I think that’s where the fear comes from.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 2:21 pm:
My point is that many Americans don’t understand Sharia Law.
You don’t have to understand why something is horrifying to be horrified.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 2:24 pm:
===Understanding each other is important. It needs to work both ways.===
Are you the same lazy commenter who wrote that, Anonymous 2:21 (if that’s your real name)?
Because you clearly don’t understand logic either, which horrifies me to no end.
Pick a nickname or please don’t direct any comments to me.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
== I argue my fear is rational ==
Based on what? What exactly has ever happened in this country to suggest to you that we are in danger of Sharia Law popping up anywhere?
I think we’re kind of going off the rails here and I don’t want to take us any further off those rails but I’ve tried hard to understand and have not been able to get to the point of understanding.
==It seems that being Muslim is more than worshiping a religion. It brings with it behaviors that sometimes test the American way of life.==
Being Amish is more than worshiping. Being anything is more than worshiping.
And last time I checked the “American way of life” was built on the meshing of many different religions and cultures.
At what point did we become a xenophobic society that we now have litmus tests as to what it means to be an American.
- Levois - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 2:39 pm:
While I’m for not having all these panels, this seemed to have turned into hate for muslims real quick. And that isn’t cool at all!
- Tequila Mockingbird - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
I don’t really care but I have to wonder why it’s necessary to have this advisory panel? Is government so tangled up that we need more boards and committees and panels or is it because of them? Hopefully no tax dollars or gov resources are committed.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 4:04 pm:
Because American life includes the meshing of religions and customs, then we need to have many more advisory panels, as I don’t believe my religion has one.
- Liberty - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 6:12 pm:
Illinois Constitution: “nor shall any
preference be given by law to any religious denomination or
mode of worship.”
- CapnCrunch - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 6:55 pm:
“[American Muslim] youth are particular targets for radicalization and need all the help they can get.”
What is unique about American Muslim youths that makes them “particular targets ” for radicalization?
“The US Constitution supersedes religious law if it violates the rights of another person. ”
But the Koran is literally the word of God as received by the prophet Mohammed as his last messenger on earth. This means it is divine. How then can it be subordinate to the laws of mere mortals?
- NorthsideNoMore - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 7:08 pm:
So divide and conquer now pervading into the actual statutes ? how novel….can the state pass a meaningful budget that supports all education and other critical social programs and stop with all the other non sense until they do.
- cdog - Wednesday, Aug 3, 16 @ 7:34 pm:
“But the Koran is literally the word of God as received by the prophet Mohammed as his last messenger on earth. This means it is divine. How then can it be subordinate to the laws of mere mortals?”
I hope that was snark.
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Aug 4, 16 @ 9:42 am:
CapnCrunch,
All youth are targets for Isis. Muslim youth are particular targets because the radicals can approach them using terms, phrases, and thought processes from their common religion and culture. Arab culture is more “face” and status conscious than ours. Youth gain status through joining the movement.
Recruiters target the people most likely to be recruited.