
Congressional resolutions about Islam
Senate resolutions of 1999 and 2000

Sponsored link.

Religious tolerance resolution (1999):
On 1999-JUL-1 Senator Spencer Abraham (MI-R) sponsored a Senate
resolution titled "A resolution supporting religious tolerance toward
Muslims." (S.RES.133). Representative David Bonior (MI-D) introduced a concurrent resolution
to the House on 1999-AUG-5. (H.con.res.174).
By 1999-OCT-24, the Senate resolution had four cosponsors. It was referred to the Committee
on Judiciary. The House version had two cosponsors. It was referred to the House
Committee on the Judiciary, and later to its Subcommittee on the
Constitution.
Chairperson Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) and committee members gutted
and shelved the House resolution in 1999-DEC. According to Raeed Tayeh, columnist for
Pioneer Planet:
"...several Jewish and Christian groups have
been protesting the passage of this resolution. These groups did much
behind-the-scenes lobbying, asking that the resolution be rewritten or
removed from the congressional docket altogether." 1,2

Text of the 1999 House resolution:
Name: "Supporting religious tolerance toward Muslims:"
Whereas the American Muslim community, comprised of approximately 5,000,000
people, is a vital part of our Nation, with more than 1,500 mosques, Islamic
schools, and Islamic centers in neighborhoods across the United States;
Whereas Islam is one of the great Abrahamic faiths, whose significant
contributions throughout history have advanced the fields of math, science,
medicine, law, philosophy, art, and literature;
Whereas the United States is a secular nation, with an unprecedented
commitment to religious tolerance and
pluralism, 3 where the rights, liberties,
and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution are guaranteed to all citizens
regardless of religious affiliation;
Whereas Muslims have been subjected, simply because of their faith, to acts
of discrimination and harassment that all too often have led to hate-inspired
violence, as was the case during the rush to judgment in the aftermath of the
tragic Oklahoma City bombing;
Whereas discrimination against Muslims intimidates American Muslims and may
prevent Muslims from freely expressing their opinions and exercising their
religious beliefs as guaranteed by the first amendment to the Constitution;
Whereas American Muslims have regrettably been portrayed in a negative light
in some discussions of policy issues such as issues relating to religious
persecution abroad or fighting terrorism in the United States;
Whereas stereotypes and anti-Muslim rhetoric have also contributed to a
backlash against Muslims in some neighborhoods across the United States; and
Whereas all persons in the United States who espouse and adhere to the values
of the founders of our Nation should help in the fight against bias, bigotry,
and intolerance in all their forms and from all their sources: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That
-
Congress condemns anti-Muslim intolerance and discrimination as wholly
inconsistent with the American values of religious tolerance and pluralism;
-
while Congress respects and upholds the right of individuals to free
speech, Congress acknowledges that individuals and organizations that foster
such intolerance create an atmosphere of hatred and fear that divides the
Nation;
-
Congress resolves to uphold a level of political discourse that does not
involve making a scapegoat of an entire religion or drawing political
conclusions on the basis of religious doctrine; and
-
Congress recognizes the contributions of American Muslims, who are
followers of one of the three major monotheistic religions of the world and
one of the fastest growing faiths in the United States.

Sponsored link:

Senate acknowledgment resolution of 2000:
The U.S. Senate passed unanimously their Senate Resolution 133 in late
2000-JUL, recognizing the
significant contribution of America's Muslims to the country. The resolution was co-sponsored
by two Republican and five Democratic senators. One sponsor, Senator Abraham, noted, "I
am very pleased that my colleagues joined me unanimously in: acknowledging that
we need to have a more tolerant discourse toward Islam -- one of the three great
monotheistic faiths." 4 The resolution states,
in part:
"Whereas American Muslims and the Islamic religion have regrettably
been portrayed in a negative light in some discussions of policy issues such
as issues relating to religious persecution abroad or fighting terrorism in
the United States;"
"Congress resolves to uphold a level of political discourse that
rejects negatively stereotyping Islam."
The Arab American Institute (AAI) has asked the House Judiciary Committee
to release its companion version. According to the AAI:
"Due to pressure
from what some committee staffers described as "family" and
"religious" groups, the Judiciary Committee demanded significant
changes in the resolution's language -- changes that would have rendered the
measure meaningless.
The family/religious groups appear to be a reference to
conservative Christian organizations. The AAI continues:
"Unnamed members of the House Judiciary Committee also objected
to the resolution's assertion that there was a rush to judgment based on
stereotypes of American Muslims and Islam in the wake of the Oklahoma
City bombing."
This appears to be a reference to a widespread rumor which
circulated through Oklahoma City and some media outlets, that the bombing had
some of the characteristics of attacks by Muslim terrorists in the Middle East.
Muslim clerics were later not permitted to take part in the memorial service for
the persons killed in the bombing. The perpetrators were later traced to a militia
group who attacked a federal building as revenge for the loss of life among the
Branch
Davidians at Waco.
The house version was shelved by the House
Committee on the Judiciary on 1999-NOV, never to see the light of day.

References used:
The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
-
Raeed N. Tayeh, "U.S. Muslims deserve measure of goodwill," Pioneer Planet,
1999-DEC-15, at:
http://www.pioneerplanet.com
-
H. Con. Res. 174, "Supporting religious tolerance toward
Muslims." Search http://thomas.loc.gov/
for Bill Number s.res.133
-
The term "pluralism" is ambiguous.
It is sometimes used to refer to religious diversity. Other times, it refers
to the belief that all religions are true.
-
"Senate passes resolution acknowledging American Muslims,"
http://usinfo.state.gov/
(offline)
-
Raeed N. Tayeh, "U.S. Muslims deserve measure of goodwill," Pioneer Planet,
1999-DEC-15, at:
http://www.pioneerplanet.com
-
Irving Hexham, excerpt
from: "Concise Dictionary of Religion, Regent College Press, (1999; second
edition). See:
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~nurelweb/books/ Read
reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store
