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October 21, 11:19 PMSE Michigan Islamic ExaminerHeather Laird

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World Net Daily not known for publishing intellectual or academic works recently published a book entitled: Muslim Mafia: Inside the Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America. This non-academic and seemingly highly speculative piece somehow ended up being quoted by members of Congress.  This is very surprising when members of Congress have at their disposal the Congressional Research Service which is known on Capitol Hill for its ability to research and report any information a Congressional member may need to do their work.  Nonetheless, it was quoted by member's of Congress [Paul Broun (R-GA), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Sue Myrick (R-NC) and John Shadegg (R-AZ)] as a legitimate source. This source claims that the civil rights organization CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) somehow placed interns on Capitol Hill for the purpose of spying. The four Republican Congressional members demanded an investigation into the Muslim interns on Capitol Hill referring to them as "spies."

       The forward of the book was written by Representative Myrick connoting "politics" and the author Dave Gaubatz is known for writing slanderous statements such as "a vote for Hussein Obama is a vote for Shariah law." This clearly suggests that this was not a move to educate the public but rather a move to promote a political agenda. In this instance the agenda seems to denote Islamaphobia. Some members of Congress were quick to  condemn these statements including one of the longest standing members of Congress, Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

       Having been an intern on Capitol Hill myself, it is quite frightening to hear these claims not because they resemble any reality, but because people could be injured because of them. To intern as I did, one had to go through a process of application, recommendations, interview, writing sample and you must have obtained outstanding academic achievement.  When lawmakers are deciding who they want to assist them in their decisions, it would seem to any reasonable person they would choose those who they think are best and most qualified. Interns are usually taught how to give tours of the Capitol, how to respond to constituent needs and for those with higher education and skill; research and writing.  There is not a lot of fruitful spying that could take place by an intern. More to the point, anyone who would like to attend open sessions of committee meetings has the liberty to do so. Therefore, the average person would be privy to just as much information on Capitol Hill as the average intern.  Although it is expected that interns protect the privacy of their Congressman, it is unusual that a lowly intern would have access to any highly confidential information. Everyone who works on Capitol Hill is surely aware of this reality. What interns do accomplish is a sense of serving their Country - a fulfillment of civic duty. 

     For myself, a Muslim, my family taught me the value of civic participation from a young age. At the age of eight I walked door-to-door with my grandfather putting paper fliers in residences encouraging people to vote. This encouragement never ended. It was understandable in a family where almost all the men had also served their Country in military service. Not too mention, the two Marines, I now support with letters and care packages serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

     It is ironic that the organization, CAIR, would be under attack by what seems to be a seething bigotry on the part of people who are anti-Islam and anti-Muslim when CAIR is all about protecting civil liberties and civil rights.  It is also alarming that as I exercise my freedom of religion and freedom participate in government, freedoms that so many have given their lives for, that there are actually Congressmen, who have been elected to represent their States,  trying to dishonor those men and women who fought, stood guard and stand the line today, so that I and all Americans have the freedoms we so freely exercise.     

Heather Laird and Senator Levin on Capitol Hill

        These elected officials and their behavior underscore the need for organizations like CAIR, and the legitimacy of think tanks and organizations that can respond and help the average American understand the truth and facts of situations, rather than use constituent resources and time to promote an agenda that is only representative of a few from the far-right.