(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry has written a book that will be published soon in which he extols the virtues of the Lone Star State and criticizes the federal government for the role it currently plays in our national life.
The Texan believes that issues such as health care can be best addressed at the state level, and asserts that the states can learn from one another on how best to deal with such matters.
In interviews with a variety of media outlets in anticipation of the book’s release, Perry has spoken of how Texas attracts thousands of immigrants from around the world on a weekly basis who go there seeking economic opportunity.
The Texan governor has analogized that stream of immigrants to an election in which people “vote with their feet” when they come to his state.
Perry praises those new arrivals for how they have enriched Texas and for the ventures they have started there that have created many jobs and economic opportunities for others. In a recent interview with National Public Radio, Perry spoke of his friendship with the Aga Khan, the leader of the Ismaili Muslims, and said that thousands of Ismaili Muslims have come to Texas and now operate successful businesses there and are also active in the civic affairs of their communities.
Members of that Islamic sect are also found in Oklahoma, where they operate a variety of businesses and participate in community activities. The Ismaili Muslims of Oklahoma City sponsor a street in Oklahoma’s capital and like other Muslims in Oklahoma are involved in civic affairs. Muslims of all types are visible throughout Oklahoma as physicians, small business operators and restaurateurs.
One wonders what Perry and other Texas leaders would have done if someone in that state had proposed amending the Texas Constitution to ensure that that state’s judges did not consider Sharia or international law when they make decisions. Perry would have probably responded that such a measure would be offensive to the state’s Muslims and that it would send the wrong message to minorities who were considering relocating to Texas.
It is unfortunate that no Oklahoma leaders spoke out against the constitutional amendment that was approved by the electorate recently that prohibits Oklahoma’s jurists from considering Sharia or international law when they render decisions. There is no recorded instance of any judge in the state being asked to consider Sharia law.
Proponents of the measure used the military term “preemptive strike” to describe it, but failed to offer any evidence that Muslims in the state were planning to have Sharia law incorporated into the state’s legal system. Several law professors and attorneys have pointed out that the provision that prohibits the consideration of international law could make it difficult for the state to attract investments from foreign companies.
The Oklahoma Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has filed a federal court challenge to the measure, and Judge Vickie Miles LaGrange has issued an order that stayed implementation of the measure until a hearing is held.
In recent years, several Oklahoma leaders have publicly recognized the Muslim community’s contributions to the state. Gov. Brad Henry has hosted an annual dinner at the Governor’s Mansion during his term in office to commemorate the end of the month of Ramadan. Former Stillwater Mayor Roger McMillian signed a proclamation several years ago that celebrated the contributions that Muslims have made to that community.
In time Oklahoma may again have leaders such as Henry and McMillian who realize that Muslims are playing an important role in the state’s economic and cultural development.
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