International
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar opposes Rusesabagina’s release
In
opposition to resolution HR 892 filed recently in Congress by Congressman
Joaquin Castro and Congresswoman Kim Young calling for the unconditional
release of a convicted terrorist, Paul Rusesabagina, Congress’ first black
woman to represent Minnesota and the first naturalized citizen of African birth
came out swinging.
You
should see her in action on the House floor.
Ilhan
Omar
See,
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has no fear and speaks truth to power on a regular
basis. The daily death threats have not slowed her down or muzzled her.
Born
in 1982 in Mogadishu, Somalia she lived in a refugee camp in Kenya for five
years before her family was granted asylum in the US. Those years gave her
gusto and a deep sense of fairness that needless to say has tweaked her moral
compass.
Who
better to speak first hand on African affairs than this petite, strikingly
beautiful African woman? She has class, grace, humility, and speaks on issues
she knows and understands more than most of her elderly colleagues in Congress
who are twice her age. (Average age in the House is 57.6 while in the Senate it
is 62.9)
That
she serves in a predominantly white male institution — US Congress — where she
is one of the first two Muslim women to serve has not silenced her or made her
cautious on the causes she takes on. She is a proud and devout Muslim and does
not hide it.
Simply
put, she is a breath of fresh air and a good eloquent representative of African
womanhood and values. No kidding — dynamite comes in small packages.
Congresswoman
Omar has tabled resolutions on the Armenian genocide as well as the genocide
against Native Americans. I said she is fearless. These are topics that most of
her colleagues have no balls (pardon my Swahili!) to address because it would
compromise their political careers.
But,
I diverse.
Back
to Rusesabagina, a convicted terrorist who was recently sentenced to 25 years
in prison in a trial he gave the middle finger and refused to attend. You
wonder who was giving him legal advice.
Ilhan
Omar submitting to the House about resolution HR 892
Congresswoman
Omar has stepped forward to forcefully oppose HR 892 calling for Rusesabagina’s
un-conditional release on so-called “humanitarian grounds.” On record, she told
the House that his crimes were “serious” and he was “credibly accused of
terrorism, tried and convicted.” She asked, what guarantee is there that he
will not continue to support terrorism after his release? She concluded, “there
is nothing to stop him.”
I
couldn’t have said it better.
Congresswoman
Ilhan Abdullahi Omar has the moral integrity and fortitude to call it as she
sees it. When most in Hollywood continue to push the alleged heroic deeds of a
phony, a genocide denier, and negationist, this courageous African woman would
not remain silent. While many of her colleagues in Congress continue to exploit
Rusesabagina’s fake claim to having saved Tutsi lives in Rwanda’s Dark 100 Days
to gain a few minutes of fame in the media, Omar insisted on being heard.
She
spoke out loud and clear on behalf of Rusesabagina’s victims who were
needlessly silenced, and for the survivors who have to live with permanent
psychological and physical scars.
As a patriotic Rwandan, I am feeling Omar-strong
source: www.rwandanvoice.com