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Solution to Muslim Political Apathy- Get Involved!
4-21-2017
We cannot stress enough the importance of Canadian Muslims being involved in the Canadian electoral process. It is not just about voting on the Election Day. It is about being involved at the grass root level in your local constituencies. One more provincial election. One more time Muslims in BC have failed miserably to get a star Muslim candidate on the ballot paper from the lower mainland in any of the Parties. We have no one to blame, but us.
Each election year Muslims in BC vow to identify a star Muslim candidate who could become the voice for BC as well as Canadian Muslims in the Parliament or Provincial Legislature. Once the elections are over, everyone outs on their relaxing sandals and start bathing in the sun, and leave the urging necessity on the back burner.
We live in a multicultural mosaic where each tile has a role to play. Each tile has its wish list, rights that need to be protected and safeguarded. Although, other smaller minorities have managed to recognize this imperative need to be an active participant in the Canadian electoral process at all levels, and have managed to elect a person in the edifices where decisions are made. Canadian Muslims have lagged behind. This despite being the fastest growing and second largest faith of the country. It is time the Muslims in BC really take a closer look at what’s happening around them and how to ensure their rights as well as their children’s rights will be safeguarded in this country. There is only one way – Get Involved!
If we examine a latest article in the Vancouver Sun, dated April 15, 2017, BC Election 2017: Religion and ethnicity strongly shape choices, poll finds. The article was based on a poll conducted by a Mainstream Research opinion that reflected BC voters views based on ethnicities and religious affiliations, from Sikh, Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, Buddhist, Hindu, Filipino, and Chinese. Not surprisingly, BC Muslims views did not even get on the radar. We believe it is not due to failing on the part of the poll conductor, rather due to general apathy among Muslims in expressing their views publicly about their political choices or preferences.
More than 5,500 BC Residents were surveyed, NDP John Horgan was backed by 39 percent of voters. Whereas, BC Liberals, Christy Clark, trailing at only 35 percent support, and Green at 19 percent among the decided or leaning voters.
The poll revealed that Roman Catholics, protestant, and Evangelical Christians leaning more towards BC Liberals, where as other minority faith groups leaning more towards the NDP. Point to note that almost 10 percent of Evangelical Christians in BC are Chinese or Korean background.
The poll also concluded that 45 percent among the decided voters form Sikh origin will be voting BC Liberals, equally 43 percent will be voting NDP, and 6 percent Green.
As you can see opinions of Muslim voters in BC is nowhere on the radar. This despite the fact that Muslim voters make up 2.35 percent of the voting population, enough to tilt the balance of power towards one party over the other. Especially where elections are decided with less than thousand votes in may of the constituencies across the province.
We will keep repeating - Get involved!
Get involved at your local constituency. It doesn’t matter which party’s platform appeals to you. Whichever party it may be, the single most important step would have to be taken by none other than you.
Get involved, by meeting the candidates, asking them questions about their platform.
Get involved by learning about various issues affecting all British Columbians.
Get involved, by visiting all party’s election offices and learning about where your local candidate stands on number of issues.
Get involved by taking a lawn sign from the candidates who you think would be the best candidate to represent your views and interests.
Get involved by volunteering by supporting your preferred candidate.
Get involved by going door knocking with your preferred candidate.
Get involved by making donations to the candidate or the party you intend to support.
Get involved by introducing other members of your community to your preferred candidate.
There are thousands of ways the Muslims can play an active role in upcoming BC Elections on May 9th.
One of the best ways to find out where each party and candidate stands is by attending the numerous debates organized by AlAmeen Post at various Mosques in and around the Lower Mainland where candidates from all parties will be attending. Contact us to find out more about the different dates and volunteer in organizing in the scheduled debates in the next two weeks.
You will get the firsthand experience of knowing the different candidates and asking them questions through a moderator. This will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about different party’s platform, compare where they stand on different issues, and how it impacts you and the community at large.
The more we get involved as individuals and as community members the better the chances for us to be noticed among the political decision makers.
The more we are involved, the more likely the candidates who go on to represent us in the legislature will remember what issues are important to you as an individual and as community.
The more we get involved, the higher the chances for parties to realize the large noticeable presence of Muslim voters within BC, and more incline they would be in future to ensure that Muslim voices are represented in the legislature through an elected official rather than some third party candidate.
Whatever you decide, whoever you choose to support this election. We request you to make sure your vote counts in more than one way. Make sure your vote gets noticed and just doesn’t get lost in some statistical figure.
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