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Muslim Congresswoman-Elect Had the Perfect Response to a Pastor Who Railed Against Democrats Wanting to Lift the Ban on Headwear on the House Floor
Yaaas.
The 2018 midterm elections yielded what will be the most diverse Congress in American history, and some people — like far-Right pastor E.W. Jackson — are pressed about it.
Jackson took issue with a push from the incoming Democratic majority to strike down the prohibition against headwear in the House chamber. While many Americans hadn't been aware of the ban before, it rose to public knowledge shortly after the election of Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who just became one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress (along with Rashida Tlaib of Michigan).
Omar's free expression of her religion moves her to wear a hijab, but under the current House rules, it wouldn't be permitted on the floor.
Though discrimination on the basis of religion is illegal, Pastor Jackson seems to think that the law applies only to Christians, saying on his radio show:
“We are a Judeo-Christian country. We are a nation rooted and grounded in Christianity and that’s that. And anybody that doesn’t like that, go live somewhere else. It’s very simple. Just go live somewhere else. Don’t try to change our country into some sort of Islamic republic or try to base our country on Sharia law.”
In addition to being wrong, the statement from Jackson enraged many. However, Omar was completely unbothered.
Well sir, the floor of Congress is going to look like America... And you’re gonna have to just deal 😂 https://t.co/mHQzj34ZTn— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1544159265.0
The response reminded Americans everywhere why Omar won her district.
@IlhanMN Well, you said what ? U called him Sir! waaw that is our Girl, respect even those who don’t deserve 🙏🙏🙏 GG @IlhanMN— 𝒁achy Ismael (@𝒁achy Ismael) 1544180448.0
@IlhanMN drag him queen— truvada lizard 🦎💦 (@truvada lizard 🦎💦) 1544187003.0
@IlhanMN SEE??? This is why I voted for you!!!— Pork'Etta the Bacon Fairy (@Pork'Etta the Bacon Fairy) 1544196743.0
And they weren't done with Jackson either.
Though Omar gave the perfect response, some still thought there were words left unsaid (she is still an imminent Congresswoman after all).
So they did the real dragging for her.
@IlhanMN @BlakeBaiers Old man yells at cloud.— Chris (@Chris) 1544187444.0
@IlhanMN some people never leave their neighborhoods... #ignorance is often not bliss— Peter André Daignault (@Peter André Daignault) 1544171278.0
@IlhanMN Ignore him. Dude ran for office, lost, changed parties, ran for something else, and lost again. It would s… https://t.co/Ndv5SnePLz— CJ (@CJ) 1544163059.0
@IlhanMN They'd rather it looked like Gilead, perhaps?— Naomi Hossain (@Naomi Hossain) 1544165808.0
@IlhanMN @ArrogantDemon He’s no pastor he’s a hypocrite making statements like that,— charlene green (@charlene green) 1544172377.0
While a Congress actually reflective of its nation may have ignorant people like Jackson quaking in their boots, Omar's election — and the 2018 midterms as a whole — shows that Americans are buying into hope instead of fear.
Judging by Omar's response, she's more than up to the challenge.