REP. ELLISON GETS EMOTIONAL TELLING STORY OF N.Y. MUSLIM KILLED ON 9/11, March 10, 2011
Today, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) is holding hearings in the House Homeland Security Committee singling out the Muslim American community for supposedly aiding and abetting terrorism. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Congress’s first elected Muslim, rebuked King’s unjustified focus on the Muslim community during his own remarks at the hearing.
He reminded the hearing that a number of Muslims have worked to defend the United States from terrorism, and referenced the story of Muhammad Hamdani, a 23-year-old Muslim first responder, a paramedic and former football player at Bayside High School in Queens, who died on September 11th saving people trapped in the World Trade Center, and was later smeared due to his Islamic faith.
The congressman broke down into tears by the end of his statement, moved by the story of Hamdami, who “was a fellow American who gave his life for other Americans”:
ELLISON: Let me close with a story, but remember that it’s only one of many American stories that could be told. Mohammed Salman Hamdani was a 23-year-old paramedic, a New York City police cadet and a Muslim American. He was one of those brave first responders who tragically lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks almost a decade ago. As The New York Times eulogized, “He wanted to be seen as an all-American kid.” [...]Mr. Hamdani bravely sacrificed his life to try and help others on 9/11. After the tragedy some people tried to smear his character solely because of his Islamic faith. Some people spread false rumors and speculated that he was in league with the attackers only because he was Muslim. It was only when his remains were identified that these lies were fully exposed. Mohammed Salman Hamdani was a fellow American who gave his life for other Americans. His life should not be defined as a member of an ethnic group or a member of a religion, but as an American who gave everything for his fellow citizens. I yield back.
Hamdami’s mother, Talat Hamdani, is at the hearings today. She works with September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, which opposes the hearings.
UPDATE: Hamdani's mother told Politico last week that she along with two other family members of 9/11 victims had been promised a meeting with King -- where she planned to urge him to cancel the hearings -- but that he failed to show up at the meeting.
He reminded the hearing that a number of Muslims have worked to defend the United States from terrorism, and referenced the story of Muhammad Hamdani, a 23-year-old Muslim first responder, a paramedic and former football player at Bayside High School in Queens, who died on September 11th saving people trapped in the World Trade Center, and was later smeared due to his Islamic faith.
The congressman broke down into tears by the end of his statement, moved by the story of Hamdami, who “was a fellow American who gave his life for other Americans”:
ELLISON: Let me close with a story, but remember that it’s only one of many American stories that could be told. Mohammed Salman Hamdani was a 23-year-old paramedic, a New York City police cadet and a Muslim American. He was one of those brave first responders who tragically lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks almost a decade ago. As The New York Times eulogized, “He wanted to be seen as an all-American kid.” [...]Mr. Hamdani bravely sacrificed his life to try and help others on 9/11. After the tragedy some people tried to smear his character solely because of his Islamic faith. Some people spread false rumors and speculated that he was in league with the attackers only because he was Muslim. It was only when his remains were identified that these lies were fully exposed. Mohammed Salman Hamdani was a fellow American who gave his life for other Americans. His life should not be defined as a member of an ethnic group or a member of a religion, but as an American who gave everything for his fellow citizens. I yield back.
Hamdami’s mother, Talat Hamdani, is at the hearings today. She works with September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, which opposes the hearings.
UPDATE: Hamdani's mother told Politico last week that she along with two other family members of 9/11 victims had been promised a meeting with King -- where she planned to urge him to cancel the hearings -- but that he failed to show up at the meeting.
@Rich, thanks for posting this so "I" can get to talk about my NDB practice that has me saying, "THANK YOU P.K. FOR REFUSING TO CANCEL THIS HEARING TODAY". THIS IS BECAUSE, WE ARE TAUGHT TO GIVE THANKS TO WHAT HAS HELPED OVER COME AN OBSTICLE....THAT OBSTICLE IS OUR COUNTRY NOW HAS AT LEAST THE DEMOCRATS NOW WATCHING THE BACKS OF MAIN STREET. examples,
Our Democrats have gone from (when we had the last out of control price at the pump) they threatened to s-u-e Saudi Arabia as being at fault for the price of gas dispite their saying it was not them doing this!!! granted "I" realize we would maybe not know the truth if it was coming from us about why teh gas prices are so high because we tend not to do our own thinking any more much less using common sense...any way... today the lead house Democrat leader said today truthfully that it is oil speculatorS not OPEC causing these gas prices to rise...
and now our president will be speaking about the price of oil / GAS tomorrow...WHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL (SMILE)
IN FACT MY BROTHER COW "I" THANK ALL OF THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY ALONG WITH THE TEAPARTY FOR ALL OF THIS PLUS IT SEEM BY THE END OF THIS YEAR THE MAJORITY FROM GOVERNORS TO MAYORS TO THE HOUSE WILL NOT BE REPUBLICANS AT ALL...BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORCED TH E'MAJORITY VOTERS TO REEDUCATE THEMSELVES BEFORE GOING TO THE POLLS THE NEXT FEW YEARS...
NEXT WILL BE A CHANGE IN THE RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT VIA THOMAS AND SCELIA...AS THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS ALSO WHO ARE NOT MACHINES TO BE PROGRAMED AGAINST THE HUMAN BEHAVIORS OF SURVIVAL OF THE FITEST AS FAR AS BEING FACTUAL IN L-A-W NOT PARTY BASED COVER - UPS UNDER THE GUISE OF GOD AND FLAG / GREED...(SMILE)
...thanks for allowing me to vent...and give praise to the great job being done by Main Street lately. (smile)