London elects a mayor who is Muslim

LaunchGood is a web site for crowd-funding of small, good works projects started by individuals.   It was initiated by Muslims and clearly features Muslim sensibility and values;  but their projects are not primarily for other Muslims.

I began following them last summer when they were raising money for African-American churches destroyed by a wave of racial hatred and arson.   So  I was interested in the pride they must feel that London has just elected a new mayor, who is Muslim. 

Sadiq Kahn, a Pakistani who grew up in London, is the son of a bus driver and a seamstress. He became a lawyer, civil rights advocate, and member of Parliament.  As the first Muslim mayor of a major Western city, he said that his election shows that there is no clash of civilizations between Muslims and the West.

"I am the West, I am a Londoner, I'm British, I'm of Islamic faith, Asian origin, Pakistan heritage. . . .  these others who want to destroy our way of life and talk about the West, they're talking about me.  What better antidote to the hatred they spew than someone like me being in this position?"

Little by little, with groups like LaunchGood and leaders like Mayor Khan in London and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MI) in the U.S. Congress, the world will come to realize what we've been saying:   that these terrorists groups do not represent Islam.  They pervert a peaceful religion, just as White Supremacists and KKKs pervert Christianity when they link themselves to it by symbols.  Just as do the "Christians" who spew out anti-Muslim hatred.

More in the post below about this remarkable man, Sadiq Kahn, who was elected mayor of arguably the greatest city in the world  -- by the largest number of votes in its history. 

Ralph