My interview with Farah Pandith, State Department representative to Muslim communities worldwide, is up at altmuslim.com.
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abunoor 3:57 pm on July 9, 2009 Permalink |
Jazzak Allaahu Khayr for the interview Shahed.
I have to admit that I don’t feel I understand where this woman is coming from, and unfortunately I’m still quite confused after reading the interview. Was it your choice to basically focus on the areas you did and avoid her personal background or her understanding of Islam, or was that her choice?
Do you know what this comment from the interview means?
I know you asked specifically about her being someone who worked both in the Bush White House and then State Dept. but she lost me with her answer.
I’m sorry if I’m being really dense, but can someone help to get a better understanding of this woman?
Did anyone work with her on all these efforts to have American Muslims go over to Europe? Can someone give me an insight into where she’s coming from in terms of Islam, international relations, and even American politics? I understand her background is in Kashmir issues, will she be bringing any perspective to that issue for the Obama Admin, Kashmiris are a “muslim community” aren’t they?
thabet 4:17 am on July 10, 2009 Permalink |
Oh dear.
shahed 12:13 pm on July 10, 2009 Permalink |
I’ll try to do a follow up interview. I introduced her over lunch to half a dozen of the contributors here at Talk Islam last weekend in Washington, DC, so others may have some input. The comment about Barbara Bush, I believe, was a compliment given to her upon giving a talk back in college.
shahed 12:15 pm on July 10, 2009 Permalink |
She laid no ground rules for the inteview. I was focusing more on how she got there and where she would go rather than her personal history – perhaps the fact that I already know her colored my questions. I will try to do better in the future, inshallah.
I know several people who have worked with and/or accompanied her on her trips to meet European Muslims over the past year (myself included) – all are active members of the Muslim American community.
abunoor 5:36 pm on July 10, 2009 Permalink |
Shahed,
Jazzak Allaahu Khayr for your response. My comments were not meant as a criticism of you…I do not assume that what I’m interested in has to be what everyone else is interested in…I was just asking.
Listen, I understand she’s in a certain position and I don’t really expect her to say a lot that would give me real insight into who she is because I know she doesn’t want to offend Muslims and she can’t offend the administration and with those parameters its pretty hard to say anything of substance.
I understand Barbara Bush complimented her for a speech and they even talked at that time, but what did it mean for her to say that “moved me into Washington”?
Again, it may be just that I don’t understand the ways of Washington or any circles of ambition but she has to know that Muslims would be deeply wary of someone who comes out of the Bush National Security Council and the Bush State Department.
At the same time, I know that many prominent Muslim Americans have been involved in these trips to Europe and many must know something about her, so give me a sense of who she is.
Y’know I was in DC for ISNA, and my original intention was to try to at least meet some of you guys…I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do it.
islamoyankee 9:11 pm on July 10, 2009 Permalink |
Just a quick comment, Barbara Bush is a different Bush than the most recent Bush under whom she served. I think, from what I understand, that what Ms. Pandith was saying was that her talk with Barbara Bush encouraged her to explore a political career.
A shame we couldn’t meet at ISNA.