In the aftermath of the Orlando mass shooting, presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have been in a war of words over how to address threats to national security.
And for many Muslims living in Michigan, the words the presumptive presidential nominees of both political parties chose to use when discussing potential threats — especially the use of “radical Islam” or similar phrases — have been disappointing.
“In this particular stage of our country in which the sociopolitical climate is volatile, we expect both candidates to be more presidential and be more responsible in their language,” said Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, CAIR-MI.
In the aftermath of the shooting at Pulse, an Orlando nightclub popular with the gay community, that ended with 49 people dead 53 injured, Trump reiterated his call to impose a temporary ban on immigration from areas of the world where there is “a proven history of terrorism” against the U.S. or its allies.
Trump also criticized Clinton and President Barack Obama for not using the words “radical Islamic terrorism” when referring to the incident.
During an interview on CNN’s “New Day” program Monday, Clinton responded to criticisms from Trump that she was too politically correct to use the phrase, arguing that what is done matters more than the language used.
“And it mattered we got bin Laden, not what name we called him ... whether you call it radical jihadism or radical Islamism, I’m happy to say either,” Clinton said on CNN. “I think they mean the same thing.”
She later expanded upon those comments during a campaign rally in Pittsburgh Tuesday, where she also called for a need to increase gun control to help prevent future attacks. She boiled Trump’s plan down to using the phrase “radical Islam” and banning Muslims from entering the country and describing him as “obsessed with name-calling.”
When so many throughout the nation are coming together in mourning and frustration that horrific shootings occur with such frequency in the U.S., former state Rep. Rashida Tlaib said political leaders should focus on how to ensure guns don’t get into the hands of bad actors instead of on something as arbitrary as religious radicalization.
Tlaib, a Democrat, said she wants to see Clinton succeed, but was surprised by Clinton’s comments to CNN. She said she hoped that in the future, Clinton would take a page out of President Barack Obama’s playbook and use better terminology.
“I was taken aback that for the first time, she actually sounded like him,” Tlaib said, referring to Clinton. “It was difficult for me to see her talk about this issue this way. Truly the focus can’t be on that - it has to be on what we have control over.”
In remarks to the press Tuesday, Obama addressed the criticism of not using “radical Islam” by saying his carefulness in describing threats has nothing to do with political correctness and more to do with national security. He said there’s never been a moment in his time as president where he hasn’t been able to pursue a strategy because he didn’t use that specific label.
“If we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush at war with an entire religion, then we are doing the terrorist work for them,” he said in the speech.
“What exactly would using this label accomplish? What exactly would it change?” Obama asked rhetorically. “Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away. This is a political distraction.”
The gunman in the Orlando shooting, Omar Mateen, reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS in a 911 call, but also suggested ties to al-Qaida and Hezbollah, groups that are opposed to each other. He was born in New York.
Islamic centers and groups throughout Michigan joined countless others in condemning the shooting and offering condolences to the victims and those affected by the Orlando shooting. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center in Rochester Hills recently held a prayer service for the victims.
Imam Hassan Qazwini, the spiritual leader and founder of the Islamic Institute of America, called the Orlando shooting a barbaric, inhumane attack that likely had other motivators besides religion and should not be associated with Islam as a whole. Qazwini said it surprised him that this was one of the main topics of conversation coming out of the Orlando shooting as additional details of the crime and the shooter emerge.
“It’s very easy to possess guns — to blame it on faith and radicalism only is not fair,” he said. “Islam is a peaceful religion. This is a perverted and distorted version of Islam.”
Qazwini denounced Trump for what he sees as an attempt to gain votes from a tragedy by fanning the flames of bigotry and extremism.
“Instead of offering sympathy to the victims and their family members, he tries to exploit the situation politically and exploit the political campaign,” he said.
Tlaib said she saw hope for the future in a vigil for Orlando she attended in Detroit, where she said Muslims, members of the LGBT community and other supporters from throughout the area came together and resolved to help make significant change, both in their communities and in the political realm.
“I was so proud of everyone who gathered and were taking on hate with love,” she said. “After we wipe the tears away, we’re really going to work hard for successful results in November.”