According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The article is mostly about the support groups for Muslim law students. It lacks actual numbers on the extent of the increase and only speculates about the case of the increase. Is it 9/11 and the war on terror? Sheer demographics? ("The number of Muslims in the United States is disputed (from 1 million to 7 million), but it's believed to be growing through immigration, births and conversions .") Or is it the same increased interest in law found in the general population?
Quoted and pictured in the article is UW lawprof Asifa Quraishi.
("1 million to 7 million?" -- Is the available demographic information really so sketchy?)
June 21, 2005
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7 comments:
Worked for the Irish.
I suspect the slippery figures are due to the fact that "muslim" is a religious, not an ethnic, designation and that the total number is still a relatively small percentage of the total population. According the the Census Bureau, the current US population is 296,418,930. However, if you want something to think about it terms of ethnic groups, that 7 million number is significanlty higher than the combined Native American Alaska Native estimate of 4.4 million.
Dave: Since Jesus said "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also," how can a Christian be a competent lawyer?
Dave: My point is that fundamentalist textualists of different religions present the same problem. Presumably, any given individual with this problem who chooses to go into the field of law has to find a way to deal with this difficulty. I think being a lawyer is inconsistent with many religious, philosophical, and political beliefs. I wouldn't make a presumption about an adherent to a particular religion that their problem is different and special because: 1. It presumes to interpret a religion and 2. It encourages discrimination.
Dave: I didn't say something was "wrong" or try to dictate what others may properly do. I said what I do. Others can follow my example if they think it's good.
Unfortunately, the newspaper cherrypicks its examples--the one Muslim, of course, who fits the preconceived narrative of victim/advocate/morally superior person of the day, complete with a new, probably foundation funded, niche guild. I wonder which PR firm pitched the story to them.
Notice that she says that after 9/11 she sees a need to protect "ourselves" meaning Muslims, not Americans in general. We bad!
If past examples of special interest groups are any indication, she will do as much harm as good to good Muslims in service to her "cause."
Pat: Law schools are full of students who belong to particular demographic groups, who feel motivated to use their legal education to help other members of the groups they belong to, and who form student organizations that support students in those groups. There are organizations of Christian law students, Jewish law students, Indian law students, gay law students, conservative law students, liberal law students, black law students, Asian law students. Do you think this is a problem? Maybe you do, but there's nothing specific about Muslims. It's completely legitimate to worry about a type of discrimination that could be aimed at a particular group, and it's completely understandable that members of that group would feel motivated to be especially vigilant about it.
“If Islam requires that one use the Koran as the ultimate authority, how can a law student who is Islamic become a lawyer? As I understand the states' bar associations' requirements, in order to become a licensed attorney (or judge) one has to swear to uphold one's state and national constitution.”
Charles, I believe the answer to your heart of your question may be found with a more simple approach. If one takes an oath that contradicts one’s religion, then they do just that. What this may imply about Muslims is not surprising. How many times have you seen a Christian sin?
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