Joe Biden, the Democratic Presidential candidate, believes schools in the US should teach more about Islam. He says more knowledge among young people on Islam would stop the rise in Islamophobia. Joe Biden said schools should ramp up the curriculum in Islam studies so they can educate more about Islam. As this would ward off negative perceptions against the religion.
He expressed these views while addressing the Muslim Million Votes summit organized by EmgaGE Actions. “I wish we taught more in our schools about the Islamic faith. I wish we talked about all the great confessional faiths. It’s one of the great confessional faiths,” Biden said on Monday.
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Biden in his address has promised to end travel-ban affecting Muslim-majority nations. He believes the current administration of “an unconscionable rise in Islamophobia.” Adding that incidents of kids bullied in schools and hate crimes against communities surged during this administration.
Joe Biden speaks to Million Muslim Votes Summit: "I wish we taught more in our schools about the Islamic faith." pic.twitter.com/ZsWfapCyXS
— The Hill (@thehill) July 20, 2020
“What people don’t realize is … we all come from the same root here, in terms of our fundamental basic beliefs. I just want to thank you for allowing me to be engaged, for committing to action this November,” Biden said in his speech.
Joe Biden accuses Donald Trump of Islamophobia
“Donald Trump has fanned the flames of hate in this country, across the board, through his words, his policies, his appointments, his deeds and he continues to fan those flames,” said Joe Biden while blaming Donald Trump of stoking intolerance in the society.
The Democratic presidential candidate also claimed that Donald Trump has “has named people with open Islamophobia … who have no business serving in high positions in our government to key leadership roles in our Department of Defense [and] the U.S. Agency for International Development.”
“It is an insult to our values, it weakens our standing in the world,” Biden said. “What message does this send to the rest of the world?”
Biden thanked Emgage Action for its effort in engaging 1 million Muslim voters to vote for him.
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“You are doing what has never been done before,” Biden said. “It matters. Your voice is your vote. Your vote is your voice.” Biden said previous administration failed to respect Muslim Americans.
He went on to say that “this is the most important election in modern American history.”
Vows to protect Muslim American communities
Biden asserted that Muslim communities “were the first to feel Donald Trump’s assault on black and brown communities in this country with his vile Muslim ban.”
“That fight was the opening barrage in what has been nearly four years of constant pressure and insults and attacks against Muslim American communities, Latino communities, black communities, AAPI communities, Native Americans,” Biden said of the Trump administration’s travel bans.
Schools don’t teach religion but Joe Biden wants schools to teach about Islam specifically. https://t.co/KDF6NsOBjE
— Andrea Catsimatidis (@AJ_Cats_) July 21, 2020
Biden assured that he would work with the International organization to solve the humanitarian crisis in Syria, Yemen, and Gaza. Biden says he plans to include the voices of Muslim Americans to solve the everyday issues. He says he would give greater representation to Muslim Americans in his administration.
“I want to make sure your voices are included in the decision-making process as we work to rebuild our nation,” Biden said.
https://twitter.com/BiancaWare81490/status/1285355430017994752?s=20
However, the comment of Joe Biden to teach more about Islam in schools drew ire from conservative Muslims on social media