Religio-Ethnic Lies Continue to Weaken America
America has long prided itself on principles of justice, equality, and meritocracy. These ideals, woven into the fabric of the nation’s self-identity, are statedly what set the country apart as a beacon of opportunity and fairness. However, in practice, these values have long been undermined by a different reality—one in which wealth and power are deliberately funneled toward select religious, economic, and ethnic groups, often under the guise of maintaining social harmony or economic stability. This contradiction between principle and practice is not only a betrayal of American ideals but a direct impediment to the nation’s progress.
Recent examples of this practice are the initiatives being taken by the new administration to reinforce the lie of general superiority of European males over other groups by undermining DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs across the government, programs that have been put in place particularly to combat the consequences of this highly dubious claim. The premise of the claim is that this group has historically occupied the most seats of power and privilege in the country and therefore must be most deserving of said power and privilege.
The recent move by the military to withdraw participation in the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA), a gathering reportedly described by one Army recruiter as “one of the most telent-dense events we do,” is one glaring example of this misguided ideology’s manifestation. The decision by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to ditch the annual event, which has maintained a steady working relationship with the various military branches, has drawn condemnation from many in the military community who regard the event as one of the best resources for talent recruitment at the department’s disposal.
Another example is the president’s executive order 14161 that many see as a revival of the infamous “Muslim Ban” of 2017. Though not naming particular countries as in the earlier ban, the new order seeks to limit entry or remove individuals who may be deemed ideologically unfavorable. Following up on his promise during the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump is now seeking to further marginalize and alienate immigrants, especially Muslim Americans, by disallowing or revoking the visas of people who may hold vaguely defined undesirable views; a move many observers regard as targeting pro-Palestinian activists.
But with fewer highly educated and talented candidates from religio-ethnic groups regarded as unfavorable or who do not fit the likes of Trump’s and Hegseth’s descriptions of adequacy and competence, the inevitable result of more position holders who resemble them reinforces the self-fulfilled claim. Another inevitable result is a less capable workforce and military.
Acting against one’s own interests in favor of upholding a myth of racial or ethnic superiority has underlined centuries of animosity and bloodshed between peoples. One need only recall the hatred and hostility that the Jewish tribes of Yathrib (Madina tul Munawarah) unleashed on the Holy Last Messenger Muhammad (SAW) and his followers at the dawn of Islam. Though the Mosaic scholars were profoundly aware of the coming and description of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), they chose to oppose, subvert, and even openly fight against him on the basis that he was a descendant of Ismail (Arab) as opposed to being a descendant of Ishaq (Jew) like them. The ensuing racism, discrimination, and bloodshed continue until today.
Our nation’s history is rife with examples of this unsound reasoning, where political, military, and economic structures have been designed to disproportionately benefit certain groups while marginalizing others. These decisions are often justified with misleading narratives—claims that such favoritism is necessary for competency on the job, national security, economic prosperity, or cultural cohesion. However, these justifications obscure the true consequence of such policies: a divided nation in which merit and fairness take a backseat to manufactured group loyalty.
This phenomenon is particularly evident in the way many of our institutions operate today. Instead of upholding a system that rewards individual achievement and contribution, these institutions often perpetuate cycles of nepotism and protectionism. Certain groups, deemed most likely to uphold the status quo, receive preferential treatment. Meanwhile, those who are deemed most likely to challenge these entrenched systems, regardless of their talent or potential, are sidelined or demonized.
By this way, the country continues to hold itself back by missing out on real fruitful progress in favor of reinforcing insupportable lies.
The consequences of this dynamic are dire. When a nation prioritizes the advancement of select groups over the general welfare of its entire population, resentment festers, social cohesion weakens, military and economic mobility stagnates. The myth of equal opportunity is eroded, leaving behind a system in which success is determined not by hard work or innovation, but by one’s affiliation with a favored group. This, in turn, fosters division and distrust among citizens who recognize that the playing field is anything but level.
We can no longer afford to sit by idly as the country sinks into its lowest self. Muslim and Christian should stand together for the sake of building a nation that exists in truth. Islam is the only system that effectively brings people of all racial and religious identities together under principles that protect the weak, uplift the downtrodden, safeguard the interests of all individuals and creatures rich and poor from ant to elephant. It is a system that guides us towards good conduct through which we can live among one another in peace. This system is not one of lip service that betrays its ideals behind closed doors, but one of continual betterment of the self and ultimately the whole.
The Holy Last Messenger (SAW) solidified the governing principle of human coexistence in The Last Sermon: “All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white – except by piety and good action.”
If America is to truly live up to its founding principles, it must reject the insidious practice of privileging certain religious and ethnic groups at the expense of fairness and national unity. Policy decisions must be driven by objective merit and a commitment to equal opportunity, rather than by the desire to maintain historical power structures. Only by dismantling these biases and embracing true meritocracy can America move forward as a stronger, more just nation.
The time to reject these religio-ethnic fabrications is now, before they do irreparable harm to the nation’s future.
Qaasim Wasi
IP Correspondent