This was such a warm and beautiful account of Mamdani's inauguration. I'm envious that you were there. Until recently, I lived in Brooklyn, and I was so excited for his election.
You're right that he will face an avalanche of anti-Muslim sentiment, hateful political rhetoric, and general racism. I suspect that we will see some white creep into Mamdani's beard. But I admire and am proud of him for never agreeing to package himself or hedge who he is. I hope his administration stays focused and is successful. I hope he preserves his incredible good nature, disarming smile, and unflinching authenticity. I know he's now got to navigate what is described as the second-most difficult political job in America, and he'll need to navigate city council and state political rivers. But we will all be the better for his success.
I’m not big on pageantry, nor fond of politicians who lean into it.
I want leaders who do the fucking job, and see doing the job as the thing they should be doing. They should not be in it for the self-serving public displays.
And, for the good of the public, they should be opposed to the performance art public displays. People need to stop looking to politicians for entertainment, and politicians need to (I can seem, can’t I?) show people that good governing is boring.
There were two ceremonies. Tish James administered the oath of office at midnight. Bernie Sanders swore him in the next day. It's a quirk of NYC's local laws that Mamdani officially took office at midnight, but that's no time for a public ceremony.
Yes, that's the sequence. I'm not sure I would characterize the daylight ceremony as a performance, though. One is referred to as "swearing in." That was Tish James's part. It's a small ceremony because...midnight. Bernie Sanders administered the oath of office in the public ceremony, which gathers the public and includes speeches. (I swapped them in my original reply...sorry!) I'm not at all sure what the city gains by having its officials sworn in at midnight, but it's a thing that has to happen.
I wholeheartedly agree with your recommendation to become involved at the school board level. I became involved in attending school board meetings about four years ago when a group of people in Mentor, Ohio, decided to start attacking a middle school teacher for their support of LGBTQ+ students. Since then the radical members of the community--including Moms for Liberty--have attempted to ban books and continued attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, focusing on transgender students. I am happy to say that in the November elections a small and dedicated group of citizens worked hard to support the win of three candidates who support more progressive values.
How pathetic that this man is so feared by the hate mongers. They are incapable of his humanity and love for humanity. His inauguration speech was exciting and uplifting. May all the people he represents see how lucky they are🙏
As a long concerned individual regarding our countrymen not having enough (or any exposure) to the rest of the world, it seems we will continue to have those espousing hatred for others based on nothing but ignorance. Has anyone else ever wondered why people in other Western countries and those in the Middle East always sound so intelligent compare to us? Not only intelligent but intelligent while speaking a foreign language, English. I suspect Americans may be a bit inbred. I don't know what else explains our lack of intellect.
I'm sure you already see the impact this mayor have had even before the inauguration, On immigrant communities in NYC. But I have a friend in Bangladesh that sends me posts of Mamdani. So even from the other side of the world, he has an impact. Americans don't have a high status in those parts of the world so this is unique.
The earliest white settlers arrived in a fog of fear, or greed. Woefully unprepared by old country authoritarian regimes, gullibley seduced by mis or disinformation. Finding not the uninhabited land they expected, but a well resourced, native population occupying the continent for thousands of years, the settlers, with no viable escape, dug in, made wary advances to the natives, all the while holding their firearms in reserve. Mutual misunderstanding was inevitable and settler desperation erupted soon enough. Firearms provided just enough of an advantage to allow them to survive in the face of terrifying odds and grievous losses. Naturally fear turned to hate that has irrationally survived and thrived throughout our history. Subliminally, that fear/hate thread has been absorbed by a large percentage of the white population. It undermines our confidence, provides a nasty, lethal edge to our dealings with most non-whites. It is a self-imposed, strangulating, insidious parasite infecting our brains.
Eradicating this parasitic disease is the only hope for the survival of American democracy.
socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist,”. This is such a profound statement!
I am a Canadian in Sweden. Years ago I was listening to a speech by our mayor. He was the youngest ever mayor at that time and he was gay. I had so much respect for him. He was a real orator. At that time my swedish still basic so I did not catch all the nuances of his speech but he talked about the fact we needed to represent the voters first. We had a speaker that day. An American man who was a campaign worker for Barack Obama. His speech made me believe that Obama would also put the voter first. As a Social Democrat who was active politically at the I lived by the statement made by Zoran Mamdani yesterday.
Thank you for sharing. I was in the 5th grade and watched JFK being sworn in. Every classroom in the catholic school I attend now had a television. Your piece made me relive that memory. Obama’s inauguration gave me hope again as does Mamdani’s victory. Thank you again for making my day and giving me renewed hope for an America for all people.
I believe many subscribe to you because 1. Your values 2. Your eloquence 3. Your insight 4. Your compassion 5. They want you to succeed and continue to publish your work. They highly value you.
Thank you Qasim, for your Joy, shared with us, and your synopsis of what Mamdani said, and what we might do. I'm keeping this for reference.
I wish I could remember the past NYT writer who said: "We do not have a national flower, because America is a bouquet." Your observations and words exemplify that -- we are many, become One. A great post.
We have remained not one but many. In some ways that in itself is/can be a source of melded strength - as long as we refuse to succumb to the the worst impulses we direct at each other. It takes a strenuous physical and intellectual struggle to overcome our fears and doing so requires the clear-eyed and generous leadership of truly courageous citizens. At the moment our "leadership" is a shambling construct of fear and greed feeding off its own weakness and conspicuous consumption.
Thank you for sharing and for action items! So exciting to see what changes will abound with great new leadership! A great role model for the entire United States!
This was such a warm and beautiful account of Mamdani's inauguration. I'm envious that you were there. Until recently, I lived in Brooklyn, and I was so excited for his election.
You're right that he will face an avalanche of anti-Muslim sentiment, hateful political rhetoric, and general racism. I suspect that we will see some white creep into Mamdani's beard. But I admire and am proud of him for never agreeing to package himself or hedge who he is. I hope his administration stays focused and is successful. I hope he preserves his incredible good nature, disarming smile, and unflinching authenticity. I know he's now got to navigate what is described as the second-most difficult political job in America, and he'll need to navigate city council and state political rivers. But we will all be the better for his success.
Qasim, I'm confused.
From you article: "watching a Jewish American Senator swear in a Muslim American mayor...".
From the screenshot of your other posting: "A Black American Christian woman swearing in a Ugandan American Muslim...".
Love your substack. Just upgraded to paid subscription. But could you be consistent, or at least clarify who swore him in?
I’m not big on pageantry, nor fond of politicians who lean into it.
I want leaders who do the fucking job, and see doing the job as the thing they should be doing. They should not be in it for the self-serving public displays.
And, for the good of the public, they should be opposed to the performance art public displays. People need to stop looking to politicians for entertainment, and politicians need to (I can seem, can’t I?) show people that good governing is boring.
There were two ceremonies. Tish James administered the oath of office at midnight. Bernie Sanders swore him in the next day. It's a quirk of NYC's local laws that Mamdani officially took office at midnight, but that's no time for a public ceremony.
Thank you!
So actually done by James, then acted out a few hours later in a performance by Sanders. 👍
Yes, that's the sequence. I'm not sure I would characterize the daylight ceremony as a performance, though. One is referred to as "swearing in." That was Tish James's part. It's a small ceremony because...midnight. Bernie Sanders administered the oath of office in the public ceremony, which gathers the public and includes speeches. (I swapped them in my original reply...sorry!) I'm not at all sure what the city gains by having its officials sworn in at midnight, but it's a thing that has to happen.
I think of the daytime administering of the oath as a performance because if it didn’t happen he’d still be mayor.
Fair and true. Nonetheless, the public ceremony is probably more important than the midnight ceremony. No judgement. No shade.
I wholeheartedly agree with your recommendation to become involved at the school board level. I became involved in attending school board meetings about four years ago when a group of people in Mentor, Ohio, decided to start attacking a middle school teacher for their support of LGBTQ+ students. Since then the radical members of the community--including Moms for Liberty--have attempted to ban books and continued attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, focusing on transgender students. I am happy to say that in the November elections a small and dedicated group of citizens worked hard to support the win of three candidates who support more progressive values.
Thank you!
Great work Qasim. 👏
❤️✊🏽
Such a good event. So happy you were there to see in person
How pathetic that this man is so feared by the hate mongers. They are incapable of his humanity and love for humanity. His inauguration speech was exciting and uplifting. May all the people he represents see how lucky they are🙏
Truly mind blowing that they claim they're afraid of him. He's absolutely a genuine gem.
As a long concerned individual regarding our countrymen not having enough (or any exposure) to the rest of the world, it seems we will continue to have those espousing hatred for others based on nothing but ignorance. Has anyone else ever wondered why people in other Western countries and those in the Middle East always sound so intelligent compare to us? Not only intelligent but intelligent while speaking a foreign language, English. I suspect Americans may be a bit inbred. I don't know what else explains our lack of intellect.
Now that really nailed it. Thanks Valerie!
Always so beautifully stated.
I'm sure you already see the impact this mayor have had even before the inauguration, On immigrant communities in NYC. But I have a friend in Bangladesh that sends me posts of Mamdani. So even from the other side of the world, he has an impact. Americans don't have a high status in those parts of the world so this is unique.
The earliest white settlers arrived in a fog of fear, or greed. Woefully unprepared by old country authoritarian regimes, gullibley seduced by mis or disinformation. Finding not the uninhabited land they expected, but a well resourced, native population occupying the continent for thousands of years, the settlers, with no viable escape, dug in, made wary advances to the natives, all the while holding their firearms in reserve. Mutual misunderstanding was inevitable and settler desperation erupted soon enough. Firearms provided just enough of an advantage to allow them to survive in the face of terrifying odds and grievous losses. Naturally fear turned to hate that has irrationally survived and thrived throughout our history. Subliminally, that fear/hate thread has been absorbed by a large percentage of the white population. It undermines our confidence, provides a nasty, lethal edge to our dealings with most non-whites. It is a self-imposed, strangulating, insidious parasite infecting our brains.
Eradicating this parasitic disease is the only hope for the survival of American democracy.
socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist,”. This is such a profound statement!
I am a Canadian in Sweden. Years ago I was listening to a speech by our mayor. He was the youngest ever mayor at that time and he was gay. I had so much respect for him. He was a real orator. At that time my swedish still basic so I did not catch all the nuances of his speech but he talked about the fact we needed to represent the voters first. We had a speaker that day. An American man who was a campaign worker for Barack Obama. His speech made me believe that Obama would also put the voter first. As a Social Democrat who was active politically at the I lived by the statement made by Zoran Mamdani yesterday.
Thank you for sharing. I was in the 5th grade and watched JFK being sworn in. Every classroom in the catholic school I attend now had a television. Your piece made me relive that memory. Obama’s inauguration gave me hope again as does Mamdani’s victory. Thank you again for making my day and giving me renewed hope for an America for all people.
That's heartwarming. Thank you for sharing.
I believe many subscribe to you because 1. Your values 2. Your eloquence 3. Your insight 4. Your compassion 5. They want you to succeed and continue to publish your work. They highly value you.
Anyway, just my opinion. ❤️
I needed to see this today. Thank you.
❤️✊🏽
Thank you Qasim, for your Joy, shared with us, and your synopsis of what Mamdani said, and what we might do. I'm keeping this for reference.
I wish I could remember the past NYT writer who said: "We do not have a national flower, because America is a bouquet." Your observations and words exemplify that -- we are many, become One. A great post.
We have remained not one but many. In some ways that in itself is/can be a source of melded strength - as long as we refuse to succumb to the the worst impulses we direct at each other. It takes a strenuous physical and intellectual struggle to overcome our fears and doing so requires the clear-eyed and generous leadership of truly courageous citizens. At the moment our "leadership" is a shambling construct of fear and greed feeding off its own weakness and conspicuous consumption.
my "like" button not working, but agree with you
Thank you for sharing and for action items! So exciting to see what changes will abound with great new leadership! A great role model for the entire United States!