SUSAN Carland has once again hit the nail squarely on the head.
While the world comes to terms with the reality of Donald Trump as the 45th President, Dr Carland — wife of Gold Logie winner and The Project’s Waleed Aly — is wishing for just one thing right now.
A stiff drink.
Taking to Twitter, Dr Carland expressed her concern as a Muslim woman over the election result, saying “a lot of Muslims kind of wish they could have a stiff drink right now”.
A lot of Muslims kind of wish they could have a stiff drink right now #USElection2016
— Susan Carland (@SusanCarland) November 9, 2016
Mr Trump spent a good deal of the past 18 months insulting many different groups and demographics — but especially American Muslims.
In December 2015, Mr Trump called for a “total and complete shutdown” of the entry of Muslims to the United States “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on”.
At the time, Mr Trump spoke to recent poll findings that he believed showed that a sizeable segment of the Muslim population has “great hatred towards Americans”.
“Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension,” Mr Trump said in the statement.
“Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.”
Dr Carland’s tweet has been liked more than 650 times and her sentiment was reflected by others.
In an interview with Vox, 27-year-old student Sarina Bajwa spoke of how she feels “broken” now that Mr Trump is America’s new leader.
“Eight years ago I felt so inspired as a college sophomore when I saw the first African-American man become president on a platform of change and hope, only to have him followed by a man endorsed by the KKK,” she said.
The 45th President-elect for the United States, Republican Donald Trump. Picture: Mark Wilson/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP
“As a Muslim, I am hurt and in fear for my physical safety and for that of my loved ones.
“As a woman, I am horrified that the first woman candidate has conceded to a man that embodies everything that has hindered women throughout history.
“As a child of two immigrants I am in tears at the thought of my parents moving to this country and giving so much up for a ‘better’ future for their children, and am horrified for my young nieces and what their future holds.”
Malaysian Muslim school girls pose for a selfie with a cut-out of the US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Picture: AFPSource:AFP
In response to Mr Trump’s comments earlier this year, the father of a Muslim-American Army captain who died in Iraq, joined forces with Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton in a 60-second attack on the now President titled ‘Would my son have a place in your America?’
In the clip, Khizr Khan spoke of his son Humayun, who was killed in 2004, before breaking down into tears and asking Mr Trump, “Would my son have a place in your America?”
Khizr Khan whose son Army Captain Humayun Khan was killed in Iraq saving his fellow soldiers. Picture: AP Photo/Steven SenneSource:AP
But while part of the community has shown deep concern at the new President-elect, the leader of the Republican Muslim Coalition, Saba Ahmed, told Al Jazeera that she is “looking forward to working with president Trump”.
Ms Ahmed said that Muslim Americans should put Trump’s banning comments behind them, and “stop playing victims”.
Leader of the Republican Muslim Coalition, Saba Ahmed.Source:YouTube
Muslim student Eeman Abbasi at a protest on the University of Connecticut campus against the election of Republican Donald Trump. Picture: AP/Pat Eaton-RobbSource:AP
Muslims in America should become “more proactive and have strategic outreach to the Republicans,” she said. “We cannot afford to remain partisan and support only the Democratic Party.”
During the US presidential campaign, Dr Carland opened up to the Australian Women’s Weekly about why she converted to Islam, admitting it was the last religion she thought she’d take up when she started exploring her spirituality.
Raised a Christian, she switched to the Baptist Church as a teenager but found that didn’t satisfy her quest for spiritual exploration.
At 17, she started to question her religious beliefs.
Susan Carland opened up earlier this year about converting to Islam. Picture: Dylan CokerSource:News Corp Australia
As she explored different religions, Dr Carland was at first adamant Islam was not of interest.
“I thought, why would anyone want to be part of a barbaric, outdated, sexist religion?”
Two years later, at the age of 19, she became a Muslim. In those two years, she’d immersed herself in books and joined a Muslim women’s group at university to make sure the religion was right for her.
“I found the emphasis on social justice appealing; I noticed there was a real concern for the vulnerable people in society,” she said.
Dr Carland has a PhD on the topics she is most passionate about: Muslim women and sexism.
She is a mother-of-two and also the former Muslim Australian of the Year.
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