Let me know what you think
Presumed Problem
Muslims in America may arrange for Qu’ran-based Sharia Law to govern states or other political subdivisions.
Solution
Amendments to state constitutions that prohibit the imposition of Sharia Law.
Narrative
In 2010, Oklahomans worried that the hawks “makin’ lazy circles in the 
sky” might be Islamic terrorists about to establish Sharia Law in the Sooner State.
Probably most Americans have heard at least some mention of Sharia Law, a system of theocratic governance and laws in several predominantly-Muslim countries in the Middle East. Sharia Law is based on the Qu’ran, traditional commentaries on the Qu’ran, and 
traditions from Islamic culture over time. There is no single Sharia Law, and variations exist from country to country. Topics covered include religion, family, food, finances, crime and punishment, war and peace among others.
Some of the rules may seem harsh by contemporary Western standards. Pre-marital sex (Zina) may warrant 100 lashes. A thief may have his or her hand cut off. And a Muslim who leaves Islam for some other religion may face execution. Little wonder that the good folks of Oklahoma wanted no part of it. When it was placed on the ballot in 2010, the anti-Sharia-Law Constitutional Amendment was approved by 70% of the voters. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) both sued to have the measure revoked, and in 2012, the Circuit Court of Appeals did just that, saying it violated the U. S. Constitution.
While the courts struck down the Oklahoma Anti-Sharia-Law 
Amendment, that did not prevent Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Tennessee from following suit. In their defense it must be said that none of those states has been forced to submit to Sharia Law. Dodged the bullet on that one.
But why did this come about in the first place? The Ban Sharia Law website states the case this way, with a petition to be signed:
This petition is meant to create national awareness of the “Creeping Sharia” threat to America, and to show all of our federal and state legislators that “We The People”, want the Constitution upheld and our American laws protected!
The “Creeping Sharia” threat is further detailed in three stages.
Islam is a totalitarian political system, usually introduced into western countries through three phases. The first phase introduces Islam as “tolerant” and peaceful, intentionally deceiving westerners, using“taqqiya,” Qur’an- sanctioned deceit.
The second phase uses “lawfare” to destroy a country from within using its own laws. And, by the time the third phase is implemented “no-go zones” and violence . . .
Much of the hysteria over creeping Sharia Law in America can be traced to an astounding National Report account of one example of Sharia Law becoming the law of the land in the USA.
In a surprise weekend vote, the city council of Dearborn, Michigan voted 4-3 to became the first US city to officially implement all aspects of Sharia Law. The tough new law, slated to go into effect January 1st, addresses secular law including crime, politics and economics as well as personal matters such as sexual intercourse, fasting, prayer, diet and hygiene.
The new law could see citizens stoned for adultery or having a limb amputated for theft. Lesser offenses, such as drinking alcohol or abortion, could result in flogging and/or caning. In addition, the law imposes harsh laws with regards to women and allows for child marriage.
Was the Problem Real?
The above National Report story has fueled hysteria across the country. Several political office seekers have used it to support an anti-Muslim agenda. In branding the story False, the Snopes fact-checking service quotes the National Report’s own disclaimer page: “National Report is a news and political satire web publication, which may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictitious ways. All news articles contained within National Report are fiction, and presumably fake news. Any resemblance to the truth is purely coincidental.” In other words, the story was intended as a joke, though there was obviously a pool of belief waiting for it.
On the same webpage as the Dearborn story was another in which Bristol 
Palin revealed that her mother never taught her to tell time. “I know it’s something about the big hand and the little hand. That’s as far as we got.” Another story proclaims, “ISIS Leaders Praise Kim Davis – First Female to Win ISIS Courage Award.”
Except in the worlds of satire or anti-Muslim fantasy, there seems to be no imminent threat of Sharia Law being established in the USA. It is estimated that one percent of the U. S. population is Muslim, making a forceful overthrow of the U. S. A. unlikely. The several Anti-Sharia-Law state constitutional amendments are another example of solutions without problems.
Negative Consequences
The primary consequence of these anti-Sharia measures is the stirring up 
of anti-Muslim hysteria among low-information citizens. Americans have long suffered from a takeover mentality. Only the culprits supposedly taking over has varied: Jews, Irish, Italians, Catholics, atheists, African-Americans, Mexicans, and others.
During the 2016 presidential campaigns, Donald Trump had no trouble heating up the pre-existing bigotry toward Muslims: saying he would refuse entry of any Muslims to the United States and even taking actions against those already living in America, including native born citizens. The threat to take actions against American Muslims, quite aside from moral and legal aspects, would need to confront the fact that Americans are never asked to record their religion when registering to vote, get a driver’s license, enroll in school, etc. However, logic was no match for hatred.
Once again, we find citizens and their governments moved to install “solutions” for which there is no problem. But the phony solution causes problems of its own.
© Earl Babbie 2016, all rights reserved Terms of Service/Privacy
Sources
http://bansharialaw.com – accessed November 3, 2015
“City in Michigan First to Fully Implement Sharia Law” — http://nationalreport.net/city-michigan-first-fully-implement-sharia-law/ — Accessed November 3, 2015
http://www.snopes.com/politics/satire/sharia.asp — accessed November 3, 2015
National Report, “Bristol Palin Slams Obama Over Support of ‘Clock Kid’, Admits She Never Learned How To Tell Time” — http://nationalreport.net/bristol-palin-slams-obama-support-clock-kid-never-learned-tell-time/ — accessed November d3, 2015
http://nationalreport.net/isis-leaders-praise-kim-davis-first-female-win-isis-courage-award/ — accessed November 3, 2015.
Great article. While we are at it, let’s pass a law that says Fundamentalist Christian Doctrine will never be allowed to influence legislation. Here are just four common beliefs of Fundamentalist/Evangelical Christians. *
1. All of the words in the King James Version of the Bible are true. They must be taken literally. For example, Earth was created in seven days in seven 24 hour cycles. It really was.
2. All babies everywhere, at birth, are sinful. They deserve death as a punishment in an eternal hell, unless they accept Jesus as their Savior (and really mean it.)
3. Everyone who accepts Jesus, after they die they will be resurrected not just in spirit but on earth in their physical body. Really.
4. Fundamentalist dogma is true in every respect and not subject to debate. For example, abortion is murder. Women are meant to serve men. Homosexuality is an abomination to God deserving of eternal damnation. That’s the way it is, period. The laws of our land should reflect these truths.
It seems certain that Islamic Sharia law doesn’t stand a prayer (a hope in Hell?) of becoming the law of the land in America. But I am less certain, given the voting behaviors of an uncomfortable number of the members of Congress who seem adamant about using the powers of the State to promote doctrine illustrated above, that the Fundamentalist-Christian variations of Sharia Law aren’t already much upon us.
In all fairness, of course different people are different. Not all people who call themselves Fundamentalist or Evangelical Christians adhere to all the beliefs above, or work to impose their beliefs on everyone else. Most of the 2.2 billion Christians in the world are all over the map. Most of the 1.6 billion people who call themselves Muslims don’t identify with Islamic Extremism. They reject Sharia law and especially terrorism, and are likewise all over the map in their individual beliefs, pretty much like their Christian brothers, you, and me.
The intent of some people in America, especially some high-ranking legislators, to paint 1.6 billion people as evil demons who we must act fast to criminalize and persecute is a trend in American culture we should all work to eradicate rather than stimulate. The promotion (and it is a promotion) of laws specifically abolishing Sharia Law that can’t possibly ever become law in the USA anyway, is an attempt to stimulate bigotry and the dire consequences of it. If that isn’t the intent, it is certainly the only result.
* http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/fundamentalist-christians-denominations/2015/04/17/id/639249/