For years, Americans have been told that government should never discriminate against someone because of religion.
That principle is worth defending.
A Muslim should not be denied a government job because he is Muslim. A Christian should not be denied one because she is Christian. A Jew, Hindu, atheist or anyone else should be judged according to qualifications, character and ability — not religious identity.
But Massachusetts lawmakers are considering something very different.
Legislation currently before the Massachusetts Legislature would create a permanent government commission devoted specifically to people who practice Islam. And buried among its responsibilities is a provision that deserves far more attention than it has received.
The proposed commission would be tasked with identifying and recommending “qualified American Muslims” for appointed positions throughout government, including boards and commissions.
That raises an obvious question:
Why should the government be helping people obtain government appointments based upon their religion?
Try The Christian Test
Sometimes the easiest way to understand a policy is simply to change the group involved.
Imagine Texas creating a permanent Southern Baptist Commission.
Imagine its members being appointed by the governor, attorney general and legislative leaders.
Then imagine state law explicitly instructing that commission to identify qualified Southern Baptists and recommend them for positions throughout government.
Would progressive activists celebrate that as “inclusion”?
Would civil-liberties organizations shrug?
Or would we immediately hear warnings about Christian nationalism, the separation of church and state and religious influence over government?
The reaction would almost certainly be explosive.
Yet when the religion involved is Islam, the same concept is presented as diversity and civil rights.
That double standard should concern everyone, regardless of his or her views about Islam.
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Equal Rights Are Not The Same As Government Preference
Supporters have named the legislation the “Act promoting the civil rights and inclusion of American Muslims in the Commonwealth.” The commission would study Islamophobia and discrimination, advise government bodies about policies affecting Muslims and serve as a liaison involving issues important to Muslim communities.
Protecting people against genuine religious discrimination is entirely legitimate.
But protection from discrimination and government-sponsored advancement are not the same thing.
The bill goes considerably further than telling Massachusetts agencies not to discriminate against Muslims.
It proposes an 11-member permanent commission with members selected by powerful state officials. The commission could hold hearings, recommend policies, request information and assistance from state agencies, establish offices subject to appropriations and employ a paid executive director.
And it would specifically recommend Muslims for government appointments.
That is where Massachusetts enters very different territory.
Government’s role should be to guarantee that the doors are equally open — not to begin sorting citizens into religious identities and creating official machinery to ensure particular groups are represented inside government.
Identity Politics Has Now Reached Religion
This is also part of a much larger transformation in American politics.
