This Is What America Looks Like: My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman

As with most political biographies, this one could have been a lot more interesting. Omar tells of the violence that made her family leave Somalia (their house was riddled with bullets), but she doesn’t explain anything about the civil war, the different factions, clans, their ideologies, etc. Recounting her visit as an adult to Mogadishu, she mentions Al-Shabab, briefly describing it as “a violent insurgent group.” She writes that her hijab is “a symbol of the purity of my presence in the world,” and that she believes in “the tenets and structure of Islam.” But she avoids dealing with the question that is on the minds of a lot of Americans: How to reconcile the idea of Islam as a religion of peace with the activities of groups like Al-Shabab? She writes that “hatred has built up in our country in the form of identity politics,” seemingly unaware that identity politics is the fundamental doctrine of the party to which she belongs. Having seen Somalia “devolve into chaos basically overnight,” she warns against “the disintegration of civilization that is possible anywhere.” But she doesn’t see, or doesn’t want to see, the parallels between the clan-based identity politics that caused the destruction of Somalia and the race-based identity movements whose anti-Americanism is destroying this country.

Amazing book! Rep Ilhan Omar is a patriot. Her book was written so well. I stayed up all night reading. I couldnt put the book down.

I am disgusted that amazon leaves up the reviews that are 1 Star from people who havent read the book. They are here to insult an elected United States representative solely because they are hateful people and cant stand seeing a true patriot in office.

You belong here Ilhan. Stay strong and keep your head up. I know you are so strong and these racist fools have nothing on you. Solidarity, Love, and Peace to you.

Rep. Omar so beautifully details the life she has led and how she so beautifully details the xenophobic people who bully her and threaten her daily.

Now I want to go shadow Ilhan and learn everything she knows about community organizing. Of course what comes through mostly is than she is one badass woman who I admire and want to be when I grow up.

Our modern era is filled with blind vitriol against any and ALL non-whites here in America. We make it tough on women. If your Muslim we’re going to make it hard on you to live here. We’ve made it clear racism is alive and well against darker skinned people. To be all three?! You’re going to need a strength of character few people can muster if you’re going to rise up, have your voice heard and make a difference for the people here in the United States. Ilhan Omar is who America needs right now more than anything. Her perseverance is a lesson for us. Her message resonates with us. Her story is an inspiration to us.

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