--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's been harder for me for sure being…" description: "\"It's been harder for me for sure being Muslim American, it's been harder for me for sure being the first Muslim ever elected anything here in Virginia,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/sam-rasoul-29041_better-person_it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-m_2630862.jpg" --- # It's been harder for me for sure being Muslim American… ![“It's been harder for me for sure being Muslim American, it's been harder for me for sure being the first Muslim ever elected anything here in Virginia, but it's actually made me into a much better person. So, the neat thing is while it's more difficult for people like me maybe to get elected in…” quote by Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/sam-rasoul-29041_better-person_it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-m_2630862.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/sam-rasoul-29041_better-person_it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-m_2630862.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/sam-rasoul-29041_better-person_it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-m_2630862.jpg) > “It's been harder for me for sure being Muslim American, it's been harder for me for sure being the first Muslim ever elected anything here in Virginia, but it's actually made me into a much better person. So, the neat thing is while it's more difficult for people like me maybe to get elected in certain parts of our country, we prove that it's possible. And, that's something to be commended here in our country, that people from all walks of life can be involved and that's not the case even in some developed countries.” [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overcoming discrimination can strengthen character and demonstrate that diverse representation is achievable. **In simple terms:** Facing bias can improve personal growth and show others it’s possible. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to inspire change. Themes diversity representation resilience Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational political When to use this quote - political campaigns - community leadership - minority advocacy Key Concepts social integration identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How can you support underrepresented voices? - What personal growth arises from adversity? A Different Perspective Success may still be limited by systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Whenever some kind of mass shooting or any other kind of violent activity takes place, we kind of hold our breath until we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-hooper/whenever-some-kind-of-mass-shooting-or-any-other-kind-of-violent/) [Ibrahim Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibrahim-hooper/) > [People are always shocked to hear I'm an athlete by profession and even more shocked when they hear I'm a fencer from the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibtihaj-muhammad/people-are-always-shocked-to-hear-i-m-an-athlete-by-profession-and/) [Ibtihaj Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibtihaj-muhammad/) > [Being a Muslim American activist, I've been targeted by the right wing in a way that is very dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sarsour/being-a-muslim-american-activist-i-ve-been-targeted-by-the-right-wing/) [Linda Sarsour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sarsour/) > [The very moment you understand that being a Muslim and being American or European are not mutually exclusive, you enrich your society. Promote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/the-very-moment-you-understand-that-being-a-muslim-and-being-american/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I don't know what the average income of Muslim-Americans is, but Muslim-American immigrants of recent vintage, I bet they have a very above-average representation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/i-don-t-know-what-the-average-income-of-muslim-americans-is-but/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Talk to me 20 years ago and I had a complete sense of illegitimacy as an American Muslim. I felt like I wasn't authentic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asra-nomani/talk-to-me-20-years-ago-and-i-had-a-complete-sense-of-illegitimacy-as/) [Asra Nomani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asra-nomani/) > [Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no. That's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/is-there-something-wrong-with-being-a-muslim-in-this-country-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I think America is changing. I think we are becoming a country that is not as welcoming to immigrants anymore. You have a president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-acosta/i-think-america-is-changing-i-think-we-are-becoming-a-country-that-is/) [Jim Acosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-acosta/) > [Let's not fall into the trap of thinking that all of our Muslim American neighbors in this country are somehow our enemies here. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/let-s-not-fall-into-the-trap-of-thinking-that-all-of-our-muslim/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/far-out-in-the-uncharted-backwaters-of-the-unfashionable-end-of-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [If you want a neat wife, choose her on a Saturday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-you-want-a-neat-wife-choose-her-on-a-saturday/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I had found out was about that zoo. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-had-been-a-student-in-vienna-and-one-of-the-neat-little-things-i/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [There is no royal path to good writing; and such paths as exist do not lead through neat critical gardens, various as they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessamyn-west/there-is-no-royal-path-to-good-writing-and-such-paths-as-exist-do-not/) [Jessamyn West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessamyn-west/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) ## More by Sam Rasoul > [When you're running, when you're in elected office, you're surrounded with power. And, so every single day, you have to remind yourself why you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/when-you-re-running-when-you-re-in-elected-office-you-re-surrounded/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [When I'm faced with difficult times, I actually usually remember the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/when-i-m-faced-with-difficult-times-i-actually-usually-remember-the/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [I think the Democratic Party is firmly in the wilderness right now and doesn't know exactly what to do. We talk about trust. Fundamentally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/i-think-the-democratic-party-is-firmly-in-the-wilderness-right-now/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [We're here to defend the rights that are enshrined to us by the Constitution, as Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/we-re-here-to-defend-the-rights-that-are-enshrined-to-us-by-the/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [As liberals are puppets in Donald Trump's show right now, all he needs to do is create any distraction and all of a sudden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/as-liberals-are-puppets-in-donald-trump-s-show-right-now-all-he-needs/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [You'd be surprised how quickly our identities evaporate when we were able to connect with people on a very personal level because we're all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/you-d-be-surprised-how-quickly-our-identities-evaporate-when-we-were/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [Regardless of the Islamophobia, where we have gone wrong in the Democratic Party and the American left is to play wholeheartedly into identity politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/regardless-of-the-islamophobia-where-we-have-gone-wrong-in-the/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [What happens with identity politics sometimes is there's a competition among the oppressed: You're more oppressed than me and if not, then unfortunately you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/what-happens-with-identity-politics-sometimes-is-there-s-a/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [The Democratic Party says we're inclusive, but it's clear sometimes we are not as inclusive. People see hypocrisy, they don't see alignment and values,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/the-democratic-party-says-we-re-inclusive-but-it-s-clear-sometimes-we/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [Falling into Donald Trump's trap, or being distracted every time he sends out a tweet is really not leadership. And, I would point you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/falling-into-donald-trump-s-trap-or-being-distracted-every-time-he/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [We need to be fighting and rallying around the common American values. This is where the Democratic Party needs to learn and grow as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/we-need-to-be-fighting-and-rallying-around-the-common-american-values/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [When we talk about defending Muslims, defending women, we're automatically by default excluding someone, but when we talk about defending liberty, when we talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/when-we-talk-about-defending-muslims-defending-women-we-re/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [The lack of fairness that we have in the richest country in the world is something that hits my district pretty hard. Eighty-three percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/the-lack-of-fairness-that-we-have-in-the-richest-country-in-the-world/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [Losing elections all across America, and the American people clearly saying the Democratic Party is no longer the party of the people, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/losing-elections-all-across-america-and-the-american-people-clearly/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [You bring up identity politics and I think that this is really causing a divide in the American left where we're rallying too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/you-bring-up-identity-politics-and-i-think-that-this-is-really/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) [Explore all 18 Sam Rasoul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) ## More Better person quotes > [“Claiming to be offended is a great way to elevate yourself at the expense of others: “Look at me! I'm a much better person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/claiming-to-be-offended-is-a-great-way-to-elevate-yourself-at-the/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the wildlife you hunt and for the forest and fields in which you walk. Immerse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-bear/go-afield-with-a-good-attitude-with-respect-for-the-wildlife-you-hunt/) [Fred Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-bear/) > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [A real good artist learns to be a better person through all the changes they've been through. They keep their loving and honesty growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/a-real-good-artist-learns-to-be-a-better-person-through-all-the/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I wasn't paid a dime for my track career. But participating in the Olympics gave me the opportunity to learn about different cultures; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyomia-tyus/i-wasn-t-paid-a-dime-for-my-track-career-but-participating-in-the/) Wyomia Tyus > [I'm a better person when I'm preparing for a role, when I'm studying a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-m-a-better-person-when-i-m-preparing-for-a-role-when-i-m-studying-a/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I found myself thinking a lot about my own spirituality. What it means to be Jewish, what it means to forgive, what it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tod-goldberg/i-found-myself-thinking-a-lot-about-my-own-spirituality-what-it-means/) [Tod Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tod-goldberg/) > [I found the emotion that as an athlete you block out, and it really helped me to understand myself as a person. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-found-the-emotion-that-as-an-athlete-you-block-out-and-it-really/) [Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/) > [I always try to see my weakness, work on it, to be better as a person and a player, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-salah/i-always-try-to-see-my-weakness-work-on-it-to-be-better-as-a-person/) [Mohamed Salah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-salah/) > [Life is like a circle it has no end point and every turn is a challenge did you notice it a circle has every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-is-like-a-circle-it-has-no-end-point-and-every-turn-is-a/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I started running ultras to become a better person,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-shelton/i-started-running-ultras-to-become-a-better-person/) Jenn Shelton > [If you live with a single parent, you don't see compromise. You witness a grown person living in a world where they do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/if-you-live-with-a-single-parent-you-don-t-see-compromise-you-witness/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Sometimes you have to steer away from the crowd in order to be a better person. It's not always easy, that's for sure. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/sometimes-you-have-to-steer-away-from-the-crowd-in-order-to-be-a/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/nobody-ever-feels-100-ready-when-an-opportunity-arises-because-most/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) [Browse all 980 Better person quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's been harder for me for sure being Muslim American, it's been harder for me for sure being the first Muslim ever elected anything here in Virginia, but it's actually made me into a much better person. So, the neat thing is while it's more difficult for people like me maybe to get elected in certain parts of our country, we prove that it's possible. And, that's something to be commended here in our country, that people from all walks of life can be involved and that's not the case even in some developed countries.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Rasoul" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-muslim-american-it-s-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better person" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-muslim-american-it-s-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/sam-rasoul-29041_better-person_it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-m_2630862.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/sam-rasoul-29041_better-person_it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-m_2630862.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/sam-rasoul-29041_better-person_it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-m_2630862.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's been harder for me for sure being Muslim American, it's been harder for me for sure being the first…” — Sam Rasoul", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sam Rasoul", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's been harder for me for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-muslim-american-it-s-been/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/it-s-been-harder-for-me-for-sure-being-muslim-american-it-s-been/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```