Solving the issues facing American Muslims one cheesy smile at a time.

So, for the past few years, President Obama has invited a small group of Muslim leaders to a White House iftar. This year, they opted for an Eid Reception instead.

White House Social Office

They invited hundreds of people, and so that meant my worthless ass was invited somehow.

Ahmed Ali Akbar

I have never been too involved in politics — I am terrified of Republican fear-mongering tactics, but I don't quite trust the Democrats either. In 2014, I followed the boycott of the White House iftar pretty closely. I was disturbed by the White House's complicity and/or silence on Guantanamo, NSA spying on Muslim American leaders, drone strikes, Israeli attacks in Gaza, and more. Like the boycotters in 2014, I was worried that going to this event might seem like an endorsement of military action throughout the Muslim world.

In the end, my father convinced me to go.

"You're a journalist now," he said. "You have to be neutral. It may feel like you're endorsing policies you don't agree with, but what other people think isn't a good enough reason to reject the invitation."

Not pictured: the actual moment where this conversation happened.

Athar Usmani

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