Few days separate us from the presidential US elections, which to us as Arab Americans, is a historic unprecedented challenge given what is happening to our people in Lebanon and Palestine, with the blatant unconditional American support, funding, and looking the other way, in regards to the horrific crimes and massacres that the occupation forces are committing in our homelands.
Some members of the Arab American community endorsed Trump and others endorsed Harris, and each side is working to expose the bad side of their opponent while ignoring the bad side of their own choice. Both Republicans and Democrats support the Israeli occupation and empower it financially, militarily, politically, in addition to defending and justifying its human rights violations and massacres.
Our dear community, some of us may say that given that both major parties are complicit in genocide, that we refuse to vote to either side and that it is better to sit this election out. However, this stance contributes to silencing our voices further and is a cause for the politicians to further ignore our community, if we don’t find the right venue to send a strong principled statement.
We have to voice our condemnation of and opposition to the foreign policies of both major parties, by voting THIRD Party. We should support and vote for Jill Stein of the Green Party, even if her chances of winning are dim. But, if she demonstrates a strong showing with a high number of votes, it will send a strong message of our political power and sizable representation, in a way that shows that our stances and our community will be hard to dismiss politically, and that would force them to take our demands seriously.
There is no such thing as “community leaders” and whoever claims such title is self-appointed. You may vote to whoever you want and you are entitled to that freedom. Declare your stance against oppression and crimes committed against our people in Palestine and Lebanon. Do Not give your vote to anyone who supports and partners with those shedding the blood of our people and beloved ones and are destroying our home countries.
Vote against genocide and don’t dismiss the power of your vote. Vote Green!
Dearborn Blog 