Reading an editorial in the Washington Post this evening gave us something to stand up and cheer about…
The Washington Post, Harper’s, Juan Cole, Ron Kampeas at JTA, and countless other articles I’m too tired right now to dig up, have all refuted Andrew McCarthy’s weak claim that Rashid Khalidi is somehow a spokesperson for the Palestinian Liberation Organization, or a terrorist sympathiser, or anything other than a rich and complex academic mind and a foremost scholar of the Middle East.
Perhaps we need to give a brief history lesson… As of 1991, even the United States and Israel no longer considered the PLO to be a terrorist organization, not after the Madrid Conference. And all you have to do is read Ron Kampeas’s piece in the JTA to be convinced of the frivolity of any claim that Khalidi is anything more than an expert on a subject he holds dear: Palestine.
Let’s let this one drop, people. It truly is unbecoming. As the editorial quotes Khalidi…
Which reminds us: We did ask Mr. Khalidi whether he wanted to respond to the campaign charges against him. He answered, via e-mail, that “I will stick to my policy of letting this idiot wind blow over.”
Can I get a round of applause for Florida? We really care about who our 27 electoral votes go to this year, and it shows!
So many people have turned out for Early Voting in the first week that Governor Crist has ordered a statewide extension of Early Voting hours. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm through Friday, October 31, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 am on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 pm on Sunday, November 2, 2008 (hours vary by county).
Keep up the good turnout Florida!!! And if you haven’t made it to the polls yet, you’ve now got even more time to get there. No excuses, yalla vote!
There are many great cities in these United States, each with their own history, culture, and local traditions. However, Brooklyn stands alone with a truly unique ethos, at once commanding respect, admiration, and nostalgia- and for a past or president resident- a knowing grin.
Brooklyn, New York, the county of Kings, was the backdrop for Yalla Vote’s most recent candidates night. Widdi Hall played host to a multitude of candidates, who rolled up their sleeves and approached the Brooklyn Arab American political community in hopes of gaining their vote. The hall was packed with community leaders, business owners, excited youth, senior citizens, Christians, Muslims, domestic press, foreign press, and yours truly. In the spirit of cooperation between AAI and our vital sponsoring organizations, the evening was hosted by Sarab Al-Jijakli, from NAAP, and AAI’s own Maram Abdelhamid. In fact, Dr. Jim Zogby himself made the trip to Brooklyn, and reminisced about the days when Brooklyn was the epicenter of the American Arab American community, a precursor to modern hubs such as Dearborn. Dr. Zogby delivered an inspiring address to the attendees, and left no room for doubt regarding the potential of this community to be a driving politcal force.
Saturday was an exciting day for me as I opened the mailbox. No bills! But there was something in there. My sample ballot arrived from the Orange County Supervisor of Elections, Bill Cowles. That little green envelope brought back memories from the days when I was actually excited to get mail. For a moment I was taken back to the third grade, when I would anxiously await letters from my penpal in Seattle.
So what is this sample ballot I speak of? The sample ballot is just that. It’s a sample of the ballot you will have to fill out when you go to vote. Useful right? I thought so! Who knew I would have so many choices for Soil and Water Commissioner! Getting the sample ballot before the election helps you to do research on offices that you may not have known about and decide who you want to vote for. There are loads of offices and amendments on the ballot, but with the sample ballot, you can fill in your choices ahead of time and use it as a guide at the polls. Also, if you’re voting early, you can use the barcode on the back for “express” voting. I’m not really sure how it will expedite things, but I’ll know tomorrow when I go to vote!
Yes, that’s right. Early Voting has already started in Florida! From Oct 20-Nov 1 you can cast your ballot at any of the local library branches. Check out the Orange County Votes homepage for Early Voting locations in Orlando. Yalla Vote will be out at the Southwest Branch on Saturday (Oct 25), so come out, say hi, learn how you can get more involved in getting other Arab Americans out to the polls, and of course VOTE!
And don’t forget, a great way to help make our voice heard this election is to call other Arab Americans and remind them to vote. It’s easy and convenient and has a huge impact, so sign up now at www.aaiusa.org/volunteer.
In conclusion, the time is now. Early Voting locations throughout Orange County are open from 10am-6pm Monday through Saturday. The Supervisor of Elections office on West Kaley St. is open on Sunday from 10am-4pm. Make your voice heard!
On Wednesday, Yalla Vote was at an inspiring and motivating event at the Arab American National Museum. The Arab American Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) hosted a movie screening of “Election Day.” The most exciting thing about the movie was that Yalla Vote was in it!Kenwah Dabaja, our previous Midwest Organizing Director was passing out information as a final push to get people to the polls at Grocery Stores and Rashida Tlaib, State Representative Elect, was volunteering for the Yalla Vote Campaign at that time too. The movie followed many people, each with a story of their own in trying to mobilize voters and heading to the polls themselves on election day. The movie was entertaining and really inspiring for those who would like to get involved. The election is in one week and we have to strive to make every vote count and every voice heard. Let’s go everyone, YALLA VOTE!!!!
To learn more about the movie, go to http://www.electiondaythemovie.com/about_the_film.php.
Skip on over to minute marker 5:17, where Ben Affleck mentions McCain’s “decent family man” gaffe.
Rock star. America is beginning to truly ask itself, “So what if he were?”
Arab Americans! Keep it up! Your citizenship, your stewardship, your caring and your family values are proof positive that you are Americans, through and through. Don’t let any ignorant ignoramus tell you otherwise.
Yalla Vote is spreading the word about the Virtual Phone Bank to student groups on college campuses across Michigan. Last week, we had a voter information table at the picnic of the Muslim Student Associationof Wayne State University . This picnic allowed us to speak more about our Virtual Phone Bank and to recruit volunteers. Everyone seemed to be very enthusiastic about our convenient call tool and more people signed up to make phone calls. I also emphasized about how easy it is to do this. I mean this is the EASIEST WAY POSSIBLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We have to make a lot of phone calls and we can’t do it alone. Arab Americans need to be heard, sign up now for our VIRTUAL PHONE BANK.
Right now, we’re a few hundred folks calling tens of thousands of Arab Americans across the country. Won’t you help? The Yalla Vote Virtual Phone Bank makes it easy for you to get out the vote from the comfort of your own home.
Without going into the news the media at large is all over–Powell’s endorsement–we are thrilled by some of Colin Powell’s remarks on the whole issue of the smear campaigns and lies being spread about Obama to undermine his candidacy at the expense of Muslims and Arabs. Jump to 4:30 in this clip and listen to what Powell has to say about Muslims and America…
Yes, Mr. Powell. A seven year old Muslim boy in America should be able to dream of being the President one day. And so should any seven year old Muslim girl.
Brooklyn, New York, the county of Kings, was the backdrop for Yalla Vote’s most recent candidates night. Widdi Hall played host to a multitude of candidates, who rolled up their sleeves and approached the Brooklyn Arab American political community in hopes of gaining their vote. The hall was packed with community leaders, business owners, excited youth, senior citizens, Christians, Muslims, domestic press, foreign press, and yours truly. In the spirit of cooperation between AAI and our vital sponsoring organizations, the evening was hosted by Sarab Al-Jijakli, from NAAP, and AAI’s own Maram Abdelhamid. In fact, Dr. Jim Zogby himself made the trip to Brooklyn, and reminisced about the days when Brooklyn was the epicenter of the American Arab American community, a precursor to modern hubs such as Dearborn. Dr. Zogby delivered an inspiring address to the attendees, and left no room for doubt regarding the potential of this community to be a driving politcal force.
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