YALLA VOTE ‘08 Our Voice. Our Future.

I grew up in a household where the majority of the dinner table conversation revolved around the politics of the day. In fact, to my family, politics is second only to religion. One of my dad’s favorite sayings is that, “Decisions are made by those who get involved.” Which is true. Those individuals who take the time to vote, get active in a campaign, or in any other way get involved in the political process ultimately determine who represents us not only in our cities and states but also our country. These elected officials in turn make policy decisions that affect every one of us. And if these elected officials want to get reelected they will be more than willing to listen to what his or her constituents want.

While it may seem that those who are currently in these offices do not listen to the concerns of our community or even care about what we want, part of the blame lies with us. We can’t just expect them to know what we want. We have to tell them what we want. We have to tell them that we want our Constitutional freedoms protected. That we want a United States foreign policy that is fair and just and that promotes human rights. While there is no guarantee that a particular candidate will win or that our concerns will ultimately be addressed it is much more likely to happen if we take the time to get involved. As one of my dad’s bumper stickers says, “Get involved…the world is run by those who show up.”

This year is our chance to have our voices heard. Many of the issues that are important to our community are important issues in the election (i.e. the War in Iraq, United States image abroad, and civil liberties). So vote, sign our National Petition, and even more importantly… get involved!

Yalla Vote!!

-Nadia

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

The other day, I had an opportunity to go around Steinway St. in Queens and meet a few of the local businessmen, and see the churches and mosques that make up the Arab American community here. First, let me just say that this neigborhood is truly vibrant and beautiful. There is a tremendously diverse Arab American community here that meshes together into one unique whole. Morroccans and Palestinians next to Lebanese, Yemeni, Egyptians, and Syrians- truly a beautiful thing. However, when discussing this neigborhood with Mr. Rami Nuseir, who heads the American Mideast Leadership Network, I came to understand that despite the positive environment, and strong community, there is very little in the way of political organization out here. This realization was at once troubling and encouraging.

On the one hand, trying to get large communities of Arab Americans to do anything at the same time can feel a bit like herding cats, and the prospect of recruiting volunteers, and getting signatures for the Yalla Vote National Petition seems daunting. On the other hand, the community that already does exist is so proud of its various cultures, and open to sharing it with the rest of the world. I see the potential in this neighborhood to utilize the network of good will and the true commitment to Arab American values that already runs deep in Queens. As a field organizer, I need to take what already exists in this cultural and social community and figure out how to transform that energy and enthusism into a cohesive political force to be reckoned with. I feel that the microcosm of Steinway Street in Queens examplifies the struggle for Arab American political assertion on a national scale. We’re here, we are proud of who we are, but for some reason we have difficulty banding together, organizing, and using the channels available to us as Americans to galvanize positive change. Hopefully, by the end of the Yalla Vote campaign, my hefty contact lists and business directories, which will eventually manifest themselves as signatures and actual voters, and serve as a new start for Arab American political empowerment in Queens and beyond.

*Our Yalla Vote Field Organizers are hitting the ground running. For information about these amazing young men and women, and how to contact them, please visit the Field Organizers page here at Yalla Vote. See what Samar, our Field Organizer in California, has to say:

My trip to DC has been an educational experience wrapped up in adventure . The last two days have been extremely educational and full of excitement. I was able to see historic sights that I only dreamed of seeing in person. I am really excited and look forward to a successful Yalla Vote campaign in Anaheim. One of the highlights of this trip has to be meeting Dr. Jim Zogby, ever since I saw him give a speech in California, I have been fascinated and have looked up to him. For more than twenty years, he has fought for the rights of Arab Americans and have lead others in the struggle for equality. Overall, I am really excited, happy and enthusiastic for the upcoming months.

-Samar

*Our Yalla Vote Field Organizers are hitting the ground running. For information about these amazing young men and women, and how to contact them, please visit the Field Organizers page here at Yalla Vote. Here are some words from Nadia, our Field Organizer in Ohio:

I recently got back from training in Washington, D.C. and am now back in the field beginning to organize. I had an amazing time in D.C. getting to know the rest of the AAI staff and learning practically everything possible about field organizing. But now it’s time to hit the ground running.

I am so glad to be given the opportunity to work in the Yalla Vote campaign considering the extreme importance of this year’s election. Arab-Americans, although a minority, can still have a tremendous impact on the outcome of the election, both through voting and through participation in the coordinated campaigns of each party. I hope that throughout my time working as a field organizer here in Cleveland I can encourage more Arab Americans, young and old, to become involved in the political process so that as a community are voices can be heard loud and clear and so that the issues important to us are addressed.

-Nadia

There is only one week left to apply for a paid Field Organizing internship position!

The AAI is looking for a few good full and part-time students, graduate students and recent college graduates. We are looking for individuals who can hit the ground running! Applicants should be highly motivated, flexible and excited about working for the Arab American campaign, “Our Voice, Our Future: Yalla Vote 2008”. Interns must be available to work at least ten weeks for 40 hours per week during summer months, and 20 hours per week from Labor Day through the general elections in November.

The Arab American Institute’s Yalla Vote ‘08 campaign is an effort to bring the issues that matter most
to our community–civil liberties, immigrant rights, Middle East peace and cultural tolerance–to the
forefront of debate for the 2008 election season. Help us make our voices heard this November!

For full details, please visit the AAI’s Student Resource Center and apply today!