A decade after 9/11, the situation in America for Arabs and Muslims  is perhaps the worst it has ever been. There are community civil  rights and political activism groups everywhere struggling to find a way to make it better, yet little improvement is seen. If anything,  we’re regressing. The far right political and media establishment  gains momentum by the day. The intelligence agencies become ever more  creative. No matter how out front and proactive we want to be, we are constantly on the defensive.

Now that’s if you are assessing the national situation. But locally?  There’s great news. Work that began two decades ago is paying off handsomely.

The out-going director of the Michigan Department of Human Services is an Arab American. Several attorneys in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office are Arab Americans, including some in management. The Deputy Wayne County Executive is an Arab American. Dearborn City Council has three Arab Americans. The Dearborn Board of Education has an Arab American. The Dearborn Police Chief is an Arab American. Cities across Southeast Michigan have Arab American judges and mayors and council-people, treasurers, clerks and magistrates. Professional, manufacturing, business and non-profit organizations are led by well known Arab Americans. The community’s contribution to Michigan’s economy is unparalleled and well-documented. We have significant civil rights and social services work being done, as well as work in the arts, music and culture originating in the Arab world.

Some years ago, we began as a community acting locally in an organized, politically-sophisticated, way. The Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC)  began investigating, interviewing and endorsing candidates whom its members considered effective, non-biased, experienced and well-intentioned people running for local and state offices. Together with The Arab American News,  Arab Americans began seriously watching and participating in political discussions and debates, tracking voting records and voter patterns. We began disseminating platforms and endorsement slates and continuously preached the importance of participation. We had a viable candidate running for mayor of Dearborn on 9/11/2001. And as much as we rejected and were hurt by that event, we did not let it stop our civic activism.

As a result, our profile, our clout, our service as a community to the State of Michigan began to grow. As we grew together, our courage grew. Some of the old ways of doing business faded away. And a new phenomenon emerged. Today, although our national situation remains critical, we are in a position to act confidently in ways to resolve the larger issues. We are ready to step out onto the national scene with a template for other communities to follow so that they too may prepare to share in the work and the success of making America a better place to live.

BUT THIS WILL HAPPEN ONLY IF WE CONTINUE TO  BE IMPORTANT LOCALLY. This is our base and it must remain strong. To do that, we must continue to evaluate candidates and vote for the ones we know will work with us to be fair and just in policy formulation.

Midterm elections have taken on a new importance. Low overall turnout means targeted turnout among Arabs and Muslims makes our votes doubly effective and important. Maybe more so.

Do your job on November 2. We have tried to make it easy for you. Take our slate to the polls and vote – for your family, your community, your country and your homeland. Arab Americans and American Muslims are ready to take on those who defame our name and our religion, who desecrate that which we hold sacred, to destroy those whom we love and to dictate that which we can and cannot wear, eat and enjoy. We have been very, very successful in Michigan. Let’s maintain that power and move on to share our knowledge and skill with the rest of America.

Get out and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 2!