Loading ...Arab voters in Dearborn, Mich. still undecided in U.S election
CBC spoke with five Arab-Americans in Dearborn, Mich. about their views on the U.S election. (Rima/Hamadi)
By Rima Hamadi
Walking down the streets of Dearborn, Mich. it’s hard not to see the Arabic influence. Pharmacies, barber shops, and even Walgreens all have signs with large Arabic writing on them.
With the role of Muslims and Arab-Americans within the United States a continuing topic on the U.S campaign trail, the community is uneasy about the results of the upcoming election — regardless of whether Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton is elected.
CBC went to Dearborn and spoke to five Arabs to hear about how the U.S election is affecting them.
Ramy Taha has lived in Dearborn most of his life. His parents emigrated to Michigan from Lebanon. He admits to being cautious of his surroundings because he is Muslim and of Lebanese descent.
“There was a lot of rumours … about Arab-American [people] travelling on an airplane, and them speaking the Arabic language, and then being kicked off of flights,” Taha said.
Since Taha travels for work, he decided to stop speaking Arabic while traveling.
“It’s not that we’re afraid to speak the Arabic language,” he said. “We don’t want to encounter any problems.”
He doesn’t support Trump, but doesn’t support Clinton either. He says he’s not sure he will vote at all.
“The election is a circus. We are more focused on what he said and she said, as opposed to what the real life issues are.”
Fatima Laham lives just outside of Dearborn, but frequents the Arab-influenced town often.
She says Trumps comments promote hate.
“This country is supposed to carry love and care for everybody,” she said. “It’s a country of free religion and speech, we don’t want to change it.”
She said she’d feel ashamed if Trump is elected president.
“Hilary Clinton’s not the best, but between her and Trump, she’s better,” she said. “I’d choose her. And I have to vote, because my voice has to be heard,” Laham said.
That’s very different to what Nadeem Aboufawaz is going to do in three weeks.
“I know Trump has said some things that come across as racist, but I don’t see Trump as being a racist. I see him as being American first,” Aboufawaz said.
Aboufawaz says his vote will be more about his feelings against Hillary Clinton, particularly about her position to support Israel.
“I have strong ties to the Middle East, I know my tax dollars are going to a place over there, which is going against where my ties are over there,” Aboufawaz said.
“You see what’s going on in the West Bank and the Gaza strip and you have such an oppressed people in the Palestinians. And my tax dollars are helping them be oppressed. That kind of hurts me.”
Michael Aboufawaz agrees with his brother about Clinton’s foreign policy, but will still vote for her. And that’s mainly to do with her opponent.
“I think Trump’s racist. He doesn’t think about how the things that come out of his mouth affect people,” Aboufawaz said.
Aboufawaz also has a problem with Trump’s stance on refugees.
“We’re calling ourselves the greatest country in the world….well you can’t just be the greatest country in the world because you have a good economy. You have to be able to help and support people,” Aboufawaz said.
He admits that his stance on the topic may be swayed by his background.
“My parents took refuge in this country,” he said. “Who knows where I would be, or they would be if they weren’t allowed in.”
Ibrahim Kazerooni is the Imam at the Islamic Centre of America in Dearborn.
He says there have been attacks on the centre and people in the community since the election, with a few hitting close to home.
“My wife went to a shopping centre to buy something and suddenly found herself confronted with the security guards. Why? Because somebody walked out and said there’s a terrorist in here,” Kazerooni said.
Kazerooni says he’s seen a change in attitude from his neighbour. Since January, they really stay away from him and his family.
“They don’t want to deal with us. My children find themselves somehow isolated, that other kids don’t want to talk to them,” Kazerooni said.
Kazerooni says he will vote for Clinton. If Trump wins, he feels his only choice is to leave the country.
“If American politics becomes so rotten that majority of its people vote for Trump,” he said. “This country is not worth living in.”