I have watched vigilantly, and silently, as my community erupted in disgust and outrage over the statements of Donald Trump, the current Republican nominee. I come from a Muslim and Syrian background, and it is no surprise that both these communities have rallied behind Hillary Clinton. These are communities that have traditionally sided with the Democratic Party, as it is generally understood that the Republicans are no friends of theirs. However true or untrue, such sentiments have firmly held ground in the Muslim and Arabic communities for decades now. Trump has only confirmed my community’s convictions and suspicions of the Republican Party.
This is not to say that the Democratic Party has been a loyal friend to this community either. President Obama, not without the support of Clinton, has retracted from his promise to withdraw American troops from Iraq. His approach to the uprisings in Libya was disastrous. Furthermore, President Obama’s indifference to the hushed uprisings in the gulf states clearly indicates where the Democrats’ interests align, and it is certainly not with these communities. Ultimately, Democrats and Republicans may differ on domestic policies, but in terms of their international policies, particularly their aggressive and misguided handling of the Middle East, they are alike in more ways than they are comfortable acknowledging. However, it remains an exhausting task to convince my communities that the Democratic Party is no ally of the Arab and Muslim people, especially with Trump presenting a terrifying alternative.
But something scary has been taking place, something far scarier than Trump’s insults and threats against the Muslim and Syrian communities. Suddenly, it has become a subject of pride for people within my community to publicly announce that they have submitted an early vote for Clinton and that the rest of us, as members of these communities and as conscious beings, must vote likewise, as if the entire tenants of democracy and the fate of our community rested on our vote. I am not belittling nor dismissing the importance of one’s vote, but I am concerned about my community, and those outside of it as well, who are shaming those who are not voting for the Democratic candidate, or any candidate for that matter.
Fear permeates the Muslim and Arab communities for valid reasons, but it has largely limited their protests against rising hostility directed toward them and clear injustices taking place in the Middle East — drone strikes, occupations, etc. — to a ballot. Political demonstrations are perceived as dangerous and unbecoming for many, particularly among many Arab Americans. Isn’t it enough that many Americans think of us as barbarous people? It is not surprising that people across communities see these protests as an unflattering and aggressive response to the current sentiments directed against Muslim and Arabs. In fact, it even appears to confirm Muslims’ and Arabs’ supposed barbarity.
But that is precisely our dilemma. We have limited our response to these aggressions to this vote, which is easy, private and uncontroversial. Other practices of our democracy, such as writing opinion pieces and organizing protests, are filtered from our democratic participation.
My aunt and many like her proudly state that they are voting for Clinton to protect this country from what they see as the possibility of tyranny. It is as if their vote is something courageous, something rebellious, and something that will ultimately defeat the hostility Trump has unwrapped.
But many overlook that Trump did not create these dangerous sentiments, nor did he instill them. Hatred and racism never departed from our society, it has only been tucked beneath a false facade because there was no place for it in our progressing society. But with one of the most powerful men in America openly and unapologetically expressing much of the racist and resentful attitudes that millions of Americans harbor, there is no longer any reason for them to maintain the appearance of such facades. Why should they? Our vote alone cannot change the attitudes that Trump has undressed.
Some may argue that voting is an extension of one’s participation in a democracy. They are not wrong, but I cannot vote for either candidate without bearing guilt for the rest of my life. With both, I will have blood on my hands for the aggressions I am certain they will continue against my people.
So many of my socialist friends have urged me to vote for Jill Stein, but what chance does she stand when our supposed democracy does not even include her in our presidential debates nor in our general presidential discourse? It appears that these third party candidates are listed on the ballot for the sake of embellishing the faults of our democracy.
I am a Muslim and a Syrian who will not be voting this November. I will not apologize for that. What I have not given in my vote, I will compensate for in my continued activism, an act of participation that is far more difficult and far more impactful than a slight mark on a ballot.
Aiyah Sibay is a senior English major. She can be reached at ak_sibay@hotmail.com.
