Arab Americans: Resist, Don’t Enlist!
I’m disturbed by the gratuitous National Guard solicitation targeted to Arab Americans that I have been seeing in places like The Arab American News and Dearborn’s Arab International Festival. I am bombarded with these misleading, exploitative ads on TV, in the movie theater, and now in my Arab American media? Am I the only one who thinks it’s abusive and unfair for Arabs to advocate service in the American military to other Arabs? Are our lives worth so little that we should sacrifice them in service of a government that has institutionalized discrimination against us, in order to perpetuate the same type of war and imperialism that brought many of our ancestors here? More importantly, are there so few rich Arab Americans setting up endowments and scholarship funds for low income Arab American youth that our youth feel they have no other choice but to enlist if they want to have any chance at the trifecta (doctor, lawyer, engineer) of Arab American success?With all the pressure put on young Arab Americans, regardless of economic status, to achieve high educational goals, enlisting in the military might seem incredibly appealing to those of us with few other financing options. Why not increase the options? I’m reminded of this quote, from Eduardo Bonilla-Silva’s book Racism Without Racists (via UBUNTU):
We all must participate in the new movement and contribute in whatever way we can. Some will provide expertise, others money, others time, and others will craft and participate in the actions required to advance the new politics of change. We all need to regain the energy we seem to have lost, drop the pessimism that has filled our souls, and get over the individualism and materialism that has eaten so many of us from within. Our participation in this movement is a must. We cannot remain as spectators of the racial game being played before our own eyes in America.
We must do all we can to increase our options for survival beyond total assimilation and acceptance of American patriotic values that demand our subordinance. We are all different, with different values and lifestyle, but one thing I am certain of is that aiding the US government tear our homelands apart will not make any of us free.
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Amazing piece.. Truly amazing.. Inspiring to the last word..
It’s sad to see the number of Arabs enlisting in the military, and the number of them who fight in their home lands like it has no relation to who they are and where they came from.. All in the name of Peace and Democracy, two words that have “updated” definitions by the hour..
You’re part of the constitution, right? so is it your right to call for this resistance? Can the public deny the military requests? or is this “resistance” going to cause more trouble than actually enlisting? Am not that familiar when it comes to Military rules and laws in the states, since i already see them use “every other” way to get as many uninformed enrollments as they can..
If you are an Arab American, a person who holds an American citizenship, you are an American first and whatever is next. Your homeland is America not somewhere in the Middle East. If you think your homeland is something else while holding the American citizenship, get the fuck out of there and go back to your freaking “homeland” is.
I’m not American, but an Arab-American serving in the U.S military does not fight in his ‘homeland’ unless he fights in the States. This seems pretty obvious.
This sentence sounds like it was written by someone who honestly wants more to be Arab than American. ‘Total assimilation’ is not a bad thing, at all. Patriotism is not a bad thing either, and it doesn’t demand subordinance. If you are an American, and you do not accept American values, than why not seek another nationality?
Whoa!!! talk about aggressiveness.. Keep the language to controlled minimum please.. We’re trying to express points, not have another “inside the actor’s studio”..
However, no matter where your citizenship is from, there will always be a homeland.. If you’re having problems with that, let me see you point that out to African Americans having to kill other African Africans because of some UN intervention.. Yada yada blah blah.. If you don’t know where you came from, Then you’re no better than over used human space.. An android..
What?
So that’s the whole freedom of choice then? God, didn’t think that it worked that way..
I guess for whatever reasons Arabs have to enlist, they should have the freedom to be patriotic, but also be loyal to where they came from.. When you get a green card, your previous “geographical” stand point doesn’t get erase and “replaced”..
Nationalities and paper work are only skin deep, we all know that.. So let’s not blow it off proportion.. We’re talking about racial belonging.. Cancel that?
Exactly..
An Android.. No relation to where the “steel” came from, more on where it was all formed together.. Made in The States, built in China..
Want me to link the dots for you?
Exactly, these Arabs who are enlisting are doing it on their own, no one is forcing them to do it. What’s your problem then?
Patriot is a person who defends his/her nation. It’s upto them to figure out who is the the threat and from who they need to defend their nation. If they choose to enlist in the army and goto Iraq, that is their choice. Stop bitching.
Ethnicity and culture are also the same thing.
… can we go little bit back in time then? So for every human on Earth, Africa is our homeland then, drop your Arab crap then. Discussion finished, bye bye.
When you get a green card, your previous “geographical” stand point doesn’t get erase and “replaced”..
No, it doesn’t. But why would you get a green card, or a permanent visa or citizenship to any country of which you do not subscribe to their values? Freedom of choice is great, but why would you choose to be an American if you’d rather be Palestinian, or Jordanian, or Egyptian, or Lebanese…
You said:
There aren’t that many ‘Arabs’ enlisting in the military, there are many Americans enlisting, and if your American, you are not fighting your homeland unless your fighting America. So, to me at least, it’s not sad to see an American serve his/her country, because their homeland is America.
I have no idea what your saying.
Well, Jina, it’s good to see that they taught you how to speak back in the land of the brave.. Or is that something you catered as an ethnic slur? something original about what is seemingly unoriginal from your behalf?
H O W E V E R..
Let’s go through your points, shall we?
My problem is in what governs them, the upper force, that is leading them through wars, EVEN AMERICANS THEMSELVES won’t submit to.. But since we have Abdullah, or Allah somewhere stuck in our names, we should prove our “loyalty” to the newly-assigned Homeland.. Arabs are FORCED to enlist.. Go check the papers, and read the fine prints, before you start a debate and end it with a “bye bye” sweety..
I’d like to see you say that in the face of any Jew who’s been effected by the Holocaust, or any African enslaved by colonial America.. They’re skin deep in nature, but they matter a whole lot deeper.. Where’s your history?
Now i get it..
Thanks allot for Racism 101.. Spoken like a true racist..
Who said they don’t? Everyone agrees to the visa’s they sign.. But is it in their value to start a corrupt war and then mislead the youth into it? I don’t know, am no american, but i sure share this point with many others..
Got any numbers proving that? It’s hard not to know a couple of my Arab American friends who told me other wise..
Where did you get the idea that I am an American and what part of my lingo is an ethnic slur?
You got to be shitting me. You need to learn how to use the dictionary.
Tell this to Korean, Indian, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Congolese, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese etc… I can play the same game.
“why would you choose to be an American if you’d rather be Palestinian, or Jordanian, or Egyptian, or Lebanese…”
I don’t know.. Maybe you should ask the millions enlisting under the flag.. The “all-over-the-place” green card offers.. The promises.. The small house and picket fence dream..
You DO know that you’re proving MY point with what you’re saying? or are you too angry to focus?
Is anybody paying you to actually say that line? I swear, you’re funny as hell.. And then you think you can get off by calling my statements “Arab” crap?
Go to dictionary.com and get the definition of Racism.. I “shit” you not..
This is from the post itself:
I know you didn’t write it, but that’s what I was talking about. You seemed to agree with the post.
You need numbers to prove to you that Americans serve in the AMERICAN military? My point, which I guess you don’t understand, is that if your Arab-American, your American, just as if your Asian-American your still American. So the majority of the men and women serving in the U.S armed forces are AMERICANS regardless of their ethnic, cultural or religious backgrounds.
Of course, maybe I’m just an android, “Made in The States, built in China..”
You said nationality is nothing but skin deep and I said culture and ethnicity are also the same thing and you said no. I am proving how nationality can be the same thing. Those conflicts are not caused by a culture or ethnicity, but rather nationality.
You need to learn how to comprehend English. Arab crap, not referring to Arab as an ethnicity. English, learn it before you come and post in an English language website. I can’t explain to this to a person who can’t comprehend the language.
BTW, all these comments are going to bye bye when the site moves.
Well, Karim, If you read the post carefully, The post is talking about Arabs enlisting in the military for a government that is truly discriminating to anything arab in nature.. Beyond the superficials, arabs have been targets.. Do you not agree to that? And what the post is about, is why should these Arab Americans enlist to the military, when the government is discriminating their people.. Nothing as extreme as “working with the enemy” but i hope by now you got my drift..
THE WHOLE BLOG aims for the arab americans.. Though they’re americans, they’re still arabs my good friend..
Oh, and by the way, the numbers was on the number of ARAB Americans enlisting in the army.. You said they’re too little, and you’re apparently confident about that, then am asking for your numbers.. Not how many AMERICANS join the AMERICAN army.. You missed the arab part, Karim..
Maybe you are, maybe your not.. Actions speak louder, don’t you think?
Lou K,
I’m tired. I’ve explained myself enough, and considering these comments won’t last on this site for more than a few days, I think I’ll end the conversation here. Honestly, I’d ask you to go back and read what I wrote, and what the post says, because you don’t understand what I’m saying. I don’t know what your saying either, but that’s another story. I never said the number of Arab Americans enlisting in the Army was low, but you seem to have made up your mind, so we’ll just agree to disagree. Only looking to have a little debate before bed anyway.
I think this article is silly, (but that’s just my opinion) and now I’ll say goodnight.
Jina, comprehend this in english if you may..
To think that i can make a civilized conversation with someone who refers to her language as Lingo, being part of the hippist terminology around, You’d have to review your own english skills, which i can bet my money you got them off the funny pages, while confusing them with the actual news a couple of pages before.. Then again, you think i don’t comprehend the english you speak, when you my dear have been reforming my words to whatever fits your stereotypical attitude towards my stand point on this issue, calling it Arab Crap..
I know you didn’t mean any ethnicity in this whole deal, nor your ideal of whatever is happening now is anything but a simple misunderstading.. Then again, you called the stem of which i got my words based on as CRAP, while straying off, claiming this conversation was over 3 or more posts ago, and you still join in and talk.. It’s either you’re in, or you’re out.. Or maybe you’re talking in a language that YOU do NOT know what it implies.. Bye bye, means you’re out sister.. So, i don’t really think my English has any problem as much as your COMPREHNENSION of this english..
If you can comprehend what am saying, then get this..
Nationality, the status of belonging to a particular nation, whether by birth or naturalization..
Race, an arbitrary classification of modern humans, sometimes, esp. formerly, based on any or a combination of various physical characteristics, as skin color, facial form, or eye shape, and now frequently based on such genetic markers as blood groups. (Skin deep, yes, weighs deeper? you decide)
Thank you for that refreshing information, all these comments will be deleted.. Am happy that you’re happy for that..
Oh, Karim, before you go.. Here’s a little quote-on-quote game i’d like to give you a taste of..
You [ At 27.31.07 at 14:53 EDT
Karim (Egypt/Lebanon) Wrote: ]
“There aren’t that many ‘Arabs’ enlisting in the military, there are many Americans enlisting”
AND NOW FOR THE SHOCKER..
You [ At 27.31.07 at 15:06 EDT
Karim (Egypt/Lebanon) Wrote: ]
” I never said the number of Arab Americans enlisting in the Army was low, but you seem to have made up your mind, so we’ll just agree to disagree. Only looking to have a little debate before bed anyway.”
Hmm.. Interesting.. Good night Karim..
Or are you going with the whole No Arab when you have the green card scenario? Because if you do, i’d like to introduce you to Jina..
Now, as for you two, Me Leaving in English means me is going bye bye and not seeing this until tomorrow.. Got that?
Lou, if I wanted, I can delete your post and mine when ever I want.
And I am not a her dumbass.
And English ain’t my first language.
Alright, I checked if you had replied (I shouldn’t have) and once again, you have no idea what you are saying.
Listen carefully, please, so that I don’t repeat myself, again. My point was that, wait, let me go back and quote myself, since I’ve already made this exact point.
Meaning, I wasn’t saying the number of Arab Americans enlisted in the Army was low (even though I’d imagine it is, but thats another argument) but that EVEN IF an Arab-American was enlisted in the army, he’s still American. Ugh.
I’ll leave you with this helpful website.
Wow, so much jumping around has raised several issues.
Lou K, “Arabs are FORCED to enlist.” You’re going to have to provide some evidence of that, if you want us to accept it as true.
“If you don’t know where you came from, Then you’re no better than over used human space.. An android..” I hope you’re exaggerating, otherwise an awful lot of orphans are just androids. Seriously, part of being an American is that it doesn’t matter where you or our parents came from. I’ll grant you that we don’t always live up to that ideal, but it’s the goal we’re trying for.
“When you get a green card, your previous ‘geographical’ stand point doesn’t get erase and ‘replaced’..” Erased, no. Replaced, yes. If you are a US citizen or permanent resident then it is expected that your first loyalty is to the US, not to the place you left in order to come here. Not to the place your parents were born, or the home of your race or religion.
Please understand, I’m not dismissing ethnic, religious, or cultural heritage as unimportant: we have very strong laws to protect them, in fact. What I’m saying is that the nation comes first and whatever else comes second, and it HAS to be that way BECAUSE there are Americans from just about everywhere. There are Americans whose families came from Iran and those whose families came from Iraq. During the Iran/Iraq war did you see them taking up arms against each other on the streets of New York? No, because they’re Americans first.
There shouldn’t be any “Arab Americans” where being “Arab” is more important to them than being “American.” There should be (and there are) Americans of Arab descent. Several millions, in fact, some of whom choose to join the military.
Which brings us back to the really good question that we started with: “why should these Arab Americans enlist to the military, when the government is discriminating their people”? Well, why did “Japanese Americans” serve in WWII despite far worse discrimination than anything Arab Americans are going through today? Perhaps it’s because they’re Americans first, even though they know that America is not perfect.
pft… he called me a racist for no apparent reason, I react, I don’t instigate.
[…] I was reading the blog, I was suprised to notice that my last post had received 30 comments. I was most surprised to find that people involved with this project were […]
Nadia, I disagree with you … as a veteran who served during the Vietnam War (a terrible unjustified war, but as an American, my duty is to serve this country and to help change it from within not without); my brother was a US Marine and my dad and uncle (Moses) served during World War II, dad in the 5th Armya nd later the OSS (which became the CIA) and my uncle on a battleship, both 4 1/1 years.
I think Arab Americans should serve and do their best to change the system. We are American and American first. I am proud to be Arab American and especially Palestinian, but I consder myself more patriotic than the racist bigot Americans who bash me because 1) they hate Arabs, 2) think I am a terrorist supporter because I want justice in the Middle East and 3) because they think I am Muslims and are so ignorant that they don’t know that a majority of Arabs in America are Christian, although they are a minority in the Arab World.
Just my two cents. I am glad to see the advertisements and also glad that Arabs are enlisting and serving, including in Iraq where we can play a role to help insure that people are treated fairly.
Ray Hanania
http://www.hanania.com
You guys should really take a look at this.
I think it sums up and in a way merges Nadia’s argument with Ray’s and the others.
Ray, thank you for serving. If you don’t mind my asking, could you imagine that you were still in uniform for Desert Storm and let us know how you’d have felt about that?
Ray, I was hoping you would offer your opinion, since you have the experience of being Arab American in the US military. I fully agree that we as Arab Americans have a role to play in changing this country for the better, but I don’t think that military force is or can ever be a catalyst for positive change. More and more, I think non-violence is the only way to go. I also think it’s unfair for teenagers to be bombarded with exploitative and misleading recruitment advertisements (like the national guard one that has been running before movies in the theater which erases the fact that national guard troops have been and continue to be deployed to Iraq). Most Americans are exposed to media with highly distorted coverage of the war, and I think these advertisements coupled with the heavy pro-establishment news coverage make it difficult for young people who enlist to really understand what they are getting into. I don’t think that most Americans, other than on-the-ground soldiers and immigrants/refugees who fled war, have any understanding of what war actually is.
Many people in this thread keep wanting to remind me that I’m “American first,” (what part of “Arab American” do ya’ll misunderstand?). This is my territory as an Arab AMERICAN; I am not far away from what I’m speaking about. I thought about joining the military in high school, and I met with recruiters and explored my options. So did many other people in my family. I have cousins who were in ROTC (it’s a junior military-affiliated club for high school students) but decided not to enlist. Why did we consider enlisting? Because we wanted to go to college and had few other funding options.
Esra’a, thank you for linking to that video. I love Suheir Hammad and that poem especially makes me cry everytime I hear it. It captures so much of what I was feeling at that time. I posted another poem of hers (”I Will Not Dance To Your War Drum”) on my blog.
Lou K, thanks for your comments!
Grumpy, thanks for your comments as well, but I think you are misunderstanding one thing; it is not about one’s Arab-ness being more important than one’s American-ness. They are both there, and there is no need to prioritize one over the other because no matter what, one will still be BOTH at all times.
And why did Japanese Americans serve in WWII? Perhaps because it was important to them as a group to be seen as good, patriotic Americans? Perhaps for the same reasons as why they did not riot or rebel when they were forced into internment camps? By many accounts, Japanese Americans at this time period were acting in accordance with Japanese culture (not American culture) and acting out of a desire to be accepted in the US.
I do understand the both at all times concept, but please remember that the point is the potential conflict between the two. There’s a definite message from some here that that an Arab-American who enlists is betraying his “Arab-ness.”