The grief was palpable as he recollected the devastating events – his beloved relatives taken from him in the Lebanon-Israel conflict of 2006, a tragic encounter inflamed by then-president George W. Bush’s strategies. There was a time when his community predominantly leaned towards Republican ideals; however, this inclination was gradually replaced by a Democratic preference. Ironically, this shift in political beliefs was reinforced during Barack Obama’s tenure and was instrumental in Biden’s triumph in the 2020 elections. But this political harmony didn’t last too long, as recent developments have severely strained the trust among the constituents.
In October 2023, this ongoing dispute between Israel and Hamas took a horrendous turn. The latter launched a fierce attack on Israeli soil, where over a thousand individuals lost their lives, and more than two hundred were abducted. The response from Israel, endorsed and supported by Joe Biden’s administration, wasn’t too delayed or subtle. The aggression left a lasting impact on Gaza, where the civilian death toll escalated swiftly and triggered a wave of strong criticism domestically, particularly in Michigan.
A protest vote movement began to gather momentum within the Democratic primary, maneuvered primarily by anti-war Democrats. The ‘uncommitted’ votes surpassed the hundred thousand mark, with an overwhelming majority stemming from majorly Muslim cities – Dearborn being the most prominent among them. A familiar name from Dearborn, Turfe, found himself in the thick of this ‘uncommitted’ wave, destined to clash with the narrative of Joe Biden’s re-election.
But, to many’s surprise, Turfe had a change of heart when Harris emerged as the nominee. He decided to endorse her before the Detroit rally in October. During his meeting with Harris, he opened up about his grandmothers’ tragic end nearly twenty years back. According to him, his emotions were well-received by Harris, an illusion of empathy conceived in the politically charged atmosphere.
However, his endorsement didn’t sit well with everyone. Turfe found himself on the receiving end of a social media backlash, with accusations surfacing about him endorsing the Gaza carnage. His loyalty was doubted, his allegiance questioned, branding him as a traitor. This controversy brewed deep enough to shake up some long-cherished relations within his hometown of Dearborn.
Meanwhile, Suehaila Amen, a fellow resident of Dearborn and life-long Democrat, expressed a staunch reluctance to vote for Harris. According to her, the Democratic party was losing touch with the ground reality. Their alarm regarding the potential loss of their grip over the swing state is causing them to take hasty decisions, she observed. However, her disappointment with Harris didn’t entail hope for a Trump victory. For Amen, peace of mind was paramount, something that the current administration was evidently failing to provide.
The Democratic VP nominee’s attitude towards the Israel-Hamas conflict was laid bare during a recent speech she delivered in Oakland County, a Detroit suburb. She did acknowledge the catastrophic aftermath in Gaza, emphasizing the huge civilian casualty and displacement in Lebanon. Her optimism regarding the death of the Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, pointed out a possible turning point in the situation.
Harris also took a moment to express pride in their support from Muslim leaders like Turfe. Yet, conspicuously, she didn’t utter a word about curbing the supply of U.S weapons to Israel, a move critically linked to the cessation of hostilities. Furthermore, her refusal to let pro-Palestinian speakers voice their views at the Democratic National Convention was a clear indication of her standpoint and an obvious affront to the ‘uncommitted’ movement’s expectations.
Khanna, a Democrat hailing from California and prominent for his progressive leanings, has had regular interactions with Arab American leaders in metro Detroit. He relates his Hindu origin to shared experiences with the Arab American community. It’s evident, however, that Harris’s lackluster contribution to ending the Israel-Hamas conflict does not escape his notice.
He, along with Harris’s Arab and Muslim outreach directors, acknowledged how Harris’s efforts have been less than anticipated in mitigating the crisis. Khanna posed a grim possibility should Trump be elected, indicating the exclusion of diverse advocates from diplomatic interactions. Still, he underscored the opportunity Harris offers for advocates to voice their cause.
But there are still voices among the hardship that keep holding out hope. Among these is Mike Musheinesh, a Palestinian American who owns his auto parts store and was present at the meeting. He dares to vote for Harris despite the unpleasantness of the choice.
Musheinesh recognizes the symbolism of voting for Harris: helping her cross the finish line might get them the representation they desperately seek. It seems that the community clings to a slim ray of hope amidst the persistence of harsh realities.
In these politically volatile times, everyone seems to be looking for an elusive ‘seat at the table’. Still, they might in the end have to ‘hold their noses’, as Musheinesh put it, in making the difficult choice to ensure having that voice in the future.