• AAF testifies at Homeland Security Hearings.

 Joined by speakers from two other Arab American organizations, President Aref Assaf appeared yesterday, Monday 2/26/2006, before the NJ Homeland Security Committee (a standing committee in the Assembly, chaired by Assemblywoman Joan Quigley). The tone was clearly demarked by the Chairwoman's opening statement: No to the deal.-yes for security at any price. This is a very tall order to match. Outmaneuvering patriotic sentiments is a recipe for defeat. We tried and collectively, I think we made a very important statement about the need to differentiate between security considerations and irreparably harming our relations with the Arab world. Our statement is now on the website and we think it covers the salient points, which needed to be made. A copy of AAF’s testimony, which was delivered to the committee, is now recorded in the official proceedings.
I am writing an op-ed on this saga but the jest is not about giving the deal a go-ahead for I personally have not stake in Dubai Ports World. I am not lobbying for Dubai or the U.A.E.
I feel the urge to write as to escape the stigma and wrath of having sat silent while my country so devoured by the need to feel secure is losing its grip on reality and the urgency of a reasoned consideration of a sensible response to our fears- real or imagined. While I am a proud American citizen and thankful for all the good and bad this country has afforded me, I am terribly scared for being an Arab American. In a climate of post-9-11 'fear all and trust none mentality", how can an Arab American talk to his fellow citizen about security and attempt to diffuse the collective national xenophobic mood? How can we disassociate ourselves from ’rouge’ and devilish nations? This dichromatic stance and duality of emotions is most unsettling.

I am a proud but a very scared American citizen. I am proud to live in the one country that is the envy of the whole world where every person is to be treated fairly and equitably and that their civil and political rights are enshrined in the laws of the land. This is the place where I, together with wife of 16 years, strife every day raise our children, sparing no effort to afford them the best of education, health and parental care.
I am proud because my elected politicians are sparing no effort to assure me that the security of nation is paramount and is not for sale. I am assured by my politicians that the security of our nation will not be outsourced to some ‘rouge’ and ‘devilish’ regimes-as Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) claimed before cheering crowds at the Newark seaport.  I am comforted by the assurances that 9-11 will never happen again.
However, I am now a very terrified American citizen whose loyalty is frequently doubted and whose patriotism is often questioned. To be continued.
 

Arab Americans upset

... Arab Americans, however, complained in Trenton to the Assembly's Homeland Security Committee about the tenor of the debate.

Aref Assaf, president of American Arab Forum, said the attacks on the port deal send a chilling message to the U.A.E. and other Middle Eastern allies. Fostering business ties with friendly countries in the region would help America, he said.

"If the deal is nullified or obstructed, we will send a clear statement to the Arab world: America is xenophobic; Arabs need not to apply to the modern world," Assaf said.

The committee nonetheless approved its own ban on foreign governments running maritime facilities owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The measure still needs to pass the full Legislature and also would need the approval of New York State.  More

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