Telling the story of post 9/11 Arab America

by Neal Abunab

DEARBORN - A one and a half-hour long documentary film depicting the lives of Arab Americans before and after September 11th is being produced here by myself and my partner, Donna Neuman.  The film will chronicle the profound effect the war on terrorism has had in transforming Arab American lives.  It will target movie theater audiences using original cinematography footage to be shot here on location; excerpts from newsreels outlining global and local events that have changed Arab Amercan lives; and original interviews conducted with Arabs representing a cross section of their community.

The movie is scheduled for release on September 11, 2005.  The anniversary of the tragic events was chosen so that the movie would act as an antidote of hope in contrast to the evil and destruction that took place on that day. 

.Dearborn has the highest concentration of Arabs in a city outside the Middle East .  It is dubbed  the “Capital of Arab America.” They come from every corner of the Middle East .  They are Yemenis, Lebanese, Iraqis, Palestinians, Syrians, and Egyptians.  They all came to America running from political instability, war or repression.  They came to Dearborn in search of a better life, a chance for a dignified livelihood, and to establish the Arab and American dream.  The dream was of having their own culture, traditions, and religious practices preserved and protected by the American promise of civil liberties, tolerance and the rule of law.  Most of all they dreamed of the America that celebrated the right to free speech and freedom of expression without fear of retribution from the government or persecution by society.

They dreamed of having an Arab society in the midst of America and of what that little Arab America would look like.  They dreamed and worked hard to build a life combining the best of both worlds: Arab culture coupled with the endless economic opportunities that America offers.  Prior to September 11th, 200 , they did not feel the heat of the government breathing down their necks. They felt a strong sense of security during the Clinton years.  They worked hard, earned money and invested their savings in building their homes, businesses and community centers.  They spoke out on their issues, held demonstrations, became active in politics, registered thousands of voters and started to flex their  muscle in local elections.

They were proud of their Arab identity and heritage.  The story of the Arab Ghetto in Dearborn with its growing influence made national headlines in the 2000 election, when local Arab groups were courted by both presidential candidates.  Their meetings with Al Gore and George W. Bush were covered nationally and as a result candidate Bush promised to end racial profiling of Arabs in airports in a televised debate with Al Gore.  Bush won their endorsement and they campaigned vigorously for his victory.  The story of Arab Dearborn’s endorsement and the effect it had in a swing state like Michigan was discussed on CNN and covered by media across the globe from Holland to Japan .  In 2000, Arab Americans enjoyed a brief moment in the sun where they basked in the warm rays of acceptance in mainstream America .  It whetted their appetites for more.  They felt strong and emboldened in their American identity and proud to have a government and be part of a society that began to view them as an essential patch in its colorful tapestry.

September 11th,  2001 arrived and an Arab name was on the ballot in the elections held in Dearborn on that gloomy day.  An Arab American was trying to unseat a formidable incumbent mayor.  His dream and the aspirations of his community were shattered by the explosions.  As the twin towers crumbled to the ground, the stock of being an Arab crashed to ground zero.

Post 9/11

In the short weeks following 9/11, Americans received the education of their life on their new potential enemy: Arabs and Muslims around the world.  They learned the difference between a Sunni and a Shia, a Kurd, a Wahhabi, a fundamentalist.. They found that the one billion plus population of Islam comrised every race, color, ethnicity, and human contradiction that the world could possibly have.  The more they learned the more they appreciated the diversity of Arabs and Muslims and the varied cultural and religious practices and customs that existed among them.  The more they learned the more they appreciated that the war on terrorism can not be waged like a crusade against every Muslim on this earth.  Yet anti-Arab sentiment was strong enough to pass the PATRIOT ACT in record time.

In the following months the war on terrorism was waged in Afghanistan and domestically.  Thousands of Arabs on visas were rounded up, interrogated and jailed without charges.  Their names were withheld and their exact number was never released.  Local news broadcasts took special interest in criminal cases with Arabs involved in them.  Stories of FBI raids on Muslim charities were over-dramatized and images of Arabs hauled away in handcuffs became a regular staple in the nightly news diet.  Arab loyalty to America was under scrutiny as a cloud of suspicion hovered over their daily existence.  Arab Americans were under siege and some chose to move back to the Arab world.

All of a sudden the baton of the fight for civil rights in America was thrust upon them but they could not carry the heavy cross.  They were too scared to fight back.  They suffered quietly and individually as they were abused by the justice system.  They were too scared and divided to speak out and campaign collectively.  The Arab identity became a liability and their belonging in America was questioned.  Their dream had turned into a nightmare as FBI informants infiltrated their mosques, community centers, and organizations like pesticide sprayed over precious crops to protect them from disease.

The business of Arabism in mainstream America prospered and boomed as universities all across the nation added new entire curricula dealing with Middle Eastern studies.  Every branch of the Defense Department was recruiting Arabic speaking people and studying their culture.  The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) reported that it was inundated with thousands of inquiries on a weekly basis.

Then the war in Iraq heightened the interest in Dearborn as Iraqi Americans demonstrated in support of the war while on the other side of the street Lebanese Americans demonstrated against the war.  The Iraqis danced in the streets of Dearborn when Saddam Hussein’s statue came tumbling down in Baghdad .  President Bush celebrated with these Iraqis in Dearborn a couple of weeks later and showcased to the world the Iraqi support for his war.

National interest in Arab Dearborn has been cultivated and many attempts have been made to tell the story but none have articulated it from an Arab American view faithfully - the view that combines Arab values as they are integrated into the American value system.  It is different from the American view of Arabs or the Arab view of Americans.  Most of the stories produced reinforce the painful stereotyping that plagues the Arab identity.  One of the hot issues of the 2004 election campaign is civil rights and the deterioration of civil liberties under the Ashcroft watch.  It is one of the main themes of the Democratic Party’s campaign, yet no one has heard the story of the victims.  Arab Americans were traumatized twice by the attacks of 9/11.  Over a hundred of them died in those attacks and then they suffered a slow malicious torture campaign aimed at stripping them of any dignity or respect for their existence in America .

Arab Americans are innocent of the attacks and the sentiments that caused these attacks. This story will allow them to make their case to the American people.  They will state their views clearly, unapologetically, and defend themselves in the court of public opinion.  It will strive to aid in the healing of America and the promotion of belonging, reconciliation and mutual respect.

The film has a tailored and focused message about the belonging of Arab Americans and their American identity.  It tells the story of their day to day life and what they are doing to build their nation and help America understand the positive values of their rich culture. 

We are looking for additional financing. Please contact me at 313-506-4409 or by email at nealabunab@todaylink.com if you are interested in this venture.