Congressman Emanuel, the President-Elect’s Chief of Staff, responded today to ADC’s formal letter about his father’s remarks. He called ADC to apologize on his father’s denigration of Arabs and assurance that Emanuel would tilt the US to be even more pro-Israel (is that even possible?).
I am sure his sorrow will will licked up by an Arab-American community beaten down by the Bush administration. This symbolic gesture by the Chief of Staff will likely be met by many in our community with glee and warming fanfare. We’re in many ways like the caged dog used to getting poked by sticks. One little bone and we’ll go nuts. That is meant not to degrade Arab America, but the cage we’re held in.
Thus, Emanuel’s gesture should be seen as a reason for us to get better organized and more involved politically.
Kudos to ADC for representing the community on this issue.
Read ADC’s Statement Below:
ADC Press Release:
Emanuel Calls ADC to Repudiate Negative Comments About Arabs
Washington, DC | November 13, 2008 | www.adc.org | Today, Congressman Rahm Emanuel, recently appointed White House Chief of Staff to President-Elect Barack Obama, called American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) President Mary Rose Oakar to repudiate negative comments about Arabs made by his father Benjamin Emanuel.
In the phone call, Congressman Emanuel said, “From the fullness of my heart, I personally apologize on behalf of my family and me. These are not the values upon which I was raised or those of my family.” During the phone call, Emanuel added, it is unacceptable to make remarks such as these against any ethnic or religious group.
ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said, “We cannot allow Arabs and Muslims to be portrayed in these unacceptable terms. I welcome Rahm’s apology and his pledge to meet with our Community. I also thank our members and friends who expressed concern about this matter.”
MEDIA COVERAGE:
NEW YORK TIMES: Emanuel Apologizes for Father’s ‘Arab’ Comments
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/arab-american-group-decries-emanuels-fathers-smear/
TIME: Rahm Emanuel’s Father Problem
http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/13/rahm-emanuels-father-problem/
ABC NEWS: American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Asks Rahm To Repudiate His Dad’s Comments
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/11/american-arab-a.html
JEWISH TELEGRAPH AGENCY: Arab-American Group Blasts Emanuel’s Dad
http://jta.org/news/article/2008/11/12/1000906/adc-blasts-emanuels-dad
TEXT OF NOV. 11 ADC LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN EMANUEL
View letter online at: http://www.adc.org/PDF/rahm.pdf
This makes me want to apologize to Emanuel for my role in launching Scuds at Israel during the first Gulf War.
Related posts:
- ADC: Rahm and Barack Should Answer for Abu Rahm’s Statements
- Abu Rahm Kicks Us in the Nards…
- Abunimah on Abu Rahm, Obama and the Dire Prospects of Mideast Peace
- Mass. Names Arab-American to Top Position
- The Arab-American FOB Street on Politics: What they’re saying about the primaries
“Thus, Emanuel’s gesture should be seen as a reason for us to get better organized and more involved politically.”
Totally agree. By the way, there is a typo in the 2nd paragraph.
It has been suggested to me that we push for Bill Richardson for Secretary of State and try to post comments on blogs and news sites about it… any thoughts?
Posted by American Muslim Girl | November 13, 2008, 6:31 pmthis is why one should be careful what they wish for. because these are the values in his family otherwise his father would not have been a member of irgun and he would have not been a member of the israeli terrorist forces (aka their army). his history of voting, of writing letters to the president to support hateful actions against palestinians and lebanese and iraqis show that this is precisely what he thinks in far more dangerous ways than any racist comment his father made in a newspaper.
Posted by bodyontheline | November 13, 2008, 8:08 pmHaving to denounce something publicly is important, but only if the pressure is kept high. It has to be constant pressure. That’s what they do. Constant pressure.
Do you think they give up?
Posted by American Muslim Girl | November 13, 2008, 9:54 pm“it’s like asking for a black person to be president as the measure of the end of racism.”
WTF? Isn’t it the measure of something? Of course it’s not the end of racism. But it’s a fucking big step. Don’t you think it means something in the lives of little black children?
If you can’t appreciate the historic step, at least appreciate that it means something to someone somewhere.
Your inability to see the viewpoints of others is what makes you look foolish in the first place.
Posted by American Muslim Girl | November 13, 2008, 10:03 pm“These are not the values upon which I was raised or those of my family.”
Don’t tell me the Arab community in America buys this bullshit? Of course Rahm the Knife was raised with these values.
Posted by Anonymous | November 14, 2008, 9:26 am