Aimee Schoelles, former Dearborn School Board president

Watching from a distance, it’s quite disheartening the things that have been said over the past few months in Dearborn. An organization and a man are being viciously attacked for asking legitimate questions during a highly contested election. 

Instead of answering these questions, the candidate chose to take the high road of victimhood. This choice was made freely, and I’m sure with a lot of contemplation. Perhaps it was a good political decision considering the outcome of the election; however that doesn’t change history.

It’s sad to realize that personal contributions and more importantly sacrifices over the past 20 plus years are so easily forgotten. The “new generation,” as I’ve seen it stated, has dismissed the previous work that has given them the ability to accomplish their goals. When I read statements like “I have endured more baseless political attacks in this last month than any other candidate in our city’s history,” I realize just how little history anyone remembers. How quickly we forget.

It wasn’t that long ago that the infamous “Arab Problem” flyer hit the streets of Dearborn. Nor was it that long ago that political candidates were attacked for even daring to bring to light the issues facing the Arab community. It wasn’t that long ago that Arab candidates didn’t even stand a chance at winning an election.

Let me take you back to 2000. Just 16 short years ago sat 74 portable classrooms (mostly at east end schools). Just to paint this picture for you, that is equivalent to about 2,200 children in trailers trying to learn how to read and write, enduring cold walks in the snow to change classes or use the bathroom. 

The district didn’t want to discuss this problem; instead it wanted the citizens to pay for a $50 million construction plan that did not include buildings like McCollough/Unis, Geer Park, Salina Elementary, the Fordson Addition or the Berry Career Center. This is not to mention new programs that were “tested” on east end students like year round schools, and it wasn’t that long ago that schools were open during the Eid holidays.

Maybe we should ask ourselves, why did this change? Is it just a sign of the times? No. It was hard work and relentless dedication. 

It was organization and mobilization. A few dedicated Arab professionals sat together in 1998 and decided to stop just complaining and start doing something to change the fate of this community. Those few men huddled in a room turned into a movement that brought this community out of the shadows and into political landscape. 

The hard work of every single Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) member over the years has planted the seeds that the “new generation” are harvesting.

So while everyone is analyzing the past election and getting their war chest ready, maybe we should reflect on those who have sacrificed before us. Showing a little respect to those who helped pave the way doesn’t hurt, even if we don’t always agree with them. 

When Martin Luther King Jr started his crusade against Civil Injustice, many in his own community stood against him. He didn’t waiver, he just kept on fighting and it wasn’t until years later that we all benefit from his sacrifices. That is why we pay respect to him now. So before you decide to open your mouth or send off that tweet, think about the people in your own community that have paved the way for you.