August/September 1996, Page 138

American Educational Trust Publishers’ Page

We Shot an Arrow in the Air.

Actually it was a bunch of arrows because we were planning to print in this issue one Independent, two pro-Bill Clinton and two pro-Bob Dole articles from persons well-known among Arab-American, Muslim-American, and other pro-Middle East peace individuals. We did this because we believe they have the capability to form a one-issue Middle East voting bloc that could actually make the difference in enough swing states to decide the 1996 election...

And Make History!

Like putting Arab and Muslim Americans on the U.S. political map for the first time, along with their many friends and allies who have lived in the Middle East or are deeply concerned about U.S.-Middle East relations. And in so doing...

Reverse the Downward Slide...

In the peace process. As we argued in the July issue, the day it becomes apparent that supporters of an even-handed U.S. Middle East policy are prepared to vote as a bloc to get it, there suddenly will be a serious American-brokered “Middle East peace process” again. But this time, for the first time...

The “Honest Broker” Will be Honest!

We thought that with sincere proponents of all three presidential alternatives giving it their best shot, the presidential issues will clarify themselves for our readers—who number in the thousands themselves and are in close touch with tens of thousands among the 10 million potential members of such a Middle East peace bloc.

We Had No Trouble...

Getting two articles on “Why I’ll vote for Dole.” One is from our life-long-Democrat publisher. The other is from ADC board member and Southern California human rights activist A. Omar Turbi, who is both Arab and Muslim American. We got this issue’s “why I’ll hold my nose and vote for Clinton” article from former South Dakota Democratic Senator and ADC chairman emeritus James Abourezk. But when we approached a prominent American Muslim leader whom we’d been told was supporting Democratic candidates, he told us bluntly...

“No Muslim in His Right Mind...

“...can vote for Clinton.” So the second “pro-Clinton” article we eventually received ended up listing two reasons for voting for Clinton and then four for voting for Dole, all from an American Muslim point of view. The pro-Independent article by Washington Report managing editor Janet McMahon makes it clear that she is voting for an independent presidential candidate with a clear conscience only because, as a resident of the overwhelmingly Democratic District of Columbia, she knows its three electoral votes are going to Clinton whatever she does.

So, It’s Not a Put-Up Job...

It’s just shaping up to look like one. In fact, we’re totally sincere in inviting pro-Clinton, pro-Ross Perot, and pro-Ralph Nader articles from people whose names our readers will recognize, even though we, personally, think they’re...

Wrong, Wrong & Wrong, Respectively!

We know we’ll have no trouble getting two additional pro-Dole articles for the next, and last, pre-election issue. So if you want to weigh in on that side your best bet is to send us a letter to the editor listing concisely your reasons for voting for Dole. And exactly the same invitation goes to readers to send us letters listing their Middle East-related reasons for voting for…

Clinton, Perot, Nader or Anyone Else.

However, if you have some name recognition and you’re planning to vote for Clinton on Middle East issues (and we can’t help observing that, as he points out himself, none of our good and highly respected friend Jim Abourezk’s reasons for voting for Clinton are remotely connected to the Middle East), then talk to us about writing an article for our next issue. There’s just one caveat.

Don’t Try to Con Us!

If you work for the U.S. government, even as only a contractor, subcontractor or consultant, we can’t run your article. But if you don’t receive compensation directly or indirectly from the government, or the Democratic Party, our pages are open and we will be fair. If we get more pro-Clinton articles than we need, we’ll probably pick two from the writers best known to our readers and reduce the others to letters to the editor, with the writers’ permission.

That Said, Already We Understand...

The problem for most of our readers still planning to vote for Clinton. You probably think he’s awful on the Middle East, but you agree with his programs in many other fields. And maybe you don’t like the way Dole has suddenly cozied up to the religious right after years of being one of the most liberal Republicans in the Senate. We understand because...

We’ve Been There, Done That!

Your letters or articles certainly can allude to those issues. But basically we’re talking Middle East here. We think U.S.-Mideast relations are in such a mess, and rapidly getting worse, because there is a no-holds-barred, one-issue pro-Israel lobby organized by some national Jewish organizations that have deep roots in the media and that rent the Congress on a long-term lease. We fear that the U.S. literally is going to find itself in a war, or series of them, if we can’t all get a counter-lobby of one-issue voters for an even-handed Middle East policy off the ground. Since 1996 might be the last election in decades in which the candidates are so different on the Middle East, it may be the last time such a bloc will make sense. (For example, if Jack Kemp had been the Republican nominee, there would be no difference on the Middle East between the Republican and Democratic nominees this year.) So, for us...

The Mideast Is the Overriding Issue.

Maybe the six articles in this issue’s “Clinton or Dole?” section, pp. 16-21, will help readers make their decision. If we think enough agree with us, we’ll try to commission some exit polls on election day to see how our specific constituencies actually voted. That way, if they do make history on Nov. 5, they’ll get the credit for...

Making a Difference, This Century.

It’s Time to Say Goodbye to...

Ely Dieng, who’s been our Book Club manager since 1992. Regular reader and San Antonio newspaper columnist Maury Maverick calls him the Senegal Tiger. Ely insists there are no tigers in Senegal, but after he returns to Senegal, we know there will be one. His plans involve business, more schooling and marriage. He has been replaced by features editor Geoff Lumetta, who will continue as many of his writing chores as time allows. And goodbye to...

A Texas Tiger as Well!

Barbara Bartsch-Allen came to Washington from Dallas for concurrent internships at MERIP and the Washington Report last September. When her MERIP internship finished, she became full-time Washington Report circulation director for the remainder of the academic year, introducing procedures that have reduced circulation complaints to zero. Now it’s back to academia in Texas. She has been replaced by Delinda Curtiss Hanley, who has been editing non-Middle East related magazines for some years. Since Delinda grew up all over the Middle East, and went back after university for another six years in the Peace Corps and private employment in Oman and Saudi Arabia, she decided it was time to put her Mideast and magazine experience to work for us. Her mandate is to expand circulation fast. Readers can help by alerting her to Middle East-related events in their areas, and she’ll be there or she’ll look for a way to have our magazine represented. Now if we can just...

Fill the Next Vacancy...

With an heir to a fortune, we’ll solve our fund-raising problems. Until then, however, it’s not solved. If you’re planning to give some gift subscriptions and join our Angels’ Choir for 1996, but haven’t done either yet, now would be a very, very good time. This issue, like the one before it, is printed on credit and even in a buyers’ market printers have their limits. So help us pay to turn the presses for the next issue and...

Make a Difference, This Month!