Living and making history
Aref Assaf

December 17, 2008

Often august moments in life propel an array of unmatched excitement, an unavoidable aura of new beginnings or simply a line in a newspaper. Every four years, Americans are reminded about the role of the Electoral College (EC) in sealing the fate of the next president of the United States of America. December 15, 2008 was no different as 376 out of the 538 members of the EC gathered in the nation's State Houses to pen their names next to that of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President Jospeh Biden. The remainder, 176 votes were cast for defeated Republican candidate John McCain. The college votes will be certified by the U.S. Congress on January 8. Obama will be sworn in as president on January 20. Most Americans have no idea what role if any does the EC plays and how it came into being. A short history of this American institution can be found in this official link. Here is an academic piece.

What is of great interest to me besides the promise of an Obama presidency is the happy news is that Mr. Salah Mustafa, a dear friend and a fellow activist, a proud American Arab Muslim was selected by the Democratic Party leadership to serve as one of the fifteen electors representing the State of New Jersey. Mr. Mustafa, joined by his two daughters, penned his approving name and signature to the Certificate of Vote document that declares Obama as our new president. The official signing ceremony to some may be a relic from the past, an act from an entity that is neither elected nor even a college.

Call it a symbolic or a mere passing act and you miss the significance of the moment. Call it a sign of an emerging politically vibrant community and you have captured the essence of what lays ahead.  Here is a piece in the Bergen Record evocatively unfolding the moment. Next time, let's shoot for two or three Arab and Muslim electors. One day not in the too distant future, eager fellow Americans may glowingly line up to vote for an Arab or a Muslim president!