File: The_American_Election
I've been fairly exhausted these past few days. Far too much to drive to campus myself. As such, I was picked up by my mother today. As I clambered into the passenger seat, she asked me a question I'd been hoping to avoid all day.
> Do you know who you're going to vote for tomorrow?
I already told you, Mama. I've thought about it, but I haven't changed my mind.
> There's sheikhs saying it's haram to support her. With what she's put the Palestinians and Ummah through.
My goal isn't to support her. It's to ensure that he doesn't come back to kill more of our people. It's about Salvaging the little hope and life that is left back home.
> Do you really need to put your name with her? God's going to ask you about that when you die.
You think I won't feel disgusted with myself for what I'm going to do tomorrow? You think I won't be making dua, begging Allah for his mercy?
I simply hope he has enough to understand that I'm simply trying to do something.
> But what you're doing is wrong.
But it's still something.
> Haven't you realized? Our blood, our flesh, our people, will continue to be slain, no matter who's in charge.
At least with her, there's hope.
> You actually believe her?
There is a petrified silence.
> Listen, habeebty. I'm not telling you who to vote for. I'm just giving you my two cents.
Are you going to vote this year? They keep saying it's the most important election in our lives.
> I'm doing the right thing. I'm not voting.
Are you going to have an answer for God when he asks you what you tried to do? We, as powerless as we are, have this small ounce of ability to do something here. And you're going to throw it away.
> I do not want the blood of my own people on my hands.
Simply by living, existing, being here, there is blood on our hands.
> Perhaps for other races. But for the Palestinians? There isn't a country to go back too. Where I grew up, the Egyptians, the Syrians, the Iraqis- every foreigner I knew got to go back to their country. To the houses and family they had left there. But me? I didn't get that life.
You could've stayed there. You didn't have to come here.
> There was no life for us in Jordan. They want us out. They tried kicking out your grandfather just two months ago! Don't you remember?
And can't you say the same for others? There was no life for them from whence they came?
> Everyone has somewhere to go back to. Everyone except us.
I wish we had other choices. I wish it wasn't between these two disgusting… I wish-
> Just make sure that, whatever choice you make tomorrow, you can stand in front of God. And when he asks you what you did, and why you did it- you'll have an answer.
And so. I will vote tomorrow, as I intended too.
But no matter what happens.
Please, God, please.
Forgive Me.
I tried.
