Published in Star Ledger April, 19 2006

George Ajjan's April 3 piece at tempts to explain Arab-American voting patterns, claiming "perceptions are reality" regardless of whether those perceptions are true. He correctly describes state Democrats as having made a grave mistake in their outcry against Dubai and railroading of Sami Merhi.

Yet he absolves fellow Republicans of any wrongdoing, even though the GOP has had complete control of the government for the past five years and is responsible for creating the climate in which everything Arab (except for oil) is suspect. The Patriot Act isn't a perception but a reality, as were the detention of thousands of Arab-Americans without charge, the unnecessary invasion of an Arab nation and the administration's unwavering support of Israeli policy.

Ajjan's suggestion that Arabs can be viewed as a monolithic vot ing bloc that shifts with the political winds is wrong. While I support Arab causes, I am also a Democrat who cares about social equality, civil liberties, the right to health care, public education and respect for international law. I am an American, and my concern for the direction my country is taking runs deeper than any label.

-- Michael Kabbash, Green Brook