In the mid-1970s two young Saudis, Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy and Abdul Rahman Al-Sadhan, who presently hold prominent positions in Saudi Arabia, were visiting North Dakota as part of an official delegation. They were asked to address a joint session of the state legislature of North Dakota. It was the first time that a delegation of this nature was asked to speak to a joint session of the state legislature. In honor of this event, the North Dakota State Legislature passed a resolution issuing a statement of friendship between the State of North Dakota and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A couple of years later, another small official delegation of Saudis was visiting the State of Arkansas on a similar friendship mission. While in Little Rock, this delegation met with various Arkansas state legislators and the then attorney general of Arkansas. The attorney general expressed profound interest in developing friendly relations between the State of Arkansas and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The attorney general of Arkansas at that time was Bill Clinton.
Developing relationships with various states and municipalities and individuals and officials from these states and municipalities can make a difference and help establish long- term international relationships. Let's take a look at the most recent elections and two or three races and candidates at the state and local level who might make a difference in future relationships amongst the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the Arab and Muslim worlds.
Stephen Green wrote two books in the 1980s. One was entitled "Taking Sides" and the other was "Living by the Sword." Both dealt with the Israeli-American relationship and were highly critical of Israel. They are two of the best documented books on Israeli espionage against the United States. Additionally, Green has written many articles in major publications presenting the Palestinians in a very favorable light. When hard-line American Zionists and their friends saw that Green was returning to his hometown of Berlin, Vermont from his job at the United Nations two years ago and planned on running for the Vermont State House of Representatives, they clearly were concerned. That concern and other issues, not the least of which was a lack of finances, led to Green's defeat by 72 votes to a 12- term incumbent.
Green didn't give up. He decided to run again this year against the now 13-term incumbent. In the interim period, Green continued to write about Israel's spying on the United States and the plight of the Palestinians. With the power of the Israeli lobby and their knowledge of his international politics, it appeared that the friends of Israel would work toward his defeat again. Green worked hard, raised sufficient money to take on his opponent and finally prevailed. He won this time by 51 votes. He has already publicly stated that he would work with the State of Vermont to develop better relationships with Palestine and the Arab and Muslim worlds.
Green stated, "The issue of enhancing the relationship between countries such as Palestine and Saudi Arabia and the State of Vermont through trade, educational and cultural activities is extremely critical and I will work to that end."
Mohamed Khairullah was raised in Yanbu and Madinah. A Syrian citizen whose father worked as a dentist in Saudi Arabia, he left the Kingdom in 1991 for the United States. Khairullah finished high school in his new home, Prospect Park, New Jersey across the river from New York City. After finishing college in New Jersey, he worked at an Office Depot outlet in Prospect Park.
Khairullah received his American citizenship in 2000 and decided to run for city council in Prospect Park in 2001 at the age of 26. A few months after his announcement to run, the citizens of Prospect Park looked across the river and watched the Twin Towers collapse. Friends told Mohamed that with his name, it would be fruitless to run for councilman. Khairullah didn't give up. He campaigned hard and won by a 2-1 margin.
Khairullah, now a school teacher, ran again this year. He won by a 3-1 margin this time. He says, "I hope that I can be a role model for other Muslim Americans and Arab Americans that want to get politically involved. We need more of our people to run for office and they shouldn't be afraid to try." Khairullah hopes to run for higher office in the future.
Ferial Masry is the first Saudi-American to run for political office in the United States. Born in Makkah to Saudi parents, this teacher is proud of her Saudi-Arab and Muslim heritage. Masry ran for the California State Assembly in a district which is adjacent to Los Angeles. Masry was a write-in candidate for the Democratic nomination and received close to 3000 votes to get the Democratic nod. Her Republican opponent in a traditionally Republican district was the wife of a long-term assemblyman who could not run again because of term limits
Democrat Masry was running against a well-financed Republican candidate with a recognizable name in a very conservative district. Masry received much national and international attention due to her unique background and narrowed the lead of her opponent throughout the campaign. A last-minute negative campaign by her opponent's election team tried to label Masry as sympathizer of "terrorists" based on her Saudi/Muslim background.
Masry continued her campaign with strong activities and endorsements by key individuals and publications. In the end, her opponent outspent her by as much as 10-1 and won the race. After gracefully conceding the race, Masry announced that she would run again in the 2006 election. "I am proud of my Saudi and Muslim heritage and I feel as if I can serve as a bridge between the Muslim world and the United States in my political career. I know that I can win in 2006."
Possibly in a few years, we will see Green, Khairullah or Masry running for national office. In any case they already serve as political bridges between the United States and the Middle East. And certainly they can establish relationships between the states of Vermont, New Jersey and California and the Arab Middle East today in the same manner that friendships were established between North Dakota and Arkansas and Saudi Arabia in the 1970s.
