Sometimes it is those who come with nothing that have the greatest amount to give and the greatest capacity to instill hope; whose understanding of equality as it reverberates among communities of color, ethnicity, and religion is deeper than those who were born here, and given plenty at their start.
While heart-breaking stories are in the news of refugees fleeing their war torn homeland, so is hate filled rhetoric darkening our presidential election. But then comes a story of a refugee that came to America with nothing and crafted a voice cultivated by the very community who helped him and his family.
If Trump is good for one thing, it’s inspiring members of groups who are his targets of hate filled, xenophobic rhetoric. Ahmad Rafah made the decision to run for office to “combat what he believes to be the rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric.” He is one of only a handful of Muslims running for office in the nation. If he’s elected, he’ll be the first American Muslim in the 150-year history of Santa Clara. In fact, he’ll be the only Muslim to hold an elected office in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the first Afghan-American to hold public office in the United States.
Rafah and his family fled the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980’s and relocated to the United States. They, like many refugees, lost everything. But he doesn’t think his story is unique. Sadly, it is familiar to many Afghan-Americans and refugees from other countries. Of growing up in America he says, “We truly appreciate being here in America and appreciate that the United States accepted me and my family.”
His experience as a child growing up in poverty and devastated by the war at home shapes his perspective on public service. Contrary to the belief that government is the root of many problems, Rafah and his family credit their local government and community for helping them to build their lives. He hopes to return his gratitude by giving voice to residents in Santa Clara who feel like they have no connection to city government.
Rafah feels he is prepared to serve on City Council. As a teacher, community organizer, and most recently a Congressional aide, he worked tirelessly to ensure the American government supported Syrian refugees during the height of their emigration. His priorities are fixing traffic congestion and finding solutions to the housing crisis that represent the needs of working Santa Clarans, young Santa Clarans and new Santa Clarans. The difference being that he, among the history of the Santa Clara City Council, is a voice of diversity and hope.
His timing to run for office could not be better. While some develop platforms of hatred inciting violence against Muslims and other ethnic minorities in the United States, Rafah shows us that their hatred cannot take away his voice and his right to serve his country. America is on the verge of electing it’s first woman president. It’s also on the verge of showing us that equality and diversity is stronger than hate and discrimination.
“Imagine if there was someone the community could count on to do whatever it took to make sure our voices were heard, that our community was treated equally in the eyes of the law, that fought openly against anti-Muslim bigotry. That’s the future I’m fighting to make reality for Muslims everywhere -- to show the community that it is possible for us to directly shape the direction of this country.”
~Ahmad Rafah
For more reading on Ahmad Rafah:
Meet Muslim Refugees Turned American Political Candidates Ilhan Omar and Ahmad Rafah, by Dean Obeidallah, The Daily Beast
Born a refugee, Afghan immigrant blazes trail in U.S. politics, by Sarah Ravani, San Francisco Chronicle
Emerge USA Interviews Ahmad Rafah, American Muslim Candidate for Santa Clara City Council, by Baura Zia