Reflection written by Stephanie Williams, Director of Multicultural Affairs, Anna Maria College.
Attendance: There were approx. 30 people that attended the film screening at Anna Maria College on Monday, Sept. 15 at Anna Maria College at 5:30 p.m. The two moderators present were: Navjeet Singh and Dr. Paul Russell.
Sept. 11 birthed a new stage in American history and this documentary is an examination of the larger issues surrounding the hate crimes that occurred after Sept. 11th. We knew life in America would never be the same after the terrorist attacks, but no one knew exactly how it would change.
Although America has always been a divided country, people who are privileged enough not to have to accept or even acknowledge their privilege have pushed America even further into a sense of isolation. People who look different from the “typical American” or what society views as the “typical American” felt as though they had no right in the nation’s united sorrow because there is a disconnection in the "we" in "United We Stand."
The relatively benign images projected on television did not capture the enormity of the human suffering and or the “American” suffering. I truly believe that there is a desire across America for change, not necessarily from control by one political party to another, but a change from living with lies to living with the “American” truth.
I feel as though this film is a perfect example of a quote by Zora Neale Hurston: “I will fight for my country, but I will not lie for her.” Who really knows the true America? If people are so caught up in their own ideologies and beliefs and if they are so blind to their privilege they will never understand or even grasp who/what America truly is or what America actually stands for.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
South Pasadena, California
Reflection written by Chris Becker, screening host.
Our screening was held in the community room of our local public library on a Sunday night from 7 p.m. until about 10 p.m. About 300 invitations were sent out via email and word of mouth and 26 people attended. The age of the audience ranged from young adults in their early 20’s to folks in their 50’s. Most of the attendees were South Pasadena residents and friends with a few work colleagues.
The room was opened for guests at about 6:30 p.m. and we served refreshments. The room was arranged with three chairs to each table to allow everyone a place to eat and to write after the film. At about 7 p.m. we introduced Nitasha Sawhney (pictured at right with host Robin Becker) local Sikh attorney and an interviewee featured in DWF, and then read Valarie’s letter from the screening guidelines. We then began the screening of the film.
At the conclusion we distributed the viewer response cards and began the discussion. While the conversation was slow starting it really did get interesting as we progressed. Almost everyone had a comment or an observation. Overall, the audience received the film well and I believe were deeply affected by the experience.
Our screening was held in the community room of our local public library on a Sunday night from 7 p.m. until about 10 p.m. About 300 invitations were sent out via email and word of mouth and 26 people attended. The age of the audience ranged from young adults in their early 20’s to folks in their 50’s. Most of the attendees were South Pasadena residents and friends with a few work colleagues.
The room was opened for guests at about 6:30 p.m. and we served refreshments. The room was arranged with three chairs to each table to allow everyone a place to eat and to write after the film. At about 7 p.m. we introduced Nitasha Sawhney (pictured at right with host Robin Becker) local Sikh attorney and an interviewee featured in DWF, and then read Valarie’s letter from the screening guidelines. We then began the screening of the film.At the conclusion we distributed the viewer response cards and began the discussion. While the conversation was slow starting it really did get interesting as we progressed. Almost everyone had a comment or an observation. Overall, the audience received the film well and I believe were deeply affected by the experience.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Gardner, Massachusetts
Reflection written by Heidi N. McCann, Reference and Instructional Services Librarian, Mt. Wachusett Community College. Photos by Gaurav Khanna.
Bringing Divided We Fall to our campus was a powerful way to start the fall semester. The timing could not have been better, and we are so lucky at Mount Wachusett Community College to have a wonderfully supportive group of faculty who did a remarkable job of promoting the film to their students.
At 10:20 am, DWF played to a packed room of about 100 students, faculty, staff and community members (we ran out of chairs – some had to stand or sit on the floor to watch). Following the film we used the suggested discussion questions, and conversation was guided by a trio of local experts – Kuljeet Tuteja from the New England Sikh Study Circle, the Rev. Karen Nell Smith from the North Leominster Congregational Church and Dr. Stephen Clark, psychology professor from Keene State College.
MWCC students were obviously engrossed by the film and many of the faculty remarked that they had never seen or heard a group so quietly involved in a documentary film at the college. No one stirred or spoke during the entire screening. DWF has an obvious special appeal to young people – having been made by two college students with many young people also shown in the film lends this unique attraction. What happened on September 11, 2001 is something that our MWCC students remember well and are still trying to grapple with, and the theme of the film – the aftermath of that day – helped make it fit perfectly to be shown on September 12.
Our three experts (Kuljeet, Rev. Karen and Dr. Clark) were kind enough to give their entire day to stay for the later, 7 p.m. screening. Buoyed by the success of the earlier showing, we were enthusiastically anticipating the evening audience. We were not disappointed. About 25 young people from a Boston area gurdwara attended, and enjoyed the film, along with 30-40 students, faculty, staff and visitors from the local community. For a 7 p.m. Friday event at our college, this number in attendance is quite notable – it has historically been difficult to draw a crowd to evening events.
The conversation after the film was fascinating, as the youth from the gurdwara talked about their experiences growing up Sikh in Massachusetts. Also a few of the faculty/staff in attendance had brought their own children, so just as had been the case in the morning, we had a nice mix of ages in the audience and the peer to peer youth (Sikh with non-Sikh) interaction was good to see.
As previously mentioned, the film was shown on a Friday, and all afternoon, and continuing into Monday I heard people at the college discussing the experience. As the viewer responses indicate, those in the audience were very moved and touched by what they saw and heard. Most people in our area had no prior knowledge of the Sikh community and religion. Valarie and Sonny now have become icons at our college, and I and the three discussion leaders have already talked about the possibility of bringing the filmmakers to our area. It would be an amazing way to continue to bring alive the message of tolerance, and understanding that we as a community experienced through Divided We Fall.
Bringing Divided We Fall to our campus was a powerful way to start the fall semester. The timing could not have been better, and we are so lucky at Mount Wachusett Community College to have a wonderfully supportive group of faculty who did a remarkable job of promoting the film to their students.
At 10:20 am, DWF played to a packed room of about 100 students, faculty, staff and community members (we ran out of chairs – some had to stand or sit on the floor to watch). Following the film we used the suggested discussion questions, and conversation was guided by a trio of local experts – Kuljeet Tuteja from the New England Sikh Study Circle, the Rev. Karen Nell Smith from the North Leominster Congregational Church and Dr. Stephen Clark, psychology professor from Keene State College.
MWCC students were obviously engrossed by the film and many of the faculty remarked that they had never seen or heard a group so quietly involved in a documentary film at the college. No one stirred or spoke during the entire screening. DWF has an obvious special appeal to young people – having been made by two college students with many young people also shown in the film lends this unique attraction. What happened on September 11, 2001 is something that our MWCC students remember well and are still trying to grapple with, and the theme of the film – the aftermath of that day – helped make it fit perfectly to be shown on September 12.
Our three experts (Kuljeet, Rev. Karen and Dr. Clark) were kind enough to give their entire day to stay for the later, 7 p.m. screening. Buoyed by the success of the earlier showing, we were enthusiastically anticipating the evening audience. We were not disappointed. About 25 young people from a Boston area gurdwara attended, and enjoyed the film, along with 30-40 students, faculty, staff and visitors from the local community. For a 7 p.m. Friday event at our college, this number in attendance is quite notable – it has historically been difficult to draw a crowd to evening events.
The conversation after the film was fascinating, as the youth from the gurdwara talked about their experiences growing up Sikh in Massachusetts. Also a few of the faculty/staff in attendance had brought their own children, so just as had been the case in the morning, we had a nice mix of ages in the audience and the peer to peer youth (Sikh with non-Sikh) interaction was good to see.As previously mentioned, the film was shown on a Friday, and all afternoon, and continuing into Monday I heard people at the college discussing the experience. As the viewer responses indicate, those in the audience were very moved and touched by what they saw and heard. Most people in our area had no prior knowledge of the Sikh community and religion. Valarie and Sonny now have become icons at our college, and I and the three discussion leaders have already talked about the possibility of bringing the filmmakers to our area. It would be an amazing way to continue to bring alive the message of tolerance, and understanding that we as a community experienced through Divided We Fall.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Petersborough, New Hampshire
Reflection written by Christine Howe.
On Sept. 11, 2008, All Saints' Church in Petersborough, N.H. hosted a screening of Divided We Fall. 15 people attended. Ages ranged from 25-94. All viewers were Caucasian and American-born. There were 11 Episcopalians, three Unitarians, and one Jewish person.
Some of the comments from the discussion:
"We all have a story; sometimes we aren’t ready to tell it…"
"I don’t think this film will change people: I accept the world as it is."
"I had a visceral reaction to Sonny saying he wears a turban to piss people off & the two boys’ reaction to Sonny: good for Sonny. What a kid!"
"Who really are the terrorists? Unfortunately, our country is full of terrorists. We will always have the same problems."
"The next election might change things! It takes people--in leadership roles—to make a difference."
"Prejudice is in all of us—we all have stereotypes. We have a natural response to the unfamiliar: it’s fear, and human nature is to protect ourselves. But as a people of faith, we can try to rise above these tendencies."
"The 'repent and be saved' statement in the film was particularly offensive. As a Christian, it’s hard to hear and see that kind of extremist position."
"Interfaith groups give hope. It is important to study other cultures."
"Skin color is the biggest hurdle in prejudice. But, prejudice
transcends skin color."
"The film did show hope."
"The Widow’s statement of love and the love that she was shown was great. Forgiveness. "
"Change CAN happen and WILL happen."
On Sept. 11, 2008, All Saints' Church in Petersborough, N.H. hosted a screening of Divided We Fall. 15 people attended. Ages ranged from 25-94. All viewers were Caucasian and American-born. There were 11 Episcopalians, three Unitarians, and one Jewish person.
Some of the comments from the discussion:
"We all have a story; sometimes we aren’t ready to tell it…""I don’t think this film will change people: I accept the world as it is."
"I had a visceral reaction to Sonny saying he wears a turban to piss people off & the two boys’ reaction to Sonny: good for Sonny. What a kid!"
"Who really are the terrorists? Unfortunately, our country is full of terrorists. We will always have the same problems.""The next election might change things! It takes people--in leadership roles—to make a difference."
"Prejudice is in all of us—we all have stereotypes. We have a natural response to the unfamiliar: it’s fear, and human nature is to protect ourselves. But as a people of faith, we can try to rise above these tendencies."
"The 'repent and be saved' statement in the film was particularly offensive. As a Christian, it’s hard to hear and see that kind of extremist position.""Interfaith groups give hope. It is important to study other cultures."
"Skin color is the biggest hurdle in prejudice. But, prejudice
transcends skin color.""The film did show hope."
"The Widow’s statement of love and the love that she was shown was great. Forgiveness. "
"Change CAN happen and WILL happen."
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Reflection written by Pratik Banjade, president of the International Student Association, James Madison University.
Our experience with Divided We Fall was a fine one. Although our success could not be measured in the number of people that attended the movie and the discussion afterwards, it was seen in the impact the movie seemed to make on people. I feel that the movie did truly "start to make us be human with one another" at the discussion.
The movie was advertised to the whole campus, but being a weekday and close to the dates of many students' first tests we did not get the outcome we had hoped. We did have about 50 very engaged viewers come to the film, seventeen of whom came to the discussion afterwards. The discussion brought about closure and some sense of connectedness among the group. We talked about the documentary, personal experiences and many issues that affect us today, years later. Although not everyone was able to come to the discussion, I feel that the people who did come were impacted enough to pass on what they had learned.
The movie seemed to open new windows of view for everyone there. In high school, my best friend was Sikh, so I had heard of many of the topics discussed in the movie. However, even years later this movie brought about feelings that I did not know I even had. I found it hard to believe that one human could be so ignorant as to do on to others the worst that they could possibly imagine. On the other hand, I was amazed by the generosity of forgiveness and love that lies in people's hearts. With these dynamic aspects of human nature there seems to be hope for the reversal from the need to have "the other." However, we are not at a place today where this can happen. We still have people that believe that there has to be the other and that this other must be wrong in order for her/himself to be right.
I believe that change comes about though learning, and learning (when considering large populations) occurs relatively on a small case. But word does travel by mouth, affecting whoever it does touch and so hopefully one day we will live in a world that is not perfect but that is respectful. I commend the makers of the film for not just having such a novel idea but to actually execute it (in a time when some people were not as brave to seek out the truth). It is through efforts such as this that impacting messages are brought to the masses (so that they can be spread).
Our experience with Divided We Fall was a fine one. Although our success could not be measured in the number of people that attended the movie and the discussion afterwards, it was seen in the impact the movie seemed to make on people. I feel that the movie did truly "start to make us be human with one another" at the discussion.
The movie was advertised to the whole campus, but being a weekday and close to the dates of many students' first tests we did not get the outcome we had hoped. We did have about 50 very engaged viewers come to the film, seventeen of whom came to the discussion afterwards. The discussion brought about closure and some sense of connectedness among the group. We talked about the documentary, personal experiences and many issues that affect us today, years later. Although not everyone was able to come to the discussion, I feel that the people who did come were impacted enough to pass on what they had learned.
The movie seemed to open new windows of view for everyone there. In high school, my best friend was Sikh, so I had heard of many of the topics discussed in the movie. However, even years later this movie brought about feelings that I did not know I even had. I found it hard to believe that one human could be so ignorant as to do on to others the worst that they could possibly imagine. On the other hand, I was amazed by the generosity of forgiveness and love that lies in people's hearts. With these dynamic aspects of human nature there seems to be hope for the reversal from the need to have "the other." However, we are not at a place today where this can happen. We still have people that believe that there has to be the other and that this other must be wrong in order for her/himself to be right.
I believe that change comes about though learning, and learning (when considering large populations) occurs relatively on a small case. But word does travel by mouth, affecting whoever it does touch and so hopefully one day we will live in a world that is not perfect but that is respectful. I commend the makers of the film for not just having such a novel idea but to actually execute it (in a time when some people were not as brave to seek out the truth). It is through efforts such as this that impacting messages are brought to the masses (so that they can be spread).
Atlanta, Georgia (Emory University)
Pictures from Dr. Richard Martin, professor of religion, Emory University.
Auburn, Alabama
Reflection written by Shakeer A. Abdullah, director of the Multicultural Center, Auburn University.On September 11, 2008 we showed Divided We Fall to an audience of 25 people. The audience enjoyed the film and some were disappointed that Valarie herself could not be there to talk about her experiences. Our audience was not very diverse and some lamented the fact that there are apparently no Sikh students at Auburn. There may in fact be some, but none who wear turbans. Our audience was unaware of the difficulties facing the people in the film and left with a new understanding and plans to reach out to people on campus and in the community in an attempt to bridge the divide made so apparent in the film.
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