Newsletter, August 21, 2005
Divided We Fall
Greetings! This is the third edition of the Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath newsletter – enjoy!
If you're just tuning in, the DWF film crew has been traveling across the US, continuing work on our grassroots independent documentary. As you might know, we've been in Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, and Clovis so far. Our trip then took us to Arizona and the San Francisco Bay Area. Valarie Kaur, who started it all, has been chronicling our journey on her blog: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com. But here is a recap of our extraordinary encounters.
The Heart of US is in Mesa, Arizona
Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/sodhi-family.html
First, we turned right down Interstate 10 and into Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona. For many people and for Valarie Kaur who started the project four years ago, Mesa is Ground Zero. On Sept. 15, 2001, four days after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, Balbir Singh Sodhi was murdered in front of the gas station he owned by a man out to seek retribution. The murder, when arrested screamed, "I am a patriot. Arrest me and let those terrorists run wild?"
Balbir, a big-hearted man, left behind a wife and a loving family. Including one brother, who was killed less than a year later in San Francisco in his taxicab. Balbir's murder was the first hate crime murder in America after Sept. 11.
After Balbir was killed, the Sodhi family received an outpouring of sympathy and support from the Phoenix community and throughout Arizona. One newspaper article read, "The Heart of the US is in Mesa." Everyone soon learned who Sikhs were, who Balbir was.
We came to Phoenix and Mesa, now four years later, to see how the family has changed, how the community has changed. Time has relieved some of the pain. But the wounds are deep and it will take a long time to completely heal. Brothers Rana, Harjit, and his nephew Daman shared with us their feelings, that the community did become more aware but that people still come into their stores and restaurants, harassing them.
We also met with Balbir's widow who, although still visibly saddened, takes joy in playing with the two grandchildren her husband never met. Sukhwinder, Balbir's son, runs the Chevron station his father owned, where a permanent memorial has been placed. It's a very moving and modest monument that will remain in memory of Balbir, and a reminder that we must do what we can to prevent the killing of innocent people, attacked out of ignorance and hatred.
Valarie 's article about Sodhi family sparked many notes of praise and support before we even let anyone know about it. If you can only read one article, read this one: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/sodhi-family.html
Samir and Saddam
Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/samir-and-saddam.html
We then turned northward back into California to the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. We went for the sourdough, but decided we should probably continue on a new round of interviews, with some giving their expertise and with others sharing their stories.
First to Gilroy, Garlic Capitol of the World. Our trip, having mostly nothing to do with garlic, brought us to the Akhter home, an American Muslim family. Father Sohail and Samir were among the first interviewees by Valarie in 2001, soon after the attacks in New York and Washington. Back then, Valarie spoke with a nine-year-old Samir who told her that he was being called "Bin Laden's son" at school and taunted by the other children.
Now, Samir's a very tall 13-year-old and isn't picked on as much because he's much bigger than the other kids. (It's true – he's taller than our interviewer Valarie … and most of the rest of the crew.) But now, in the four years since Sept. 11, 2001, he's being called "Saddam's son," a new enemy's face grafted onto the previous. Valarie's article: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/sodhi-family.html
Fear, the FBI, and Academia
Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/fear-fbi-and-academia.html
We continued on our way to Sacramento and another Muslim story, one unfolding right now. The town of Lodi , where Muslims have been farmers and residents for three generations, has found itself under intense FBI scrutiny. Several imams have been suspected of having connection to Osama Bin Laden. But the entire Muslim community, the vast majority of whom are law-abiding Americans, has felt the heavy hand of the FBI's presence.
Television's "Nightline" has done an extensive piece on the case. We spoke with Basim Elkarra and Dina El-Nakhal at CAIR (Council for American Islamic Relations) who have been representing members of the Muslim community in Lodi .
We went to Palo Alto and Stanford University and talked to two experts who reflected on that event and about the broader aspects race, religion, and immigration in America. Sociology professor Joseph Brown shared his thoughts on diversity in America, about stereotypes and culture. And law professor Jayshree Srikantiah, formerly of the American Civil Liberties Union and expert in immigrant rights law. Her work has been focused on fighting the notion that "immigrant equals terrorist," implicitly (and sometimes explicitly) through government policies. Valarie's article captures these stories: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/fear-fbi-and-academia.html
Streets of San Francisco
Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/streets-of-san-francisco.html
As an example of that, we re-visited Sean Fernandes in San Francisco. Sean, from Calcutta, India, was with his white Australian friend Robin Clarke days after Sept. 11, 2001. After walking out of a bar, they were confronted by a group of men and women who started taunting Robin for being with an "Arab." The confrontation escalated and Robin was stabbed with a screwdriver "Why he had a screwdriver I have no idea," Robin told Valarie four years ago. He nearly died at the hospital, just for standing up for his brown-skinned friend. Sean talked to us at the San Francisco intersection where it happened four years earlier. The event changed Sean's life, who is now pursuing a career in civil rights law. Valarie's article on San Francisco also includes an unexpected encounter with a stranger on the street: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2005/08/streets-of-san-francisco.html
And Still Rolling
The unstoppable force that is our miniscule production team is wrapping up its West Coast schedule. Next, it's out to the East Coast for New York City and Washington, DC – where everything began four years ago.
But we would be remiss if we didn't thank our hosts, the Goswamy family who donated a house to our cause. Yes, a house. Just to use for that week, though, not to sell it. It was very generous and comforting to have a place to kick back at the end of long production days.
And we're still looking for more donations! (No houses necessary, unless you have an extra one lying around…) What we need:
TV Footage, donations from news stations or personal collections (to be used in film)
Gasoline gift cards
Sikh images, newspaper clippings, still photos, etc (to be used in film, and returned of course)
Your help: We need someone to help us locate many many news items, articles, and images to use in our documentary. If you can spare a week or two over the next five weeks (or any time at all), PLEASE email us: Val...@dwf-film.com or Sha...@dwf-film.com .
And, of course, we need money as always. Small donations are great. Large donations are also nice. And people can become investors if they'd like to contribute a higher amount. Please contact us if you are interested or know anyone who is. We will need some money to complete production and post production and make it a high quality film that everyone will have a chance to see. To donate: http://www.dwf-film.com/donate.html
Inspiration
We're in the final stages of production, and we're very thankful you are a part of the experience. Many of you have supported us for a long time, and your words keep us going. We've heard incredibly moving and horrific stories. But these people who share them with us are all still living, still working, still resilient. This production has shown us the strength of humanity. We must continue to tell our stories and share stories, because everyone's life has its own interesting twists and turns. We're glad you're following the twists and turns of our production life, too. Continue to follow our journey on the blog: valariekaur.blogspot.com.
Thanks for following along with us so far.
Until next time,
Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath
Produced and Directed by Sharat Raju (Sha...@dwf-film.com )
Produced, Written and Created by Valarie Kaur (Val...@dwf-film.com )
Visit www.dwf-film.com and valariekaur.blogspot.com
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