Arts - Free Speech, Opposition to Vengeance at Observance

Free Speech, Opposition to Vengeance at Observance

By April Jones

Members of the "Not in our Name Project" speak at the Spoken War event on September 11.

On September 11, with heavy fog lending an air of mourning to the commemoration, Students and Staff for Social Justice organized a teach-in at the Diego Rivera Theater seeking what they called a better understanding of what happened on 9-11, other than the destruction of the Twin Towers.

An "It's Right to Rebel" sign hanging on the Student Union captured many students' feelings about the one-year anniversary of the dreadful air tragedy. A student coalition organized Spoken War which included music, speakers and a film about high school students' reaction to the events of 9-11 entitled World War III.

In the film, teenagers of all ethnic backgrounds were interviewed and asked if the U.S. should be at war. Many students answered in the affirmative.

"A lot of kids are misinformed," said Raimo, a member of Philippinos for Education, Art, Culture, and Empowerment (PEACE).

"The Indian guy at the end of the video said we should bomb them (Afghanistan)," he said, shaking his head. "That's his folks. That's shady."

Members of the Not In Our Name Project wore black shirts emblazoned with the words "Our grief is not a cry for war" in bold white letters. They chanted, "Not in our name, not in our hands," as they ended a skit in which U.S. war planes bomb an Afghan wedding.

In a loud, moving performance, a group called the Suicide Kings with tattoos and powerful voices, delivered an aggressive message about stereotypes, money, greed and the media. Students laughed and cheered at their frankness.