"One very powerful moment for me was the shot of the map when names of individuals killed after 9/11 were shown in their respective areas. I kept thinking, not in Minnesota, not in Minneapolis. But then a name did pop up. I think it was a Somalian Muslim but I forget the name. I think it is really easy to watch a film like this and think it's happening 'over there.' It's in California or New York and not where I am. Minneapolis seems like such a friendly, welcoming, pluralistic city and that violence and hate crimes are not happening here. Seeing that name, I think it was Ali Ali, made the film more personal because I had convinced myself that I wouldn't see a name from Minnesota. But I did."

"I am a Muslim woman who wears a scarf. I cannot deny the fact that I do face discrimination, subtle and sometimes not so subtle. It all points out to me very clearly -- ignorance.

Yes, we can help by educating our neighbors, our communities one person at a time. But a lot more can be achieved if our government/media would more actively focus to educate the public - be less biased themselves and stand up for fairness/justice towards different religions and civil rights for all.

Thank you for this great film -- a brave and bold venture!

P.S. It's ironic but I have seen Hispanics, Blacks, South East Asians pass comments or make fun of a Muslim woman in hijab (myself) when they themselves were/are in the same boat as I am (discriminated minority)???"

"Thank you! So well done, touching, painful but so necessary. It's hard for me to sit in this sea of faces and not feel some guilt of being part of this ignorant white majority. We can learn so much from Sikhs, 'Japs,' Muslims, Latinos... etc. of forgiveness, love and what it should be to be American. It always amazes me that those who it seems are justified to hate are those who teach us the greatest lessons and speak the most profound words of love and forgiveness.

Valarie,
Your wisdom so impresses me. Your voice is necessary in this time, this place and this state of our world. Thank you for sharing, for speaking and for making your makr. I hope to cross paths with you again! Thank you for the invitation to the whirlwind!"

"This movie is AMAZING! So impactful!

This reminds me of some of my own experiences as a 'Gaysian' (Gay and Asian). Originally from California, moving to Minnesota three years ago, people here in MN have told me that it is SO safe here. In my three years here, I have been called a 'fag' many times, chased by people telling me to 'go home to my own country' and have had a glass bottle thrown at me as I was being called a 'Chink.' Is Minnesota really that safe? Maybe if you are white."

"I'm glad I saw the film - it really shocked me at moments, the little split-second judgments I made at times - despite dating an Arab male youth. Thank you for that. I think it definitely is a product of fear - of not knowing what to expect, what the norm of the perceived other is... of being out of my element and not knowing what behavior is proper or not. On the film itself... just a note: Caucasians, too, are looked down upon as immigrants. I've been called 'not really American,' even though I've always been here. The other is everywhere/one, we are all the other."

"I come from a community and a family of Daniel Pierces. Ignorance thrives, and the combination of this ignorance and fear sows hatred. My story centers around my cousin and her husband, who are army medics currently stationed in Baghdad. During recent family gathering while they were on leave and home, my cousin and her husband struggled to patiently deal with ignorance surrounding the Middle East. One family friend made a statement, 'Muslims hate Christians above everything else.' To which my cousin's husband calmly tried to explain that this idea really isn't true, I guess I realized that this is where it begins. This is how the hate begins. And for me, the only way to stop the hatred, is through education. Thank you so much for all the beautiful work you've done and continue to do. You've taught me so much and have been a true inspiration to act."

"There are many parts of this movie that impacted me. One, in particular, occurred when the letter is read offering the flag to the Sodhi family. I'm going to think more about why that is.

As a 'brown' person, this movie made me aware of my own prejudice against white men.

Also, so many of the Sikhs harassed after 9/11 were contributing to society in positive ways -- surgeons, financiers, small business owners. I'm glad their jobs were listed."

"Someone on a bus in Minnesota asked me, 'Are you Mexican?' When I said no, he said, 'Are you white?' and I said no. And then he asked me, 'Well then who are you?' This incident seems pretty isolated, but I imagine it reflects how much ignorance there is here. I have been 'randomly' checked at airports and there are definitely times when I feel happy that I have an Indian passport and not a Pakistani or Iranian passport. It is also disappointing that this story never received a lot of attention in US media. I was in India when these incidents took place and it was covered by the Indian media to some extent. I also felt that the last US presidential election was guided by fear and the message of the film does highlight the idea that the fear in government policies reaches the public and racial profiling on the part of the state somehow allows the same behavior in the public. This was a connection I never saw as clearly before seeing this movie."

"Throughout the documentary I felt a host of emotions: anger, sadness, remorse, and disgust. Those who targeted people as terrorists based solely on dress and skin color were stooping to the level of the terrorists. Violence should NOT beget violence. How can I associate myself strongly with a nation that has hated and discriminated against my own people for over 375 years, much less when I realize the great lengths the American government has gone through to belittle and exclude people of color from this so-called 'land of opportunity'? I don't know how to answer this."

"That was beautiful. There was a deep deep signifiance to everything conveyed in the film that can relate to all people in this country who struggle against violence and injustice.

I am inspired by all the positive words and sentiments that flowed from people, specifically Sikhs, despite the pain they experience. I hope to reach a sense of faith and positivity and belief in Love. Specific but so applicable to everyone. Thanks for letting all of our stories matter.

Thank you for reaching this project out to the structural systems of violence that exist in the U.S. If we can see it, we can talk about it and connect."

"I know the feeling of being a racial target. When I was in middle school, I experienced a lot of racial criticism and hatred because of my background; I experienced it because of who I am. I have a black mother and an Irish-American father, and the kids I went to school with didn't view this racial background as 'normal' or 'acceptable.' Watching this film, learning and hearing of this racial and cultural attacks on these people, definitely struck a sensitive chord with me -- experiences I could relate with. I think America needs more people like you who venture out on such endeavors to understand and grasp the sensitivity and discomfort we face in this country in dealing with racial division. To be so young, yet so mature and strong-willed gives me hope that I will someday do what you have done and that more will follow in your mission to change America for the better -- and the world. Thank you so much!"

"I gotta say, we are divided. I have a hard time defining my own, unique self while trying to fit in, to conform to what is socially acceptable. I've recently become more ardent about maintaining and discovering my own identity. This is partly because of the education I have gained about Asian American and Hmong history. This knowledge has let me gain security in my own identity and not be shameful for being different. At the same time that I am developing my own identity, I would like to educate others (Asian/Hmongs) about our history so that they may develop in a more educated manner."

"Thank you so much for making this film. It seems like every day I learn something new. There is a large Muslim and Sikh population in my hometown, Cincinnati, OH. There have been several threats recently on mosques and other places of worship. This is frightening for the entire community, one which was torn apart by race riots in 2001. It is voices like yours that restore hope. Thank you for your bravery, passion, and honesty."

"This is a really strong documentary. The journey, stories, people presenting in this film inspires me to document what I am going through being a Hmong person. There's been many hate crimes against Hmong people. I believe and feel that the media has not done justice to the Hmong community. The recent hunting incidents involving Hmong men and white men has led to many of these acts. The stories of the Hmong community have not been heard. Others do not know of how they have been affected, their fear, and their frustration. I don't want to be connected to hunters who are said to kill anything that moves, because that's not who I am."

"I liked the film. It was very heartfelt and powerful. I think it addressed the issue well in not emerging as a film condemning whiteness. I applaud your courage and positive attitude.

I can relate to some of the stories, maybe not entirely, but ideally. It's hard to live in America, even as an American born. I have not identified myself as American but always as a Hmong. As I get older, I feel stronger to identify myself away from being an American because I have been through so many negative experiences and see it as an image I don't want to identify with. Yet, I work for equality and multiculturalism, and to identify unjust issues. From this film, it showed me that that is being an American."

"I really love this video, and I thank you so very much for playing it here at Macalester (and coming to my class earlier today).

I have a couple of comments on your film. First I think that the intro to Sikhism is an amazing and very important section. I, before this film, had no idea what Sikhism is all about, and that little intro bit really helped. Also I found that having your cousin and your funny bits really help this movie. You are looking to reach a lot of people, a lot of different people, and I truly think that with this film you will. Thank you so much. Congratulations.."

"Thank you so much for producing/writing/participating in the creation of this film. I was 14 on Sept. 11, 2001 and my family was hosting a Turkish exchange student at the time. To be connected to Sept. 11 through nationality and a Turk through <<family>> was difficulty to make sense of. At the time, I didn't make sense of the difficult time the United States was experiencing in comparison to the difficulties Muslims and Sikhs were experiencing. I wholeheartedly believe that the only way to a pluralistic nation is through connections such as an Anglo-American family reaching out to people from other parts of the world. I was deeply touched by the stories expressed in your film. It reminded me that the face of racism has expanded, and that we must work towards acceptance of others."

"After I watched the preview of your film in my Race, Ethnicity and Politics class, I knew I just had to come and see the rest of your film. It just touched my heart. I'm just speechless and need some time to digest what I've seen. But, what I've realized is whether white, black or brown we are all guilty. Even in my own family, my mother, as she was coming to see my brother and I in MN, was stopped for an 'extra check,' and she complained to me, 'I may be brown-skinned, but I'm not Muslim.' This in itself, I personally believe, is a crime. We need to spread more awareness about this. This is what your film is doing! Thank you."

"'IN GOD WE TRUST' - a line on each coin & currency of America is a link to my Sikhi ideology. And used as an argument to my dad three years back to send me to U.S. for my masters. He resisted because of hate crimes. But still I felt America is the place where any and every person has opportunity to flourish."

"You and everyone who worked on this should feel so proud -- Amazing Work of Art! You are making a difference!

At Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (www.mnadvocates.org) we recently published a report 'Voices from Silence: The Impact of 9/11 on Refugees, Immigrants and Religious Minorities.' It highlights similar stories from MN. We are working with partners (Pangea World Theater) and the Islamic Resource Group to educate on this issue. Our efforts will culminate in a conference in the fall and we would love to have you and the film be a part of it."

"Wow! I am so deeply impressed with this film. I work for a human rights organization (Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights). We recently released a report and are now doing follow-up projects on these issues. I'm amazed at how similar the findings and conclusions of your film are to those in our report. I'm encouraged and hope we can work together to educate, open dialogue, and alleviate this situation in our communities and our country. Thank you!."

"Thank you for sharing these stories and believing in their power. Your hope inspires hope in me that maybe we can cross these racial/ethnic/religious lines that separate us. As someone who is Japanese American whose grandparents were interned during World War II, who is biracial, who was assumed to be an exchange student in my hometown, your story really resonated. Thank you for speaking these to power.

P.S. On a personal note, your struggles with feeling caught in your books at times is something I am dealing with too. I'm working on an honors thesis right now about why the immigrant rights movement largely mobilized Latino immigrants, despite the fact that immigrants have always come to the U.S. from around the world and H.R. 4437 would have affected all immigrants (and lots of non-immigrants). I'm also really interested in the ways that immigration and terrorism language have been linked, yet communities continue to distance themselves from each other. I vacillate between feeling very hopeful and very discouraged about our abilities to come together to fight for justice."

"Thank you for making this film. It was inspiring for young minorities such as myself and I was very touched by your motivations and determination. I myself have never experienced such overt racism, hatred, or violence. I live in a wealthy community outside of Chicago where the biggest houses are owned by racial minorities, predominantly South Asian. After 9/11, even in our insulated, sheltered community, when my Indian-American neighbor was walking home from school, some kids in a car drove by and threw fireworks at him. Thankfully they missed, but that wasn't the only act that affected our community. Vandalism and racist remarks were commonplace and continue to this day. They were always there, but 9/11 was a catalyst. Tragedies bring out the best and worst of people."

"Growing up in East Texas I thought I had seen more prejudice than most of my peers at a liberal arts college in Middle America. I saw racial prejudice and even violence in my schools and in local media. This film brings to the public eye that there is always more violence out there. In some ways it leaves me hopeless. It's unthinkable that there is so much ignorance in my home. But there is hope too. The film shows us people with every reason to be fearful and vengeful in a country that rejects them for a style of dress and skin color. But they don't. And there is hope in that."

"When my boyfriend's dad told me it was important for the American government to start racial profiling in airports just this last summer, I knew the aftermath of 9/11 wasn't even close to being over. Thanks for remembering these stories."

"I commend you for having the courage to take this journey. I believe this is the most passionate part of this film and one of the most amazing pieces I've seen... One thing I felt while watching this film is that it is not reaching a wide enough audience. I almost wish it could be forcefully shown to everyone -- not just this film, but others like it. Showing the film at Macalester I would not say is preaching to the choir, so much as ignoring the audiences who should watch a film like this. The end of the film filled me with a sense of hope and looking forward to the day of discussion at this college."

"I can't believe I almost skipped seeing this to do homework. There are so many things I now realize I don't know. My sympathy post-9/11 was all for Muslims who were persecuted, and I never realized what was happening in the Sikh community. I can't wait for this movie to make its way into high schools everywhere. I can't express my gratitude for your making of this film."

"Thank you for making this film! These stories need to be heard by all of us. Thank you for believing in love and for dedicating your life to this project. This film fights fear and hate and has the power to bring enlightenment, reconciliation, and hope. Your ideas, passion, and work are an inspiration.

Thank you for showing a way to break the cycle of violence -- to respond with love instead of hate."

"I think this is an incredible set of stories, and I'm so thankful to have been given the opportunity to hear them. I learned a lot from this documentary -- a lot that I'm a bit ashamed to admit I didn't know, but I think it's so important to continue finding ways to push stories such as these to the forefront, and I hope to find ways and courage in my life to begin to do what I believe Valarie has done!"

"This was a beautiful film that brought these ignored and powerful stories to light. The idea that stories can unite to foster large scale change in our communities and in our worldviews is a simple, but limitlessly powerful method."

"I think your reason to make this movie was good. I have been teased and treated badly because of my turban. A woman told me to 'go back to your country.' I have been called 'Saddam Hussein' and 'Osama bin Laden.' This should be stopped. Period."

"When I was walking into J.C. Penny with my family, there was this woman walked by and said 'Humph!' and another woman said 'Watch yo' mouth woman!'"

"Valerie Kaur,

It is very good about Sikhs!

I think it should be fair!

It is very sad because it is non fiction!"

"Valarie Kaur,

Great work, congratulations!

You are a role model for young people. The young and old learn from your movie that we all human beings need to understand each other and respect each others' values.

I would recommend that you should build a network of young men and women who should share their opinions to take your project to its next steps."

"I truly learned about a group of people I had no knowledge of. From now on, I will look at them differently -- but not with negativity but with respect for their struggles."

"I've never been so close to tears multiple times during a film; I've never been filled with pain... I just wish more could ease this pain with me then move forward with community change."

"Living in a liberal arts bubble, it becomes easy to be delusional about change and the way it is (not) becoming realized. This film, for me, was most powerful in terms of shaking me back to awareness."

"After 9/11 it has become hard for many Muslims like myself. I have experienced hate or racial profiling before. It's the saddest experience/feeling that someone go through."

"I am deeply moved by the film and I am still processing. As I watched the film, flashes of stories on hate crimes, racism, and discrimination ran through my head. It profoundly scares me, angers me, and saddens me that such things exist in the world."

"Thank you. My eyes, my heart, and my mind have been opened. The idea of the 'others' in the context of anything, race, gender, age, politics, etc can be so far reaching and realizing the impact of that division is so important and I think a lot of progress can be made the more people realize it."

"Profoundly moving. Courageous work -- hope filled work by opening up the heart stories of all kinds of people -- Americans.

I will want to share this film as a teaching tool.

Thank you for all your investment -- your lifeblood for these stories."

"This was a very powerful film. I grew up with many Sikh friends, as well as Muslim friends, and I felt deeply affected by the suspicion and attacks on these communities after 9/11. Thank you for telling these stories, so that there aren't more people who need to feel threatened or lose their lives to ignorance and mindless fear."

"This film revealed a fact of post-9/11 tragedy I had not previously known about. I was shocked and saddened by the crime and hate portrayed. What hit home for me was the ignorance, I have experience with this type of ignorance and this film makes me more concerned and motivated to combat it.

I was also impressed by the blending of the stories with other historical context, which I thought was particularly compelling. Thank you for this film, I am truly impressed."

"I want to applaud your braveness in undertaking this nobel expedition.

Watching this film reminded me of this experience I had when I came to the U.S. six months back as an undergraduate student. We were trying to get somewhere by bus and accidentally caught the wrong bus. The driver said he'd help us out. So we sat for about 40 minutes, and in this somewhat unsafe neigborhood, he asks us to get done. And just before taking off, said something about us being brown and stupid."

"Thank you for making this film! Now more than ever cross-cultural understanding is important for the future of our nation, and I only hope that more people will see this and learn to embrace the diversity that makes America what it is."

"I'm really impress with this film. Although it shared important information, I still have this feeling of hopelessness, ignorance is so strong in a sense that I don't know how to break this narrow-mindedness of many people. Not to mention, people act on impulses, so I fear that no one would stop to think. By that time, the damage is done.

Why is it that the first reaction of the oppressed is to try to prove that they're patriotic or 'on America's side'? It makes me sad."

"The theme of sharing stories resonated very strongly with my experiences. Placing a human face on our concept of 'the other' is one of the only ways to achieve reconciliation. I think of the words of the theologian Huston Smith: 'We are all more human than otherwise.' Thank you for bringing out the humanity in these tensions and tragedies."

"Thank you for this film. As a native New Yorker who lives about 20 blocks from Ground Zero, I have fought my fear, and it is incredibly important that we put all of these stories together in one film, because they are all connected. This is so important, and your personal story is very inspiring."

"Really, really, really moving. Don't really know what else to say -- I'm going to recommend the film to all my friends and hope you can get it seen in theaters or at film festivals or something. I can't praise you enough -- awesome."

"I have been anticipating the premiere of Divided We Fall for years and I am grateful to finally see the film and see the reactions of the viewers. Racial and religious equality is a strong awareness Valarie instilled in me. This film did a wonderful job of depicting the reality of prejudice among Americans. I believe this film will have a strong and necessary impact on Americans and hopefully create an awareness of what it means to be an American. Thanks!"

"Thank you especially for the segment where you asked Sonny why he wore a turban and what it means to him and you.

Also, thanks for including the Mennonites singing at Ground Zero -- another group that has been marginalized in the U.S."

"In terms of where this hatred and homogenization agains the people of the Middle East and parts of Asian comes from, I agree with the parts of the film which suggest that it was embedded prior to 9/11/01. I couldn't help but think of Edward Said's Orientalism, where he traces the roots of the West's demonizing and homogenizing of the Middle East and Asia. Living examples of Said's theory are active every day in our culture. There is a Palestinian filmmaker named J Salloum who put together a video montage titled 'Planet of the Arabs.' The film is composed of negative and racist interpretations of Middle Eastern and South Asian people in Hollywood over the last 20 years. Clearly the film is called 'Planet of the Arabs,' which does not specifically include Sikhs. However, I feel your film illustrates that Hollywood portrays the 'eastern other' as a homogenous population. Congratulations on your film and thank you."

"I think the idea of creating a curriculum -- incorporating this film and the concepts and ideologies I saw within and hear you voicing now in the Q&A -- is an incredible and hugely IMPORTANT idea -- I'm excited. Thank you."

"I really enjoyed the movie. It brought up issues that I had not been aware of before this. Divided We Fall really showed a different side to 9/11 that everyone should be aware of, and that I was not aware of. I was shocked by many of the responses, especially government officials."

"The film left me utterly hopeless and filled with endless hope all at once."

"I was very moved, interested and educated by this film and want to express my appreciation for all this. However, I did leave wishing that an expression (or a stronger expression) of the Muslim or Arab American experience was expressed. I was appreciative of the ways that phenotypic profiling affect people with brown skin: Arabs, Indian, other South Asians. I appreciate also that you touched on this issue in your talk and would wish that the film or accompanying materials addressed the divisions and disassociation within all these communities affected by stereotyping and profiling at every level, from personal to governmental."

"Thank you for giving a voice back to many of nameless, faceless masses that I filled my life in the past, but I am ashamed to admit that I had forgotten about before now. Thank you again."

"You've explored the ignorance that prevails in the American community. This is yet another step towards change. Towards education. Well done."

"I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I learned a lot about Sikhism especially from the stories in the film. I couldn't help but feel for the Sikh community -- I couldn't help but sympathize about the fear of this group -- and the Muslim community in our country."

"People ignorant about Sikhs will benefit from seeing the film. It will also help bring down prejudices based on appearance/color/ethnicity. Many congratulations for your effort."

"Thank you for this film. This film struck me on so many levels. Thank you for all you do to teach peace in our world."

"Valarie,

It is a very good effort on your part. At your age, it is overwhelming to see what a great job you have done for our community, to let everybody aware of many overlooked things. Our gurus will be proud of you!

Thanks."

"Dear Valarie and co.,

Thank you.

Earnestly,
Linda"