UM-Dearborn and CASL Are Venue For 9/11 Commemorative Program

The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) is hosting a four day conference entitled U.S. Rising:  Emerging Voices in Post-9/11 America.  This morning the University of Michigan-Dearborn and CASL hosted one of the programs for the conference.  The program was entitled How 9/11 Changed Our Lives.  http://www.usrising.org/

The program was moderated by WDET talk show host Craig Fahle.  It featured preliminary remarks by Hassan Jabar, Executive Director of Access, UM-Dearborn Chancellor Daniel Little, Michigan State Representative Rashida Tlaib, and William Clay Ford, Jr., Chairman of the Ford Motor Company.

The panelists for the program included:

Linda Sarsour, the Advocacy and Civic Engagement Coordinator for the National Network for Arab American Communities.  Ms Sarsour was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and brought a unique and proximal perspective to the discussion.

David Knezek, the President of the University of Michigan-Dearborn Student Government.  Mr. Knezek was born and raised in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.  He was in his early teens in 2001, subsequently enlisted in the United States Marine Corp, and served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Will Youmans, is a writer, community and human rights activist, and hip hop artist who performs under the name Iron Sheik.  He is a founder of the student group Students for Justice in Palestine.  His music serves as a vehicle to address issues of human rights.  He was living in California on September 11, 2001.

Asif Kahn is a University of Michigan-Dearborn student.  He was 10 years old on September 11, 2001 and living locally. 

The panelists discussed the myriad of ways 9/11 influenced and shaped their lives.The discussion was thoughtful, thought provoking, and lively.  It included a question and answer period with the overflow audience. 

While there were many thought provoking moments from the discussion I was especially struck by an experience related by Linda Sasour.  She recalled being told that Arab Americans and Muslim Americans were not entitled to commemorate 9/11. 

There were 2,996 fatalities from the 9/11 attacks.  The U.S. Department of State indicates that 9/11 victims came from 90 countries of origin and included followers of every major world religion.  I was reminded of the words of political commentator Andy Ostroy who wrote "No American owns this tragedy more than any other American, and no one gets to speak for the rest of us." 

The 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 is a time to remember those who gave their lives.  It is a time to remember their families.  This morning's panel discussion helped the audience reflect on the ways 9/11 has affected all of us. 

In the coming weeks CASL will host a series of programs reflecting broadly on how 9/11 has shaped the United States and the world.  I hope you will join us for this thought provoking series that includes programs from each of the College's six departments and several of its college wide programs.