Archer School Seeks Post 9/11 Path

Joshua Avedon
Special to the Mirror

   On November 6, parents and upper school students of the Archer School for Girls were invited to an “inspirational and insightful” evening of entertainment and discussion to address the state of individual activism in the aftermath of September 11. A panel moderated by actor/activist Edward James Olmos followed performances by students.
   The evening, entitled “Where on Earth Are We Going: A Call to Action,” began with musical performances from Archer students, including the debut of “Red, White and Blue,” a song written by members of the eighth grade class in reaction to the terrorist attacks. The song was a message of defiance and patriotism and segued to the school’s chorus singing an á cappella version of “God Bless America.”
   The performances were followed by a panel discussion with Olmos, Founder and Chair of Earth Restoration Corps, Hanne Strong; businessman and Chair of Bnai Zion Foundation David Nahai; and spokesman for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, Omar Ricci. The talk focused on how to formulate a personal response to the recent attack and how to live in a world changed forever by the events of September 11.
   Tenth grader Jessica Wyle, who performed a monologue written by another Archer student, said she hoped the evening would be “a chance for the community and students to get a feel for the context of what’s going on” and for the student body to express its feelings about the terrorist attacks. The discussion portion of the evening, however, seemed more geared towards the adults in the audience, who listened intently to the panelists.
   There were substantially divergent views expressed, ranging from Strong’s exhortations to build a more peaceful society at home, to Nahai’s endorsement and call for decisive action against the terrorists and the nations that sponsor them. Panelist Omar Ricci, offering a Muslim perspective, said it was “time for America to start acting not just in its interest but with its values.” In the hours after the attack, his Mosque was the target of a number of angry and threatening phone calls. Since then, Ricci has appeared at several events hoping to educate his audiences on the realities of Islam and to dispel “the stereotypes of Muslims so pervasive in the media.”
   Nahai made the point that America “doesn’t always reveal a discernable clue of what binds this society together,” but that America “consists of ideals and a core value system, and it was that idea that came under attack.” While there was little unanimity among the speakers and audience about how to remain hopeful and active post-September 11, one thing everyone agreed upon is that it is important not to live in fear, even while living with a new sense of caution.