Remembering Old Friends

Indonesian students excitedly displaying postcards made by my students.

During these first days of school it's easy to get lost in the shuffle of papers, students, lesson plans, and Sisyphean  to-do lists. Amid today's chaos, I was quietly reminded by one of my Muslim students that perhaps we should take a moment to remember all those lost that fateful day twelve years ago. And so we took a moment of silence. My mind raced back to that day; our collective loss and anguish and the many heroes in and out of school that put others before themselves. Then suddenly it jumped to a day not too long ago in Indonesia. Julie, Lauren, Jacqueline and I were visiting an Islamic Boarding school in South Sumatra. It was an elite high school and students from all over the nation traveled to attend the school. We were greeted warmly by students and staff clad in hijabs and uniforms and asked to speak on a panel in front of students. During the panel a student asked what Americans think of Muslims today and if the events of September 11th made them fearful that Indonesia is full of terrorists. She also wanted to know how she might be treated if she came to the States. I responded that the U.S. was an enormous country and that opinions were wide and varied. While there was hate and fear among some, that many more had grown to understand and appreciate Islam and Muslims, and that at my school she would be welcomed by Muslim and non-Muslim students alike. Such moments remind me of the impact of teachers, the wisdom of students and cherished moments of beauty (and of course the need for global education). Two students thousands of miles apart but connected in myriad ways. I thank you.

Islamic School in Ogan Ilir