Editorials

Now that two years have passed since the numbers 9/11 burned themselves into the American consciousness, many in Berkeley feel that the time has come to take a different approach in commemorating the events of that awful day. 

While the city government will be conducting a ceremony at the Civic Center, the tone and size of other events throughout Berkeley have changed in favor of new interpretations that in some instances are more personal, and in others more political. 

David Orth, Deputy Chief for the Berkeley Fire Department, said that instead of organizing a larger, formal event that would involve the entire department, city fire stations will each hold their own individual remembrances. 

“The desire is for the event to be more private,” said Orth, who struggled as he tried to explain the complexity of a situation where, on one hand, no one is ready to forget about the events of Sept. 11, but at the same time many don’t feel the need to relive or commemorate the events with the same intensity. 

People want “to both remember and not forget, but at the same time begin to move on,” he said. 

Orth, along with other members of the city fire and police departments, will join in the commemorative ringing of the Peace Bell in front of Berkeley’s Civic Hall at noon on Thursday. The bell, made of recycled hand guns, was created by Berkeley artist Bruce Hanson and was bought by the City of Berkeley in 2000. 

Others are using the second anniversary in more frankly political ways. 

Interpretations and analysis abounded in Berkeley after the terrorist attacks, but many respected the one-year anniversary as a time to remember instead of project. This year, however, they’ve harnessed the day as a way to reiterate their concerns. 

The La Pena Cultural Center is sponsoring an event called “Septiembre en la Memoria, 30 years of the Chilean 9/11,” appropriate since the Center was formed after the Chilean coup lead by the Agosto Pinochet destroyed the democratically elected socialist government of Salvador Allende on Sept. 11, 1973, giving the day a rather different meaning. 

“We believe that Sept. 11 is 30 years old,” explains Fernando Torres, publicity coordinator for La Pena and a Chilean political prisoner who spent a year in jail after the coup. 

Torres and La Pena Director Paul Chin said that evidence establishes that the United States under Nixon and Henry Kissinger played a large role in backing Pinochet’s coup to oust Allende, contributing to what they see as a terrorist attack in its own right. 

“We [in Chile] have our own bin Laden,” said Torres. “His name is Henry Kissinger.” 

Pinochet’s dictatorial regime killed large numbers of the “disappeared,” and the ailing Pinochet was later indicted by a Spanish judge for human rights crimes. 

The event at the cultural center is also meant to remember Orlando Letelier, an exiled Chilean diplomat who on Sept. 21, 1976 was executed by a team of Chileans, a CIA agent and Cuban exiles. 

Letelier was an outspoken critic of the U.S.-backed coup and his murder has been labeled as an act of state-sponsored terrorism. Letelier’s son Francisco and well known political writer Michael Parenti will appear at the center’s commemoration event. 

A series of films will be shown throughout town including a new release called “September 11” which will be at Landmark’s Shattuck Cinemas Sept. 12-18. Produced in France, the film consists of 11 segments from all around the world including one directed by actor Sean Penn. 

The film has generated both rave reviews and considerable controversy. Ed Arentz of Empire Pictures, the company that released the film in the U.S., said that the film was created because 9/11 had global implications, calling for commentary from those outside the U.S. 

“It’s a way to enter into a kind of dialogue with the rest of the world,” said Arentz. 

The film breaks cinematic ground, explains John Scheide, the producer for the American segment. Originally each director was given the same amount of money, 400,000 Euros, and the same amount of screen time, 11 minutes. Some produced documentary pieces like Loach and others created fictional narratives.  

“Whether they disagree or agree with what they see,” said Scheide, “they are certainly going to get a true piece of cinema.”  

Other films offered locally include “Aftermath: Unanswered Questions from 911” at the Berkeley Public Library on Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m., “The Truth and Lies of 9-11” at Ashkenaz on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m., and “Chile: Promises of Freedom,” at the La Pena cultural center on Sept.12 at 7 p.m. 

For those who still feel the need to express themselves, Singing for Peace, a group that formed after Sept. 11 to “sing out our grief for the dead in both New York City and Afghanistan,” is hosting “Joining Voices: Community Singing for Peace and Healing” at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists at Cedar Street and Bonita Avenue at 7:30 p.m. on the 11th. 

For more information about any of these events please see the Arts and Events calendar in this issue.