September 12th, 2021
Finding Our Voices is about standing up for what you believe. Not just another Iraq war film, this is a movie about patriotic Americans living their conscience. This film celebrates our first amendment rights and our responsibility to participate in our Democracy. This movie explores the passion and determination of eight men and women who sacrifice their jobs, give up their retirement and risk imprisonment in their patriotic dissent of the war in Iraq. It is a film about courageous Americans who show with their actions, the power we all have, and must use if democracy is to survive. The film chronicles people like Adele Welty, who lost her son, a firefighter on 9/11/01. Welty, a member of September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, says, “I knew the best legacy I could build for Timmy would be one of peace, to try to stop any more innocent civilians from being killed.”
Read September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows: Turning Tragedy into Hope for a Better World for more information.
OUR LIVE PANEL featured Holly Stadtler, Rev. Graylan Hagler, Vicky Hughes, Laurel Jensen as well as PT member, Nancy Meyer. CLICK HERE to access the recorded session and use passcode y?7t+h+8
See below for the study guide.
Finding Our Voices: Classroom Discussion Questions
The following are questions that can be used as discussion guidance or homework prompts:
Is this movie biased? What does it mean to be biased? Is bias bad? Can it be avoided?
Cultural tie-in: Joining the military can be a great opportunity for youth looking for money and an education and is considered part of a legacy in some families. What do you think of the officers who left their duty during the Iraq war? What do you think about the officers who spoke up against it? Would you consider joining the military? What would you do if the government started doing something you didn’t approve of? Is it ok for active military service members to publicly oppose the war they are participating in?
Current political and historical tie-in: What is the role of the news in fomenting war? How has the development of social media changed this?
Current political and historical tie-in: What are the differences between Iraq and Afghanistan? How can we use this film to discuss modern issues?
History tie-in: The Civil Rights Movement was compared to activism against the Iraq War. What do you think of this comparison? What are some important things to consider as an activist? Why be an activist?
Optional homework assignment: find a quote from the movie that resonates with you. Write one paragraph discussing it.
Optional homework assignment: Martin Sheen Narrates Finding Our Voices. He also stars as the President in the famous series West Wing. Compare Martin Sheen’s work in Finding Our Voices to an episode of West Wing in a one-page response.
Optional homework assignment: Compare our interaction with Iraq to another event in US history.
Mixed purpose assignment: Adele Welty, who is featured in the film, helped found September Eleventh Families Peaceful Tomorrows. What led her to this decision? Do you think this is in line with what other family members of 9/11 victims did? Homework: Talk to a parent or guardian about their experience of 9/11. What was their reaction then? Have their views changed? Talk with a parent or guardian about the war with Iraq. What did they originally think about it? Have their views changed? Watch the companion live panel to this film
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