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February 1, 2001
From Kazakhstan: Opinions about Terrorism
By Galina Faustova
The terrible events in the USA didn't leave us in Kazakhstan indifferent. What is more, we can't stop discussing and expressing our feelings. I sent messages of sympathy to all the Americans I know and Margaret Riel (the coordinator of I*EARN) sent me a big message describing everything that happened in America on September 11, 2001, and the days after. She also sent pictures, and I, as a teacher and simply as a human being, couldn't leave it alone. I gathered all the information Margaret sent us, including the information from the Internet, and put everything on our school computers to conduct special lessons in English for promoting solidarity and peace. All the children of our school had a chance to express themselves in writing their opinions after our lessons, and participating in on-line discussions.
On the 24th of September we met our English schoolteachers from the Eastern-Kazakhstan region. They also benefited from my demonstration of how to use a computer as a tool for exploring this world and for working with a great amount of information in English.
For four years I have been coordinating the work of my students in I*EARN (International Education and Resource Network). The Internet has made possible our communication in I*EARN and our work to solve similar problems among young people from many locations. The Internet offers me as a teacher everything I need to teach English properly, that is, the authentic English that is available for everybody upon the Internet. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on America, there has been much information on the Internet to help teachers and the teens they teach to process the news, to help us decide how we feel and what we think is right and wrong. During our lessons students use the computer as a tool for analyzing and making conclusions. English is a foreign language for us, but by being involved in interesting discussions we don't focus on how to say this or that. We use English, as well as the Internet, to express our opinions and to let people know that there are students in Kazakhstan who are not indifferent to what happens in other countries and who want world peace.
What follows are my students' letters written to express their feelings towards terrorism and specifically the awful events that happened in America. Because of our constant participation in I*EARN we have many friends all over the world. The majority of these friends are from the USA. And when our friends are in trouble we must be near them and help in the way we can.
These are the letters my students wrote after one of our lessons in which we used Internet information after the 11th of September. We needed more details and sought clarification because we were in shock. We didn't even know what to think.
Some Letters
On the 11th of September, a large terrorist act occurred in America, and this event shocked many people from all over the world. Foreign terrorists destroyed two of the largest skyscrapers in America. More than 5,000 people died and too many people were hurt. After that day, schools, universities, clubs, parks, and shops were closed. A lot of companies have lost much money (about $100 million) because of this act. The president of the US, George Bush, says that the American army is ready to respond to the attack, and its condition is excellent. But they do not understand the Afghanistan people's feeling. Now many people are afraid of this war and do not want to have it. I think that it is a very serious problem not only for America, but also for other countries; it could be the third World War.
--Natasha Brovarnik, Katya Bukharina
Nowadays the problem of terrorism is considered to be one of the most serious questions. The terror that happened in America on the 11th of September has shocked the whole world. Planes attacked the two World Trade Center buildings in New York and the Pentagon. Life in New York has stopped for some time. And the attitude about what has happened is not ordinary. That Tuesday can be called Black Tuesday. Everything of what we have seen really shocked us, because never before have we heard such news. I've never thought that such a big country as America could be hurt by other nations and that such cruel and unmerciful people live in our world. In that terror thousands of people died. The whole world commiserates and that terror will be in people's minds for a long time. Now everybody is afraid of the war--not just a simple war, but the third World War.
--Zhenya Baranovich
I think that it is the most terrible tragedy for all humans of our planet. It is a very big shock for all people. We all must understand the meaning of this crime, and we all regret that this incident occurred. I would like to discuss these questions: Why has it happened? Who were these terrorists? What can we do to help our American friends? What will Americans do after this act? People of the whole world regret this and they want to help as much as they can. There are many locations of Red Cross where people can give blood to Americans. People send special letters in which they say to be strong and brave. I think this act has a global effect. And it is our common problem. We all must fight against this crime.
--Vitaliy Dmitriyev
The tragedy that happened on September 11 in America has shocked the whole world. I can't express enough my condolences to the American people. I'm profoundly censoring this terrorist act and I'm calling people all over the world to unite together to fight against the international terrorism. We must undertake all that is necessary to punish the terrorists. I hope that the American people will cope with this hard shock and will remain devoted to their values and culture.
--Denyakina Yuliya
All the pupils of my school and I, personally, offer your great people our condolences.
Email: Galina Faustova
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