When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in the late 1970s, many Afghans fled leaving behind homes, possessions, and sometimes family members. Those Afghans who took refuge in the United States came to treasure the freedom and economic opportunities offered by their new country. Many settled in Fremont, California, which became the center of a community of 15,000 exiled Afghans. After September 11, these Afghan Americans found themselves caught in a cultural crossfire as their adoptive homeland went to war with their native land.

As we learn from the film, American citizens reacted with hostility to these "enemy aliens" in their midst. Individual Afghans and businesses were targeted and attacked. Schoolgirls were afraid to be seen on the streets with their heads covered. Ironically, in 1996, most of the Fremont community had rejected the Taliban and a fist fight had broken out when Taliban representatives tried to take over the Fremont mosque with their brand of fundamentalism. With Us or against Us details the struggle to cope with the anti-Afghan sentiments In America, and indeed the world. It introduces compelling characters from all walks of life who share what it means to be an Afghan in America today.

A closed captioned version is available on vhs only. Please specify when ordering

"Recommended...documents the experience of Afghan-Americans after events of 9/11...what shines through is their commitment to 'defend freedom.'" C. Coates Eastern Connecticut State College, Educational Media Review Online

Middle East Studies Association, 2002