"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." "There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest." "Not to transmit an experience is to betray it." "Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds." "I decided to devote my life to telling the story because I felt that having survived I owe something to the dead. and anyone who does not remember betrays them again." "I write to understand as much as to be understood." |
DIRECTIONS: Affirmation and encouragement are a plus, but remember that the bulk of your posts and responses to one another should address the subject matter of the week and its impact on your learning. In the pre-writing stage, you are advised to use KWL charts (What you knew. What you wanted to know. What you learned.), your daily reflection journals, and tree maps to generate and organize your content. Remember that you must Tell. Tell. Tell. Type your draft into a Word Document. Edit for focus and conventions (spelling and grammar). Then, and ONLY THEN, post. Each time you write an entry, consider the above quotes of Elie Wiesel, survivor of Auschwitz concentration camp. How are your words combating genocide? How are they attaining the quality of deeds? How are you gaining understanding...being understood? ***As it is an academic site, this is not a forum for evangelizing or criticizing the faith of others. Respect for diversity is to be adhered to at all times. |
This week was another short week. Monday we got report cards, so we talked a little about grades. Tuesday was the anniversary of Kristallnacht. We shared more cubes; we also read more of Parallel Journeys.
We got report cards this week, and I was happy about my grades. We talked a little about how some students don't deserve the grades they get. One topic of the matter was group work. Believe it or not, in most of my classes I've been one of the smartest in the class. And for some reason, I get paired up with the ones who don't do anything. I always end up doing all the work, and we'd all recieve the same grade. That's why I hate group work sometimes. I like it when the teacher grades everyone in the group individually or all members of the group participate. Lazy students who make you do all the work is one thing that gets me fired up. We also talked about how some kids don't care what their grades are. They'd fail and laugh about it with their friends because it's "cool." I may get made fun of now for being smart, but I know what I want to do with my life, and I will achieve. Tuesday was the 71st anniversary of Kristallnacht; also known as the night of broken glass. This was the turning point for the Holocaust. It all started when a teenager assassinated the German Diplomat, Ernst Vom Rath. Because of that, Jewish cemeteries, hopspitals, schools, and businesses were destroyed and burned. Hitler Youth had damaged everything that had do deal with Jews, yet Jews were charged for all the damages. It happened on November 9th-10th, 1938. 30,000 Jews were sent to camps. Joseph Goebbels, who was the master of propaganda, organized Kristallnacht. We also shared the rest of the cubes we had made. Someone had mentioned that war is essential. I strongly disagree with that statement. War is not a necessity. War is cruelty. When I hear the word war, I picture in my mind dead bodies all covered in blood on the American flag. If people could just not bomb or harm other countries there wouldn't be a need for war. People just use war as an excuse. Yes; if our country is harmed like 9/11 we should fight back to protect our country because if we don't, other countries may think they can come hurt us. War harms our soldiers and innocent people. War is also expensive. Just think of all the money the nation would have if we didn't spend it on the tools of torture. We've been reading more of Parallel Journeys lately. I don't really like this book as much as some others we've read. I think it is because there is soo much information/dates to remember. Sometimes there are parts of the book I like, and other times it seems overwhelming. It was another fantastic week in Holocaust and Genocides. We discussed grades and read Parallel Journeys. We also talked about the rest of the cubes. Tuesday was the anniversary of Kristallnacht so we spent the day learning/researching about it. |
I'm like you Hannah. I used to get paired up with people who would never do their work, and I would be the one left to do it. That would make me very angry. I enjoyed learning some more about Kristallnach in the class on it's anniversary. |
War is not a necessity? I’d have to say I disagree. Yes, it is cruel, and yes, it is expensive; there are so many negative aspects and outcomes of war, but sometimes I think we forget that there are also positive—I’m certainly guilty of such. I hear people say, “Why can’t we all just get along?” and I laugh, for that notion seems largely inconceivable to me. I listen to beauty contestants wish for world peace, and I’m sitting at home thinking that peace isn’t going to take away the world’s problems. What about population control? Food rations? Lack of jobs? Boredom? Because to me, peace seems boring; utopia fails because people thrive on chaos… War is tragic, but peace isn’t without its faults. |
Hannah,
I also disagree with your views on war. Peace is pretty much impossible to achieve. Enough said. But I do agree with you on Parallel Journeys completely! It's such an interesting book, but all the dates, names, places and so on are just so overwhelming. It's about nearly impossible to write notes on this book because we would be writing books!! Yeah, that was pretty lame, but I think its true. |
Hannah,
While reading more of Parallel Journeys I have realized that in Helen's chapters there is more emotion, and in Alfons's are more facts and information. I wonder why this is so. Is it because Helen was the victim and Alfons was the persecutor in the Holocaust? |
Could it have to do with gender or rearing, Pinky? |
Borders, I have to agree and disagree with you. I do think that war is necessary in some instances, but I do not think that peace is boring. Do I think it is impossible on a world scale? Without certain circumstances, yes. Do I think peace is boring? No, because I find it more appealing to be at peace with my neighbor than to want to cut his or her throat. I have to say that when I have peace I am extremely happy; that is why I try to avoid conflict with my friends if I can. I do not like it when I am in a conflict with someone else. I do think that perhaps war is necessary in order to achieve peace, but I do not think we need it to sooth our boredom. "Utopia fails;" I strongly agree. I do not think it can exist on this Earth. I do however, and this is just my personal opinion and belief, so no offense to you, believe that when I die I will live in eternal paradise and peace in heaven, in eternal security and joy.
Now again this is my belief, and simply what I think because not only is it comforting, it gives me something to live for. I live longing for some form of solace upon this Earth so I try to be a peacemaker. I also live for eternal peace in heaven. This is me, and again I am not trying to evangelize my religious beliefs, but simply state what I believe in regards to war and peace. |
If you can overlook Wayne Watson's hair, I think you'll like this, Angie.
|
I really liked that; thank you. And just to be clear, I do not think peace is achievable on a world scale, but I do think that we should do our best to live in peace with one another. one of my favorite scriptures says, "Blessed are the Peacemakers, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 5:9. Another is "Peacemakers who sow in peace, will raise a harvest of righteousness." James 3:18. All I am saying is that though the whole world may not want peace, it does not mean we should accept that and not attempt to be at peace with one another ourselves. |
