Discussion Questions for One Survivor Remembers

1. What scenes or images were most powerful for you, and why? What lessons or messages did these scenes offer?
The scene that really got to me was when Hilda was talking about how she knew that she was going to die and that Gerda must make sure that she doesn't tell Hilda's parents how she died. It was a very powerful part because it forced me to imagine the scenario play out, and also, Hilda seemed very calm when she spoke of her death. Another thing that made the scene powerful was that it made me also imagine one of my family members dying a horrible, unknown death, and never seeing that family member again. One message that this scene portrays is that Jewish people were treated so harshly during the Holocaust that they felt like they didn't have anything to look forward to in life and that dying was fine by them.

2. How did the Nazi's dehumanize Jews? How did Gerda Weissmann work to overcome dehumanization, and who helped her?
The Nazi's did many things to dehumanize Jews. To do this, they did exactly the opposite of what they would do to a human. The first thing Nazi's did that made Jews question their being human was taking the Jews away from their homes, friends, and close possessions. When the Jews arrive at the camps, they are separated from their family forever. Soon after, Jews whole bodies are shaved so that NO hair remains. Another thing that Nazi's do is rid of the Jews names and instead, give them numbers. Knowing the fact that you have no hair, no family, and you are a meaningless number makes many questions their humanness and give up a lot of will to live. I believe that what made Gerda overcome dehumanization was just her will to continue on with life. Also, she believed that she would soon be released and she just had to push through it. She had made a bet with her friend that the war wouldn't last long and she wanted to stay strong. Another thing that helped her overcome dehumanization was when her father told her not to commit suicide. This reminded her that there are still people out there who care, and it makes her realize that she is still human and loved by others.

3. What simple things in your own life do you think you'd fantasize about if everything were taken away? What ordinary things do you think you take for granted?
In retrospect, I have always fantasized the things that I didn't have, and when I have them, I don't care much for them. I think that if all of my things were taken away from me I would definitely fantasize necessities such as good food, clean clothes, and water. Also, I would love to be able to play again and have fun. The biggest thing I would fantasize is being able to see my family again, even if it was just something as little as a glance, or the knowledge that my family is well.
I take for granted all my necessities, and the right to be with my loved ones. Since I live in good conditions, I can have a clean glass of water whenever I want, and a big healthy meal by walking a few steps to my kitchen. Also, I have a tiny house, but I take shelter for granted. I've always been able to step inside a building or vehicle whenever I don't like the conditions outside. However, being with loved ones is what I mostly take for granted. I can always count on coming home from school and seeing my family. Also, I've never been separated from family for long periods of time so I can expect to see family often.
4. In what ways do you see persecution happening in today's world? What groups do you see being targeted? What can be done to work against such prejudice and intolerance?
There is still a lot of anti-semitism in today's world. Also, there is always a large anti-gay community wherever you go. For example, Westboro Baptist Church is constantly protesting Jews and gays. Persecution these days seems to be less physical abuse, and more protesting, taunting, and discriminating against. To prevent these things, we should publicly address the problem more. People's views will shift, and some others will be more open to believing if they know a person who was persuaded.

5. Who are the heroes of the film? What did they do that makes you hopeful? What can you do to help make the world a better place?
I think that the heroes of this film are Gerda, her father, the man who liberated Gerda, and the woman who ran the camp Gerda was in. What makes me hopeful is when I think about brave they were, and how they applied those traits to helping others. Also, it makes me hopeful knowing that not all people from a bad group are like the others in that group. What I mean by this is that some Nazi's, such as the woman who run the camp, aren't bad people. To make the world a better place, people need to open up to new things and ideas, share their feelings, and communicate with one-another so that problems can be resolved.
(not finished)

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Blog #3

             The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has a very slow moving plot. As of now, very little things relating to the Holocaust have come up that I can relate history to. So far, Bruno’s family moved to a new house because his dad is a Nazi soldier. Near the new house, there is a concentration camp. Bruno one day happened to see it out his window and has a lot of curiosity as to what it is. Other than that, the main problem is that Bruno hates his new house and desperately wishes he could move back to Berlin.

One connection from the story, to historical fact, that I found interesting was that, according to The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, “Between 1933 and 1945, Nazis in Germany established about 20,000 camps to imprison its many millions of victims.” Assuming that Bruno’s father needed to find a closer camp for his job, he had to move cities away from his old home to find one.

According to Wikipedia, parents, because they believe strongly in something, will usually raise their children to believe in those opinions too. However, Bruno’s parents didn’t even mention their beliefs to him, in this case anti-Semitism. This means that when Bruno develops his own opinions, they could potentially be positive about Jews, and he may be angry with his father for being a Nazi soldier.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Blog #2

             As I’ve read further through the book, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, I’ve started to uncover more traits of the protagonist, Bruno. When I put Bruno in contrast with Sarah, the protagonist in the book Sarah’s Key, I find that they have very different backgrounds. However, when I identify their traits, I realize that the two children are very similar. Bruno is German, and has lived in Germany his whole life. His parents are anti-Semitic, however Bruno hasn’t yet generated his own opinions because his parents haven’t exposed him to Jews or anti-Semitism. As I mentioned in my last blog, his dad is a Nazi soldier and believes that Jews are “…not people at all…” (p.53) Sarah, on the other hand, lives in France, and is Jewish and Parisian. She ends up in a concentration camp while Bruno runs no risk of going to one.

            Despite their background differences, Bruno and Sarah together possess many connections. Both characters are very loving and caring toward their families. Bruno seems to always care about how others are doing, and just wishes for the best for everyone. When Sarah’s little brother, Michel, was locked in the closet, Sarah wouldn’t stop thinking of him, and she motivated herself to let Michel out no-matter what was to come of her. This also demonstrates another quality that both Sarah and Bruno have in common, which is determination. Sarah tried very hard to let her brother out of the closet before he died. Almost immediately after escaping the concentration camp, she headed for her house despite her hosts offering a longer stay. Also, Bruno was very determined to make things go his way with the move. He didn’t want to leave his Berlin life behind, and he repeatedly addressed that he wanted to stay in Berlin. When his parents would tell him to stop talking about it and move on, he kept talking about his opinions on the move. Another example of Bruno’s determination is when he discovered the concentration camp. He didn’t know what it was and he kept staring and asking until he found out what it was.

            In addition to the character traits that Bruno and Sarah share, I have also found that they have similar internal conflicts. The thing that makes it so hard for Sarah’s will to carry on is that she is burdened with the stress of leaving behind her life as she knew it. She first had to leave her house behind, with her brother Michel still in the house, and then she was separated from her mom and dad, leaving her with nothing. Bruno felt the same feelings that Sarah felt when he had to leave behind his three best friends, his grandparents, his big house, and the area of city that he loved. As I read more into the book I will discover more qualities about Bruno that also relate to Sarah.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Blog #1

The book, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne, opens by introducing you to a nine-year old boy named Bruno, who lives in Berlin with his mom, dad, and sister, Gretel. In the beginning, Bruno encounters his maid packing his belongings into multiple suitcases. Surprised, Bruno soon learns that he is moving out of Berlin because of his father’s new job. Bruno’s father is a Nazi soldier, and I can infer he is of high rank based on this quote, “…The large dining room where the Fury had been to dinner the week before.” (p.2) If “The Fury,” referring to Hitler, had eaten at their house, Bruno’s dad must be a high ranked soldier.

Bruno is dubious about the move, and has low expectations for his new life. He doesn’t want to leave behind his “three best friends for life,” and loves the many great features of his current house such as the long railing, and all the nooks and crannies yet to be discovered. When he arrives at his new house, he becomes very unhappy. He finds that this house is the exact opposite of his old house. It is much smaller, and very isolated. There are no neighbors, no sounds of people playing, and no people strolling the streets. Soon after, we learn how sad Bruno is when he talks about the move with one of the maids, Maria. Bruno’s family has many servants. However, Bruno most likes Maria, and often opens up to her about his feelings.

The second chapter ends when Bruno discovers a huge window, which he decides to explore because it’s much like his own. He looks out the window, and is shocked when he sees something that makes him feel “cold and unsafe.” (p.20) I can infer that it’s a concentration camp because his father is a Nazi soldier. If it turns out to be a concentration camp, I predict a lot of conflict will occur around Bruno’s house and the camp. I predict this because Bruno is a curious boy, “…find nooks and crannies that he hadn’t fully finished exploring yet.” This quote shows that Bruno spends a lot of time exploring, and I believe his curiosity will lead him to meddle around the camp in places he shouldn’t be. I also believe he might even help some of the Jewish people.

Sarah's Key-Blog #2

            Throughout the book, Sarah’s Key, many inferences can be made. One inference I have is that Sarah is the grandmother of Bertrand, Julia’s wife, and that the apartments that Sarah lives in, and the apartment that Julia is moving into, is the same apartment. I can infer this because both are in Paris, and they are both apartments. Also, the apartment is very old, “My husbands grandmother had lived here for years.”- Julia (p.11) This further opens up the possibility to the reader that the apartments are the same because Sarah lived in that apartment in 1942. It wouldn’t be very hard to believe that 60 years later, her grandchild is going to live there.

In addition, another inference that I have supports this inference. I assume that something bad must’ve happened in that apartment, because Julia is very much against living there. She repeatedly mentions that no matter how much the apartment is redone, it will always remind her of Bertrand’s grandmother. “I wasn’t so hot about coming here. I wanted something more…practical. Something new… But to me, it will always be Mamé’s apartment.”- Julia (p.11) This demonstrates Julia’s negative emotions toward the apartment. Obviously, Julia doesn’t want to live there for some reason. If that is infact the apartment that Sarah’s family got taken away from then that could be the reason that Julia doesn’t want to live there. Also, if Sarah’s brother ends up dying, that could be another factor as to why Julia doesn’t want to live there.

Along with all these inferences I have made about the book, I also have a question. This question is about my inference, and has had me stumped for a while. If my inference about the relationship between Sarah and Bertrand is true, and assuming Sarah won’t escape the stadium, then how can Sarah have grandchildren? Sarah didn’t have children before she was captured. I think that it is highly unlikely that she will escape. So how can she have children? I still believe in my inference however this question makes me wonder how my inference could come true.

Sarah's Key-Blog #1

In the beginning of the book Sarah’s Key, we are introduced to two main characters in two different time periods. Both live in Paris. The story opens in July 1942, in which we meet the first the main character, Sarah. Sarah is with her family in their apartment when the French police come and take her and her parents along with many other Jews. Sarah is young, and she has no idea why they are being taken. She is confused and believes that they will be able to return, so she locks her four-year-old brother in a closet thinking she will be able to let him out when they return.

            In the following chapter, we are introduced to the second main character, Julia, a Parisian woman living with her family in 2002. Her family is about to move into her husband Bertrand’s, grandmother’s old house, in which Bertrand and other architects, will redesign. I infer that the two main characters are connected and that the house that Sarah lives in is the same house as the one that Julia will move into. Julia works for a magazine company and is currently investigating the roundup of Jews in Paris.

            Throughout the story there are many different problems. One of the biggest problems is that Sarah and her family and being taken away from their home by the French police. Also, Sarah’s little brother is still in the closet and most likely cannot get out because Sarah probably won’t return to be able to let him out. Her little brother might end up dying.

            Meanwhile, in 2002, there aren’t really any major problems that can be identified, however, there are many minor problems. One minor problem is that Julia doesn’t want to move into the apartment because she feels like no matter how much it gets redone, it will still be Bertrand’s grandmother. This might be because something happened to the grandmother, probably something that Julia doesn’t want to be reminded of. Another problem is that Julia needs to write an article about the roundup of Jews but will have a problem getting information because French locals hate to bring it up. 

Flower Garden

            Flower Garden, by Shirley Jackson, is a story of racism and how it can influence society and relationships. It’s about a woman named Mrs. Winning, who becomes friends with her new neighbor, Mrs. MacLane. Mrs. MacLane has a strong bond with Mrs. Winning, and is very well liked throughout the community until she decides that she needs help with her flower garden. She ends up hiring Mr. Jones (an African-American) and forms a friendship with him and his son, Billy. Shortly after, Mrs. MacLane’s friends start to shun her, and people are talking about her all throughout town. In the end, Mrs. MacLane finds that she has lost all her friendships, has her garden destroyed by a neighbor's branch, and is contemplating giving up and moving back to New York.

            What I found most interesting was how much the opinions of Mrs. Winning influenced the conflict in the plot. It seemed that Mrs. Winning could quite settle with the fact that what she wanted in life, she didn’t have, and was rather jealous of Mrs. MacLane. In the beginning, the story talked about how Mrs. Winning liked the grocer’s son. “…when she was twelve and the grocer’s son was twenty, Mrs. Winning had hoped secretly that he would want to marry her.” This quote had no significance to the plot and, therefore, I think that the author said it to make her more of a round character by defining her traits and supporting that she wasn't as happy with her life as she would've like.

            When Mrs. MacLane came to the door for her first time appearance, Mrs. Winning was jealous of how young and good looking she was. Also, the author didn’t go into much detail about Mrs. Winning's house. However, she went into a lot of detail of the cottage that Mrs. MacLane moved into. Mrs. Winning wanted to live in that house so badly, and she quoted so numerous times. “It’s just that I’ve been wanting to live here myself for so long,” and, “I’d give anything in the world to live in your house.”

            These opinionated jealousies seemed to influence the conflict. It seemed that toward the end Mrs. Winning seemed to know in the back of her mind that she was the one who was wrong. Yet, she seemed to be trying to convince herself that it was Mrs. MacLane who was in the wrong. “The nerve of her, trying to blame the colored folks.”

            In conclusion, because of Mrs. Winning's constant opinions, she had convinced herself that Mrs. MacLane had life so much better than her own that she couldn’t have something wrong. It seemed that because of Mrs. Winning’s jealousy she wanted to disprove this and have something right for herself.

Query

Query: 10/24/11

Brandon Neway

From my perspective, simplicity is a virtue, and can be expressed in many ways depending on how you look at it. Sometimes simplicity can be coping with the complexities of life. Many things come up unexpectedly in life, some of which can make your life more complicated. To make your life simpler, you need to learn to “roll with the punches.”

Everyone is going to encounter conflict with other people at some time or another. Dwelling on the problem simply makes you stressed and upset. If we are not able to let it go, we are burdened with feelings of stress, guilt, or anger. Negative emotions such as these detract from simple living. If you learn to accept things for what they are and accept that some things cannot be changed, you are less likely to waste time worrying and obsessing over things that are outside your control.

Here is a short skit to introduce the query.

This week’s query is: What things get in your way of simple living?

Simplicity

Reading the article from www.wisdomcommons.org really made me think about how simplicity could affect the world. From my perspective, simplicity is a virtue, and can be expressed in many ways depending on how you would like to look at it. For some it could mean being frugal. For some it could mean focusing more on needs, rather than wants. For me, simplicity is opening up and finding happiness in little things. If everybody viewed simplicity with their own definition of it and lived up to what they believed, the world would be a lot different.

            One way to lead a simpler life is to have less material things. If everyone lived like that then people would be a lot less busy. People would be more occupied with nature and would spend a lot of time outdoors. People would also be more occupied socially, through face-to-face conversation, rather than having your relationships over texting or video chat. Another way to lead a simpler life is to grow your own food. Why travel to the food store and spend a bunch of time deciding between foods, and what’s on sale, when you can just walk outside and pick what’s ready to eat. It’s much simpler because not all foods grow at the same time so it limits your options to a few foods. Whatever is available is what you eat.

            These are just a few ways to live a simpler life. Although the transition to a simpler life would involve an adjustment period, in the long run it would be a much easier and more relaxing lifestyle. Many people who have sacrificed things to make their life simpler can all tell you how much easier it is to go through life with less. So if you're looking to remove stress from your life, then you should reevaluate your priorities and simplify your life.