This a.m. they had a "briefing." Jamin, Jared, and I attended. I'm finding it hard to sort out my thoughts. It was amazing. I do wish that I could find a way to get these folks to speak to our homeschool group next year, or into the local schools....seems sad to keep them to ourselves. Maybe the best bet would be to sponsor homeschoolers onto base, to be sure that it is mentioned in the group's newsletter......hmmm....
Did you know that the word genocide was invented AFTER ww2? It was interesting to me to realize that civilization had no words to describe the Holocaust. Holocaust itself is a new word from two words meaning "burn" "completely".
We heard from Dr. Gail Wallen, the director of a big place in Tucson (I can't remember the title).....she spoke about the things that lined up to allow the Holocaust. She spoke of religion, literature, pan-German, economic measures, and more all lining up. It was very interseting and tied a lot of what we've studied this year in TOG together.
Then we heard from Mrs. Rosa Freund - a survivor of Auschwitz. I've been reading the books by Isabella Leitner. She's pretty blunt. Still, I can't explain sitting there and hearing this sweet, graying lady talk about things that were done and realizing she was not sharing stories but MEMORIES. As she talked she shared memories of Dr. Mengele and could "feel his touch now right on my arm".
Another lady there was a survivor from the Warsaw Ghetto. She was 5 years old when the war began. We got to talk with her after the event was over. She said how rare it is that she survived. Most young children were either killed right away or victims of experiments.
One of our troops shared at the memorial service how he remembered his grandfather (or great grandfather) making family trees. All the branches but theirs simply stopped. As a young child he asked, "why do all the branches stop?" and was told "they all died in the Holocaust". It's simply mind boggling.
Rosa encouraged the active duty folks to defend democracy and to personally speak up. Silence is acceptance.
It's been 62 years since WW2 ended. It's sad to me that the survivors and liberators are all aging. Soon we won't people to lecture us who have first hand memories of these events. I believe it is important to keep the memory alive....especially as we begin to hear some of the same lies repeated. While listening to Dr. Wallen speak I couldn't help but think of the various historical factors she mentioned lining up to allow the Holocaust....I see many of the same ones lining up again in our time.
Here is a Holocaust Survivor quilt....I took a lot of photos of various squares but here are a few....
Loved the details at the edges of the quilt
Each square was made by a survivor...The red one to the bottom right is a Kindertransport and was signed by the child....really hit me
I simply couldn't pull out the camera and snap a photo of the boys talking with the survivors - seemed to trivial in the midst of the discussion.
14 comments:
What a memorable day, thanks for posting about it too. I know your younger kids studied this (on their own level of course) recently, and I'm assuming the older ones did too.
What a great day! If you remember where they were from in Tucson, let me know. I'd like to visit sometime if they have a museum or something...
The quilt is awesome. Ties in so wonderful with your all's history quilt you've been working on.
Jen in Az
Oh my! Thank you for posting this. After today's frustrations I needed this to gain perspective. What they've lived through makes my daily challenges seem trivial. Appreciate the perspective check. The history of the words is sobering. Your comment about historical events leading to it and how they compare w/today intrigues me. Please share more if so moved. Thank you, De'Etta.
what an amazing gift to be able to learn from survivors first-hand...I hope my kids will have an opportunity like that some day...thanks so much for sharing...
blessings, amy :-)
I would have loved to be there! We studied WWII all year. It is very sad that the survivors are aging and dying. Around here, they are trying to change the way they teach WWII in the schools. They are wanting to say the Holcaust never happened! When all the survivors are gone, they just might be able to pull that off. So very, very sad!
The quilt is beautiful.
Kelly,
I've heard that they are trying to push that line in our local public schools as well. Some groups around here have had someone who survived who lives in our state come to speak. I should look that person up and see about having them come to speak to our co-op since we'll be studying TOG year 4 this year.
DeEtta, thanks for sharing.
Yes - we HAVE been studying this. The younger kids didn't come - it was an "adult briefing" and I'm glad they weren't there. BUT if I worked something out with the base to let us borrow these folks they DO briefings for children too.
I'll check on the title of the center in Tucson.
Um....one thing... there are some states that have MANDATORY teaching on holocaust and there are many that don't. They try to get surivivors to lecture in schools were it isn't mandatory because it is so important that we realize what happened and not let it happen again. It is a powerful to meet someone who lived through this. Rosa kept saying "the Hungarians turned us over" all along the way....it was because they kept silent that Hitler was able to pull it off.
BTW Hitler ASKED the nations of the world to take the Jews and only the Dominican Republic agreed - none of the other nations wanted the jews and then Hitler got the message and insituted his final solution.
Yes, Darshai - it does give one a perspective adjustment.
Sis:
What a wonderful way for the kids to conclude or add to their WW11 study.
At SHS they have a man who survived that comes every year once a week for 8 weeks to speak to the kids in the history class. AWESOME! I was the EA in the class one year and it was so interesting.
3 SR.from the graduating class for tonight from SHS are in jail. They evidently climed over the fences and spilled cooking oil in front of all doors of the main building, at the doors of all locker bays, on outside walls and windows. What a cleanup that was for the district as they had to bring in maintence men and off duty janitors to clean the mess. Took 6 hours. A couple of kids slipped before everything was blocked off. Those two won't be marching tonight to say the least.
School was interesting today as everyone weighted in on what they felt.......... I only heard one kid who that it was great.
Have to leave soon to help everyone get ready etc.
We only have 4 days left next week.
l/p
Wow, De'Etta, thank you so much for sharing this. I'm sure it must have been tough to listen to, but what a privilege to hear their stories.
I love the quilt. I think quilts are a wonderful way for people to express an event.
Debbie - the quilt was really special. They are going to display it in Tucson. It was really very simple but the fact that each square was made by a survivor was well....inspiring. Each told a story...dates, names, places...
Woo Hoo Mom -another school year almost done - hang in there!
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