Rose Jacobs Gibson

     Rose Jacobs Gibson is a strong woman who wants the best for society. She strongly believes in starting out locally in our own communities to make change. She is motivated to find new solutions and proactive approaches to build a more vibrant San Mateo County. Gibson has been mayor twice and has served on as a member of council numerous times. She is the president and CEO of Hagar Services Coalition which implements programs to "restore, rebuild, and renew" communities. She has begun a new project called ILEAD which stands for the Initiative for Leadership Engagement And Development. It's a program that trains the new generation on politics and government. Preparing students like us so we can someday fix what has been broken. She is also the co-founder of HEART (the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo county) which meet the housing needs of those who are struggling.
     Whether it's helping families with their home, drug prevention, or obesity awareness in children...Rose Jacobs Gibson is on it. She wants the world to be a better place, and where better to start then in our own neighborhoods. "Think globally, act locally" is a motto I'm sure Gibson follows. She works and she also travels and speaks to people about how to get involved and make a difference. That is exactly why she came to talk to us at NDNU!

Voices from the Storm

     Dan Bright was another one of those stories about being put in jail by mistake. Except this time, Dan was trapped in jail when Hurricane Katrina hit. Luckily, he was on the higher stories of the jail so the flood couldn't reach him. Most of the inmates on the first floor drowned because all the guards fled outside. Nobody bothered to let the prisoners out as they saw them as no help to society anyways. Dan and other prisoners were able to escape but had nowhere to go since 80% of New Orleans was underwater. They were taken by the police to a bridge were they sat for 3ish days without food and water. The prisoners weren't even allowed to move to relieve themselves...they had to pee where they sat. The city then ordered those who needed safety to the Superdome. Although it provided safety, the conditions were inhumane and miserable. The Superdome was worse than the bridge. It got better after Dan was able to stay with Red Cross and eat a hot meal and a warm shower in a hotel room.

Palestine

     We read two stories on individuals in Palestine and learned of their hardships. The first, Ibtisam, was diagnosed with Polio at the age of two and has always felt different. It wasn't until grade school where she was praised for her paper; from then on she loved to learn. She went to college and eventually worked in a cultural center where she helped kids. These kids had a safe place to play and learn about Palestinian culture since it wasn't taught in school's. However, going back and forth from her home and work, Ibtisam, had to pass through checkpoints. Checkpoints are awful as they stop and examine each person before letting them through; the Israelis are especially mean to the Palestinians. One particular soldier verbally harassed Ibtisam every time she passed a checkpoint. The next story is about Jamal, who came from a long line of fisherman. The Israelis limited the ocean bounds in which the Palestinian fisherman could fish. However, there is barely any fish within the boundary and most fisherman are now left super poor. The Israelis will sometimes harass the fisherman and blow up their boats. Jamal never knows if he will make it home alive each day.
     It was interesting to read about the Palestinians because I have no idea on what is going on over there. Actually, I have no idea what goes on anywhere! Stories like these, make me realize how lucky we are to live in a free country! Our hardships seem so little compared to their everyday life. I mean, imagine if we had checkpoints that took hours on end to pass through!

Human Trafficking Speakers

     I didn't know what to expect walking into the panel of 3 guest speakers who were going to teach me about human trafficking. The first speaker explained the importance of sports in bringing those of every kind of background together. She explained that for a moment, all of one's past troubles are forgotten when involved with a team. She included the fact that being a bystander is just as destructive...just like we learned in the Holocaust. We all have a voice and starts with one person making a difference. She encouraged us to find something we are passionate about and to make change for the better! The next presenter taught us all the statistical stuff about human trafficking. I learned that 1/3 of slaves are children. I also learned that human trafficking is 80% sexual and the other 20% forced labor. After she hit us with reality, she gave us tips on what we can do to help and spread the word. We finally finished up with a speech from a local detective on human trafficking. He explained the importance of training people so we can actually make a change. He gave our little group of 21 importance, and is hopeful that we will spread the news. All in all, it was a true eye opener and I can't wait for the movie!
     I knew that human trafficking was a business that basically involved forced sexual interactions. As they included examples, it made me think of my trip to Utah for volleyball last month. My team was in line at a Subway when a lady came up and taped a "missing person" sign on the door. My assistant coach said that the man in the fancy car looked like a pimp and the missing college student probably ran away. This made my mind turn as I have always been oblivious to these things. I learned tonight that being vulnerable is what human traffickers look for which is really scary knowing all kids fall under that category. It makes my heart hurt because of how messed up our world is. Why is there a demand for sex with minors? I don't understand how an individual can be okay with raping another person, yet here we are; human trafficking is more prevalent than ever! It's disgusting, and this is why we need to get the word out!!!

Capital Punishment

     Capital punishment is a controversial subject and will continue to be tricky for more generations to come. It seems like it should be simple; death or life in prison. However, it is far from simple because it involves taking the life of a civilian. I understand that it can be expensive to kill someone, but it is also expensive to keep one in jail for the rest of their life. In our VOW readings, we learned of 2 cases so far: two individuals being wrongly accused of murder. It would be terrible for one to attain the death sentence and then realize after that they were innocent. I've tried to place myself in the shoes of the family members who's relative is sentenced to death. Would they agree on killing that individual? Or would they fight to save the life of their relative? It's hard to imagine, but this thought process has helped me come up with a conclusion. 

     I don't think anyone deserves to die; however, enough is enough. If one murders an individual, I believe they should get sentenced to life in prison. Their consequence fits their action, unless of course they were wrongfully accused. I think the only people who should be sentenced to death are serial killers. They are psychopaths who are way too dangerous to be let loose among society. Serial killers are individuals who kill more than one person. But, if we are able to catch them after their first murder, there would be no need for the death sentence. In that case, we would only use the death sentence for those who haven't been caught after their first murder. 

     I realize this isn't a yes or no answer. I've never really given this subject any thought, so I should probably think about it more. As for now, this is what currently feeling.  

Voice of Witness

     Voice of Witness is a nonprofit that writes down stories of the unjust and the untold. They have "amplified hundreds of seldom-heard voices, including those of wrongfully convicted Americans, undocumented immigrants, and people in Burma, Zimbabwe, and Columbia." On the Book tab, I recognized our class book as the first one listed. I'm guessing this book is their main one since it has documents collected over the span of ten years. It's going to be really interesting to read about a different kind of unjust other than the Holocaust. Especially since the Voice of Witness doesn't focus on one group of people. Displaced in Columbia was hard to watch as I learned that Rodrigo Mejía and 4 million Columbians have been forced to flee from their homes. The para, guerrilla, and Columbia's own government are trying to be the top dog. Families have a hard time sleeping at night because they are so worried for what can happen. Not only in Columbia, but all over the world. Their non-profit organization is so powerful because they are stories coming from real people and their real situations. 

     I'm excited yet nervous to read our Voice of Witness book because I know it's going to be an eye opener. People around the world struggle every single day to make ends meet and I'm fortunate enough to go to college. It's not fair that fathers can't sleep at night because they are afraid for their loved one's. I have a cozy dorm room and a cafeteria right outside to fulfill my needs. But who is fulfilling there's? Their own country won't take care of them; so what are they supposed to do? Not to say that the U.S. doesn't have problems, because there are plenty of stories in the book. VOW opens the eyes to many, and I can't wait for it to open mine!

Amateurs

     I had no idea what Amateurs was about when a friend asked me to join them last week. All I knew was that it was a show and it was free. As we walked into the theater, I noticed the stage was used not only for the set but for the audience as well. It made me very excited as we took our seat on stage. The set included the open living room of a couple who were hosting the cast from the Timberly Troupers musical. It took me a while to understand that the couple that lived there were actually a couple and not a man and his caretaker. The first scene consisted of getting the house ready for the party like putting out chairs (which the husband did all night), bringing food out, and cleaning. The second half of the first scene is where all the party guests arrived. This is where we met Jacob Rosen (playing the role of Nathan Miller) and later his puppet Horace who's face is the cover of Amateurs. The group talked about their play and eventually brought up stories about past relationships and careers. At the end of the first act, the critic finally arrives. Everybody pesters her about giving them a glimpse of her review. She never gave in of course, but had a heart attack before she could really begin to enjoy the party. After intermission, the critic is gone (in the hospital) and the rest of the party seems to gone as usual. Awkward relationships form between a girl and Horace; relationships also break with Mona and this older man. After all the chairs were brought out, someone finds the critic's review. One guy in particular goes absolutely berserk and nobody can calm him down! It was annoying because he wouldn't listen to anybody and calm down. The play came to an end with Horace forgotten and alone on the couch.
     Amateurs has to be one of the weirdest shows I've ever seen. There was so much going on it was hard to follow. I have to admit: at some points during the show, I was really confused. It was either a sexual joke or random topic (like infected gums) that would throw me off. Everybody in the cast did a good job acting, but it the couples in the play didn't seem believable. With one set for the entire play, I don't know how they all memorized their lines! I spoke with Jacob Rosen the day after and congratulated him on that exact point about memorization. He said it was particularly difficult since he had to memorize his own characters lines as well as Horace's (the puppet). From the cover, and going in to the play with no background, I presumed it would be about a creepy puppet. This was not the case at all! Overall, I didn't like the play as much as I would of hoped. However, I loved the guest star (the one who was constantly grabbing chairs) and Jacob Rosen as his character seemed the most real.

Online Source #5

Five Types of Motivation for Rescue:
1) Moral rescuers

• Had a sense of right and wrong (empathy)
• If they were asked to help, they would never refuse
• Idealogical, religious, and emotional types of morality

2) Judeophiles

• Loved Jewish individuals or people (interactions/relationships)
• Guilty if didn't help (empathy)
• Sheltered those they knew (friends and loved ones)

3) Concerned professionals

• 5% of rescuers
• Diplomats, doctors, nurses, social workers
• Saw them as clients in need

4) Network rescuers

• Motivated by fear of Third Reich
• Focused more on stopping Hitler than rescuing Jews

5) Child rescuers

• Motivation to please their parents with their actions
• Guides, courriers, agents who would take families out of ghettos
• Felt proud and important 

Story: Raoul Wallenberg was arrested by the Soviet liberators as a spy and thrown in jail; never heard from again.

Call to Action Day

     Call to Action Day was a wonderfully planned event put on by our very own Professor McGarry! Our class was fortunate enough to have close and personal interviews with Holocaust survivors. Even though the events took place long ago, our interviewees had recollections of that dreadful time. I got the privilege of hearing from Ursula Pederson and her journey from Poland to England. She was nine years old at the time her parents placed her on a kinder-train. Ursula wasn't aware of what Hitler and the Nazis were doing to the Jews. She described her feelings as sort of a "numb state". Ursula's mother was Jewish but not her father which made the situation a little more safe for her family. Her mother died of typhus after the war and her father was taken and never seen again. Ursula was picked up by a family in England who lived on a farm in the countryside. She felt isolated as she did not speak the language. However, the Red-Cross was able to float letters back and forth between Ursula and her parents before the war began. Ursula's rescuers were always able to find her safety as she lived in ten homes throughout the war. When the war finally subdued, she requested a Visa to come to America. It took over three years, but in 1949 at the age of nineteen, she sailed over on the Queen Elizabeth. When Ursula landed, she reunited with her younger sister and her uncle and aunt with whom she lived with.
     It was rough listening to Ursula as she described the emotional state she was in. She neglected the facts as a defense mechanism when she was younger. Her parents never told her why they were sending her away which made Ursula angry. It was hard for her as a child because she didn't understand why these events were happening to her. She was finally able to accept it when she revisited Poland this last May. It's now a closed book and Ursula can find peace. She finds calm in calamity with her artwork. She said, "as long as I have my art, tea, and some music...the rest of the world can go to hell". I thought this was a humorous statement as she finds joy in the simple things. Ursula can adapt to situations easily, and that's what I think makes her so respected. I really enjoyed learning about Ursula's and who she is because I believe we are quite similar. Calm, cool, collected, shy, compassionate, mentally tough, and doesn't ask for help. No human being should ever go through such a trauma, especially a child who will remember certain events for the rest of their life. Tears were shed, memories were revived, and hope was latched on to.

New Interview Questions

Fanny Krieger

1. How old were you when the events took place?
2. What were your parents occupation's?
3. Was your family religious?
4. Do you remember how school was like after Hitler took control?
5. Did you go straight into hiding or wait a bit?
6. How did the people of France treat you and your family?
7. Were you ever short of food or other necessities?
8. Were you ever separated from your family while in hiding?
9. How did your "rescuers" treat you?
10. How did you cope with the Holocaust emotionally? Did you have hope?
11. Has fly fishing helped in any way, shape, or form?
12. Do you believe people are born good or evil?
13. Have you returned to France since you've left?

Moses of Rovno

     In The Moses of Rovno by Douglas K. Huneke, I read about a German Christian who risked his life multiple times to save hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust. His name was Fritz Graebe and from childhood he was taught to place himself in other people's shoes. Therefore, it was natural for Fritz to stand up for the Jews. In one circumstance during a meeting, Fritz stood up for a local Jewish business owner who disappeared. This led to being put in jail for a couple of years. Later on, Graebe Fritz became a structural engineer for railroads under the Third Reich. He jumped through loopholes to attain as many Jewish workers he could get. He forged papers and created a rescue network that ultimately saved the lives of many Jews. Fritz had the capability of bribing and fibbing to get what he needed to keep Jews safe. The Jewish workers were hesitant at first as they thought Fritz might be faking his generosity. But, he opened many other sites and was able to earn the respect from the Jews. After about a year's work, Fritz heard news of a "Jewish Action" that was to take place. Which is basically a ruthless killing spree and destruction of a town. Graebe Fritz left his wife and son to protect the Jews in Rovno. That night, he ran back and forth, placing himself between Ukrainian militiamen and the powerless Jews. Graebe managed to march them out of town to safety where he was named, "the Moses of Rovno"(63). However, there was an Action that took place in Dubno before Fritz had heard any word. By the time he got there, about 1,500 Jews were already dead, including the Jews under work permits for the railroads. At that moment, there was nothing Fritz could do and those images of that night would haunt him for the rest of his life. Nazi's ripped babies out of mothers hands and cracked their skulls on the sidewalk. They rounded up families and told them to undress before they shot them and piled them into a grave. There was one bullet for each Jew and some weren't even dead in their own grave. Fritz recalls one scene vividly:
                     In a soft, inaudible voice the father said something to his son which
                     caused the boy to look toward heaven. The father's hand moved gently
                     to the boy's head. The other hand pointed to heaven as the father again
                     spoke. The boy was fighting his tears and trying to maintain his dignity.
                    They were so brave. (74)
     I'm still in the midst of reading the book and admire learning about the risk Graebe Fritz took. The Moses of Rovno is a tough book to read because there are so many emotions. I must admit that I've cried on multiple occasions while reading about the torture the Jews had to go through. Nobody should ever be treated the way they were treated. I had to pause and reflect upon how hard their lives were in order to stay alive. Fritz is truly an inspiration as he used his job for good. He was in a position to provide Jewish families with hope and that's exactly what he did despite the consequences. Fritz described that by helping families, he was reminded of his own family which made him push further. I wonder why killing Jewish children didn't affect Nazi's with their own children. Fritz Graebe is a hero and I am honored to interview his son on "Call to Action Day".

Rescuers - #2

     In the next section of Rescuers by Gay Block and Malta Drucker, we read about the altruists of Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. Besides Germany, Poland had the largest number of Jews killed. If anyone were to help hide Jews, the Nazi's had no problem hanging the rescuers in front of town. This was used as a scare tactic to keep the local Aryans from helping the Jews. It seemed as though countries didn't agree with Hitler but they were scared of Germany's power. Hungary for instance, made laws that you couldn't beat Jews. This of course made Germany angry and accusations flew in both directions. 
     Every story is different and that's what makes this book so mind boggling! How did the rescuers do it and how did the rescued respond? Rescuers had to be confident and good actors in order to save Jews as well as their own lives. When a Gestapo entered Gitta Bauer's house, he shuffled through their bookshelf looking for Mein Kampf. He tried to be tricky and ask why the family didn't own Hitler's book. The mother responded with: "You look to me as if you have read only Mein Kampf and nothing else!" The rescuers had to be quick witted to throw off the Nazi's. 

Rescuers - #1

     In the book Rescuers by Gay Block and Malta Drucker we find many recaps of altruists who have saved the lives of Jews. The book is cut up into excerpts by location from which the rescuers hid Jews. This collection of stories is so unique because everyone has a different perspective. This section focused more on Belgium and groups who worked underground. The CDJ for instance relocated children to different hiding places and helped Jewish families with financial aid. France itself tried to stay on good terms with Hitler; however, the French people were able to rescue may Jews. Germany was probably the worst place to be a Jew as Hitler's headquarters were there. Surviving the Holocaust involved a race against time, luck, and connections.
     I remember hearing about a young women who saved Ilse for 9 months. It was interesting because she noted that "marriages where the woman was the Jew were in less danger than vice versa." Ilse's rescuer didn't want to accept her medal because she feels too ashamed to be German. Madame Orsi and madame Guth risked everything to help the Jews. They sold their jewelry and rationed their food. They both realized that everyone isn't as nice as they once thought. Even though they struggled, they would do it all over again. And that's the beauty of an altruist!

From Clouds to Dust

     Matt Black's collection in the Wiegand Gallery was made up of about 20 images of migrant labor in California and Mexico. Black describes it as "the place of the cloud people" for they are pushed north to work in California. He has been working on his collection for the past 20 years since he got out of college. The gallery demonstrates all the indigenous regions near the Central Valley. The Valley represents 40 billion and half of US food production. Black chose to print his photos in grainy black and white because he tried to capture a vision of the past. Generation after generation repeating it's schemes in the society. Matt Black is reporting through his photos to make people question if there should be change.
     I enjoyed visiting the Wiegand Gallery because the pictures were truly eye-opening. Most all of his photos had the scene suffering and hard work. One picture that stood out to me was the one of the man blowing on a tuba as the town was celebrating a day of the saints. However, I noticed that none of them looked happy to be there eve though it was a celebration. Perhaps it was a celebration of mourning like the people of Párá did for Dorothy Stang? Another photo that stood out to me was the one of 3 migrant workers plowing a field with a black lab in the middle of the picture. The dog has it's tongue sticking way out which tells us a lot about the weather. There is no shade and the migrant workers are wearing big hats to try to protect them from the heat. My favorite photo is with the two men picking plums. The camera angle gives the picture a cool perspective. It makes us wonder who the man is on the ladder.

USC Shoah Archive

     The USC Shoah archive is a very useful tool as it has collections from all different types of tragedies throughout history. I started with searching for a certain place which took me to Detroit, Michigan. Vivian Spitz was a war crimes trial participant. I learned that her dad was the town drunk and hung himself in his cell when she was only 17. She sat in on a big case and since that particular trial, people asked her to speak about it. I then found myself listening to Stefan Kosinski who was a homosexual survivor. His families home was seized in Poland and the food was rationed so he didn't get the right nutrition he needed. He was able to get a job as a choir boy and would deliver messages for the director's wife.

     I then continued on to the index, where I came across "abductions." Gary Matzdorff told a story of how he was a young boy and his friend's bicycle got run-over by a Japanese truck. The driver came out in uniform and tricked the kid into kidnapping him. His family fled from Germany to a ghetto in China as they were Jewish and were trying to escape the Nazi control. 

     Next, I found Julia van Nordan who was arrested for aiding the Jews. She was a school teacher who had connections with her Jewish students. She explained that society was able to come to the camps and try to figure out if their friends or family were in the camp according to the numbers they received. She had such good connections that the resistance gave her weapons! The German's didn't seem to mind that one of their Nazi's was killed by the resistance which surprised them. She lived in  hiding for a month in an apartment because the Nazi's new she was part of the resistance. They had a false wall where they printed fake coupons and identities. 

     I wish I had all the time in the world to listen to more testimonies but alas, that is impossible. The Shoah archive will be a useful tool as we continue to learn more about the Holocaust.

Besa

     Norman Gershman decided to adventure out on a little project. He wanted to travel to Albania and listen to the stories of Muslim rescuers who saved over 2,000 Jews during World War Two. As an artist, Gershman also took photographs of each of the rescuers. Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe but they seemed to have the biggest of hearts. The king of Albania at the time made orders to not turn away any Jews. With that, over 400 passports were handed out, and some even received visa's. Like all Jews in Europe at that time, they had to blend in to their surroundings. Most Jewish women would have to put on a hijab to blend into society. Jews also had to eat cheese with their meat even though that is forbidden in Jewish culture. Muslim families would even hand over their businesses to Jewish families so they could work and seem like they belong. As someone stated in the movie, "let them kill our family before they kill our guests". It was particularly hard for the children as they learned quickly when to be quiet and when not to make eye contact. They were given to Muslim families so their lives could be saved. One of these children happened to be Aaron who was placed in the hands of the Hoxha family. Aaron's parents had to flee but his father left 3 important Jewish books in the hands of the Hoxha's. Mr. Hoxha ended up dying but made his son promise him that the books will get to Aaron. This type of promise is called a Besa, which is what the movie title happens to be. A "besa" is keeping a promise no matter how hard it is to keep. It was Hoxha's mission to find Aaron even if Aaron didn't want the books back. When they were finally able to meet up in Israel, Aaron wasn't fond of the idea of thinking back to those tough times. Turns out, his parents didn't treat him with any affection and he felt disconnected. The beauty is, Hoxha's parents came in and treated him like one of their own. Remembering his past brought Aaron to tears and Hoxha felt like he passed the torch as he completed his best. However, it wouldn't of been made possible without Gershman, as he searched for these Albanian rescuers and their stories.
     I loved this movie because Norman Gershman had such a great idea and actually put it to action. Traveling to Albania and finding rescuers had to of been tricky, but he did it nonetheless! Each story is unique and that's what made the movie so appealing. Especially learning about new cultures and religions. I think it's important to not only observe how the rescuers felt but the Jews as well. The movie allowed us to see both sides and then come together in harmony at the end. I loved Gorshman's idea to photograph each rescuer with a pose or item that tells a story. It makes the situation that much more meaningful. We can learn a lot from the Albanian's who saved over 2,000. Where can we get that strength and courage? Well, we get it from examples and Besa was that example!

Man's Search For Meaning - 94

     In this section of Man's Search For Meaning, Frankl describes how bad the camp really got. It was luck that chose who would live an who would die. After volunteering for a position as a typhus doctor at a new camp, Frankl remembers that "cannibalism had broken out"(56). He could of starved to death but fate brought him to a new camp. Another instance was when transporters came to supposedly "rescue" the prisoners. Frankl was left in the last group which fortunately saved his life as the rest of the transports were burned in tents. Many a time, Frankl and his friend planned to escape but of course that can be very risky. It all came down to decisions and mental toughness. Even through rough conditions, the prisoners tried to make their suffering worthy of an achievement. Those who gave up hope seemed to die off quickly as there was nothing left to hold on to. Their bodies are weak, so they have to rely upon the spiritual and psychological part to get them through. Frankl felt compelled to give a few words of encouragement to his hut as they went a day without food to protect a fellow prisoner. He talked about the future and sacrifice. But most importantly Frankl reminded them, "that which does not kill me, makes me stronger"(82).
     Frankl describes the minds of the guards and is baffled on how man can treat men like animals. He goes on to say that their are two types of men, "the "race" of the decent man and the "race" of the indecent man"(86). When Frankl and is peers were set free, they couldn't feel any sense of pleasure. They forgot the feeling of happiness, it had to be relearned over time. A beautiful quote is said by Frankl as he realizes that freedom is really his: "I called to the Lord from my narrow prison and He answered me in the freedom of space"(89). After liberation, many prisoners were bitter and used their story as an excuse for bad behavior. Others had a hard time copping with the reality that their loved ones weren't there to welcome them home. Frankl gives us detailed snapshots of how life was really endured during and after the Holocaust. It truly is fascinating since the prisoners could feel no joy as that white flag came up.

Man's Search For Meaning - 41

     In "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl, we learn about what it was like first hand in Auschwitz. Frankl explains everything about the camps from the first train ride, to building railroads, to food rationing, and so forth. Lucky for Victor Frankl, he was sent to a labor camp instead of a gas chamber like most of the Jews. He mentions the tricks he was taught in order to stay alive: "Shave daily, if at all possible, even if you have to use a piece of glass to do it"(19). This allowed the men to look younger and more capable of sticking around for work instead of being thrown into a gas chamber. Frankl witnessed so many horrors at Auschwitz that it became normal. Men would scavenge the shoes off of a dead man in hope to avoid frostbite. But who can blame them? They were merely trying to stay alive! Everyday was a struggle mentally and physically. Frankl was able to keep himself focused on the beauty of nature around him. The mountains and sunset gave him a glimpse of hope to carry on. However the main aspect that kept Frankl working was his beloved wife. They were parted physically but he knew they were together spiritually. Frankl would talk to her while building railroads to keep himself occupied. Nobody should ever go through such a trauma but Victor Frankl did, and he overcame it. Not only that, but he built up the strength to write about it and share his work with the world.
     The whole book up to page 41 has been really depressing. I can't put the book down, because it's truly unbelievable how the Jews were treated. It's amazing how eager the German people were to look for a hero, that they were brainwashed by Hitler. Victor Frankl constantly describes the land around him and is awestruck by it. I too sometimes have to just pause and take in the beauty of nature. Food was also a big problem in Auschwitz as they were malnourished and expected to work all day. The horrors Frankl and the other prisoners went through just stops you in your tracks when you think about it. But how come the Nazi's didn't stop in their tracks when they were rounding up their neighbors? This is why Man's Search For Meaning is so important.

From Cruelty to Goodness

     In Philip Hallie's article, From Cruelty to Goodness, Hallie starts off by describing the research he's done on negative ethics. He learned all about the different definitions of cruelty which eventually led him to study the hurting of human beings. Many times throughout history, there have been moments where one group of people are stripped from all human qualities and treated like animals. Whether it be the Holocaust or slavery, Hallie paints us a picture of cruelty towards the victim. We would think that kindness is the opposite of cruelty, but Hallie explains that it is not. The only good that can come out of cruelty is freedom. The people of Le Chambon were able to give the Jews freedom as they kept treated the children like their own. As Hallie went further in his research, he realized that good can come out of evil. It's the matter of choosing to look for the goodness or not.
     I enjoyed the examples Hallie gave as he talked about cruelty and goodness. It painted a clear image to what it must of been like during those times. It was confusing when Hallie mentioned that kindness is not the opposite of cruelty because it's true in a sense. A Nazi for instance can be kind for one day and then totally change the next day. Kindness doesn't guarantee freedom, which was mind boggling as I read that passage over a couple times. I think it's important that Hallie included the story of the villagers in Le Chambon. It reflects that their is hope for humanity and it teaches us how to act when others are in need. Hopefully from these experiences and these articles such as Philip Hallie's From Cruelty to Goodness we can learn to overcome nature's evils.

Done!