Research blog 5

The quality of transportation of Jewish people during the Holocaust was similar to transporting animals. They were mostly transported via cattle car, a train with a small car on it that the Nazis would stuff with people. They had to wait in these cars for long periods of time, during which they had to remain standing. When they arrived, they were loaded off like cattle, and herded towards an officer who would advise them on where to go. Just like cattle, they were herded to slaughter.

Comparison blog 4

The characters in Emil and Karl and Annexed are being affected by the same problem, but are very different and unique in how they cope with it. Emil and Karl run and hide everywhere they can, while Peter stays in one place. All of the characters have someone they love taken away from them. Emil and Karl lose their parents and Peter loses his girlfriend. The characters have a large age difference as well; Emil and Karl are children and Peter is nearing 20. This results in them handling the problem in a variety of ways. Emil and Karl, as I said before, run and try to find someone to help them and they found a kind hearted person whenever they tried. Peter on the other hand, has to stay with a family he hates and if he tries to run away, he will be killed or worse.

Answers to One Survivor Remembers

1. I think the most powerful image was the thought of being able to do nothing but fantasize about a normal day. This made me think that most people take a normal day for granted.

2. The Nazis would take all of the Jewish peoples' possessions, take their clothing and shave their entire bodies. Gerda had a caring woman looking after her and many loyal friends.

3. If everything were taken away from me, I would miss my bow the most. When I first began archery, I believed the bow was just a weapon, but as I progressed I discovered the bow isn't just a tool to shoot and kill, it is also a tool to bring peace to the archer. I think that in that time of loss, peace would be much needed.

4. Even today, Jews are discriminated against. We can help by making it known that everyone is different, but should be treated equally.

5. To me, the heroes of this film were the American soldiers because we helped out everyone in Europe and this was the American's decision. I'm glad that there have always been people who've wanted to help out each other and I'm positive those sort of people are still around today.

Beginning of Annexed

The story begins with Peter van Pels leaving his home and heading to a ghetto known as the Annex. He has been forced to leave because of his faith and the consequences of him remaining could be very serious. The Van Pels' neighbors and friends have been attacked and taken by the Nazis and on his way to the ghetto, he discovers his girlfriend is being taken to a camp. Nobody ever got the chance to say goodbye. He arrives at an office building and heads up a few flights of stairs. He enters the temporary home of his least favorite people, the Franks. This is where he will wait... for either salvation or death.

Emil And Karl Beginning

The book "Emil and Karl" by Yankev Glatshteyn starts right with action. It begins with men infiltrating Karl's home, taking his mother, and beating him up. He has no idea why these men came seeing as he and his mother weren't Jewish and it was Nazi soldiers who took his mother away. His first action is to go to his best friend's house. Emil and his family are Jewish and the same thing happened to him recently, but the men took away his father. Normally, Emil's mother would tell Karl to go home because she didn't trust him, but this time she let him in without even caring. The reason she was so careless was she was shocked by the unexpected kidnapping of her husband. Karl explained what happened to Emil and his mother, but only Emil reacted. Karl spent the night at Emil's house and when they woke up, Emil's mother was in the same spot as before, occasionally sobbing. After trying to get her attention for a few hours and failing, the rabbi came to their house to check on them. After seeing the state Emil's mother was in, he had some people take her to the doctor. Emil and Karl then went and slept in the basement of Karl's apartment building because they had nowhere else to go. The next day the janitor found the boys and took them in. Both Emil and Karl were now without parents, and had to find some way to get back the family members the Nazis took away from them.

Inferences on Night

Today we read a small passage from the book "Night". In the passage, it describes the ordeal of a group of Jews, traveling to what I think is a work camp. I'm not entirely sure where this passage is in the book but it seem's as if the characters have already been introduced so they don't actually show many names in this passage. Throughout the passage, it shows the problems the group of Jews are facing such as small, uncomfortable spaces on a train, rude German soldiers yelling and making fun of them, and having to endure hours upon hours of being near a madwoman who is constantly screaming "Fire! Fire!". It's difficult to imagine how terrible this situation would be, since the characters have obviously been taken away from their families and are heading into enemy territory.

You Make Your Own Endings

Last summer I read a series known as The Last Apprentice. It's possibly one of the darkest books I've ever read but also the most interesting because it isn't the usual sort of good guy vs. bad guy and the good guy saves the day and they live happily ever after. No. This series is the exact opposite. Everything ends in the hero's favor however there's always some sort of consequence that comes with his victory. I enjoyed that the author wrote a story with a somewhat realistic ending. These books demonstrate that even the darkest parts of life can be fought through. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Regardless of what happens there always is some way of getting through it. It won't always be a happy ending, but then again, there's always an ending. It's your choice as to whether or not it's happy. The outcome is always in your power. You just might not know it, but, the faster you realize you make your own endings, the better.

Kobe

The Meaning of The Flower Garden

Today we read a short story by Shirley Jackson, called Flower Garden. It's about a woman who moves into a small cottage in a welcoming little town. After living there for a short time and hiring a black gardener, she is ridiculed by the town so much until she decides to leave. When I first began to read the story, I didn't know what to expect from it but the main thing that screamed out during the story was conflict. To be more specific, person vs. society.

In this story society gangs up on one woman and eventually insults her to the point of leaving. This story also showed that you have to choose friends wisely. The main character in this story, Mrs. Winning, had the opportunity to keep Mrs.MacLane (the newcomer), in town but feared if she told her people would ridicule her, she would have lost her friend. In this story she decides to pass up the opportunity and she loses a friend and any chance of getting her back. A quote by Benjamin Franklin easily relates to this story. "Leap at opportunities as quickly as you would a conclusion.".

This story's meaning and message to the reader is to always leap at those opportunities and good things will come. It also displayed that society can be very cruel at times. Those who do make choices that will be ridiculed need to stand strong by those choices, however, the woman in this story does not. Individualism is not a crime. You will sometimes be picked on. You may even get hurt but think about this. If you suddenly decide to become someone your not, then you're no better than the people that made you do so. This will also strip you of your individualism, causing you to be another average citizen. Always stand by your choices. Always be yourself. Always be an individual.

Kobe Harvey

Using Simplicity to be a Good Steward

Fulfilling responsibilities is a very difficult thing to do, especially when it’s your choice whether you do them or not. Like taking out the trash, you don’t NEED to do it, but it’s something that you are requested to do and it will benefit you and others if you do it. Earth day uses the same principle. If you DO choose to take action to help the Earth, then you will be helping yourself, and the entire world.


Since our SPICE this year is simplicity, we thought of ways that we could help the Earth using simplicity as our guideline. The connection between simplicity and stewardship is actually very strong. Simplicity involves living life with few material possessions, and being uncomplicated in your actions. Stewardship means being responsible and careful with your possessions or something entrusted in your care. On Earth Day, people use stewardship to try and change the Earth for the better. However, without really knowing it, they also focus on simplicity. When you turn out the lights and other electronics to save power, you are acting simply by not using those devices. Here’s a video to show you how important it is to take care of our planet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-bhphs4QOw

This video tells you that even the smallest differences, like recycling a single can or bottle, makes a huge difference in the world, which is why this week’s query is so important.

This week’s query is: How can we focus on simplicity and be good stewards?

Sources:
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stewardship
www.values.com/stewardship

Simplicity

"Nothing is more simple than greatness; indeed, to be simple is to be great." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Simplicity to me means no extravagant or unnecessary purchases. A simpler way of defining it would be a "cozy" lifestyle. Quakers are a perfect example of simplicity due to their acceptance and peaceful way of life. I wish I lived more like that but I have always struggled with it. However now that I'm beginning to see their attitude I'm starting to work on my greed. So far I believe I've come far but I'm still not there yet.

The thing that seems so blatantly obvious as simplicity for me is nature. I think this due to nature being the most primitive and amazing part of life. If we learned to live with nature instead of using it up for our own personal gain, I believe many people will share my view.

I believe the best example of simplicity from nature is plant life. It doesn't harm anything at all except for us because we haven't learned to live with it. I'm not saying everyone should just drop every thing, have their house destroyed and live outside, I'm saying that if we found a way to live that wasn't so dependent on harming nature, then we'll all live a simple lifestyle. The day we do that is obviously not going to be tomorrow or the day after but it'll be the day that there is a worldwide agreement and peace. That's the day where there won't be any racism, religion, or human conflict. Only peace, friendship and simplicity.

Kobe

Homework

Read the simplicity packet.

Choose an idea from the packet and write about it.

Be sure to quote the article or passage you are referring to and make sure you cite your source.

3 paragraph minimum.

Grammar and mechanics must be correct.

This I Believe...

For just about my whole life I've been told there is a God and I would happily pray with my family. I never thought that there wasn't a God because I didn't think I could choose for my self. One day I told my family about this and they were fine with it which amazed me. They told me to pray every time I needed help which I did. Their acceptance pushed me to tell my friends and that day I began to believe in having our own personal opinion. I've always been a Christian and haven't thought of converting. However, I am beginning to become skeptical about whether or not there is truly a God.

I became skeptical due to going to a school called The First Academy where they would always talk about God and think less of those who didn't believe in him. Yet they showed no proof of his existence and only said that others were wrong. I believe that I should be able to hold off from a religion and choose to believe in God or not until I have actual facts of his existence. I am still Christian but until I have actually seen or have proof of his existence I will never truly have a preferable religion. I enjoy the freedom of having an opinion and believe that we should allow everyone to have their own opinion, however, most religions are not like that. They are almost always stating that they are right and others are wrong. They believe they have proof but never show it.

Atheism states that there is no God. I do not believe or disbelieve in God and its terrible that some people don't have the choice to do the same, due to a highly religious family or something along those lines. I acknowledge the fact that some people believe in God, Buddha, or Allah and I won't tell them otherwise until I know for sure there is or isn't a God.

Kobe