1. What scenes or images were most powerful for you, and why? What lessons or messages did these seems offer?

The most powerful scene in the documentary was when Kurt, an U.S army solider met Gerda. He approached her outside of the building and they spoke in German a little bit. She showed him the inside of the building where the bodies were scattered on the floor. It was a very devastating scene and Gerda quoted a line from a poem, which made Kurt very emotional. He could not believe that in the condition he found her that she could actually quote a poem that had an ironic meaning. This scene showed me that even though Gerda had been captured and tortured she still felt that there must be good in men. Kurt told her that he too was a Jew. And to Gerta he seemed God like.

2. How did the Nazis dehumanize Jews? How did Gerda Weissmann work to overcome dehumanization, who helped her?

Nazi’s dehumanized Jews by starving them, abusing them, taking their clothes and cutting their hair. Another way they dehumanized the Jews were by stripping them of their names and replacing them with a number tattooed on their arms. They were separated from their family members and feed poorly. They would take away anything that reminded them of their families or their stations in life. She overcame their attempts to dehumanize her by imagining herself free. And she remembered some of the things that her father told her. He made her feel that she would survive. One of the things that her father told her was to wear her ski shoes and that helped her keep her feet health where others were bleeding or infected. Another thing that her father told her was to never commit suicide because that was a coward way to die. He knew that would give her strength when things were very dark.

3. During her ordeal in the Nazi camps, Weissamann says she fantasized about enjoying a simple morning with her family or deciding what dress to wear to an imagined arty 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?

Some of the things that I would fantasize about would be a big bowl of ice cream since I wouldn’t have had anything substantial to eat for a long time. Also, I would dream about shopping trips with my mom when she would buy me new outfit for a first day of school. Finally, I would fantasize about my family thanksgiving dinner where all my cousins come and we eat until we can’t eat anymore and just enjoy being together.

4.This film focuses on the persecution of Jews in the Holocaust, but others also were murdered, including society prisoners of war, Roma (gypsies), gays and lesbians, and communists. 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?

Although, the holocaust ended many years ago, there are still groups who discriminate Jews, Asian, African American, Muslims, gays and lesbians and handicap people and this goes on in our own countries. Hate crimes are reported every year in the United States. Maybe we did not learn enough from the Holocaust. In our country today, there is a lot of talk about illegal alliance, people who came to United States without papers. Hours is a country that was built in immigrants and now it seems like immigrants are being treated like criminals. Discrimination and hate can be found in many places around the world. As a matter effect, genocide is being practiced in some countries where one group of people wishes to wipeout another race in their own country. To help eliminate prejudice and intolerance we have to start young teaching children that different people all have something special to offer. And if we see somebody mistreating another because of their way they look or their religion we should not stand by but we should stand up.

5. In many ways, this film is about hope for the future. Who are the heroes of this film? What did they do that makes you hopeful? What can you do to help make the world a better place?

I believe that heroes of the films were Kurt and the other soldiers who librated the camp, Gerda, and her friends as well as Gerda’s father. The soldiers who saved Gerda and other survivors are the obvious choice because they were risking their lives to safe others. People they didn’t even know. Bur Gerda and her friends are also heroes because the thing that they said each other helped them to survive as long as they did, Gerda’s friend who died made sacrifice at the end of her life giving her the last potato. Gerda’s father was a hero because he gave Gerda a strong will to live which she offend had to rely on to get trough some terrible days. I feel like one thing I can do to make the world a better place is to control my own behavior, making sure that I am always kind and also stand up if someone is being bullied. It maybe a hard thing to do but it is important. You can see that no one stood up for the Jews and six million people died. 

marika #3

            While Marika’s family was trying to hide the fact that they were Jewish other parts of the world were dealing with the attacks from Hitler and the German armies.

During the beginning of the story Marika, Marika’s family began to hear about the unrest in Germany and how a man named Hitler was causing trouble for the Jews in Germany and Austria. At the same time, European countries, as well as The Unites States, also realized that Hitler was planning something evil. In June of 1939, President Roosevelt offered to have a meeting with other nations to try to prevent war. But on September 1^st 1939, Germany invaded Poland beginning WWII. The German’s had a half a million soldiers than Poland. Their weapons and aircrafts were superior. The German’s easily overtook much of Poland with in five days and surrounded the capital Warsaw. Soon, the capital of Poland fell to the Germans. The Polish people were not prepared to overcome the tremendous air power that Germany had. Britain and France realized that they could not convince Hitler to withdraw from Poland so they declared war on Germany.

Since Germany had defeated Poland, the USSR decided to take advantage of the situation and take back land that they had lost during WWI. They also attacked Finland for some land, and a base there. Germany put up with the USSR and planned on dealing with them later. Hitler was busy planning attacks on Britain and France.

When Marika’s family came back from their vacation in Vac, Marika’s father read in the Newspaper about the German’s attack on Poland. That we talked about in the above paragraphs. Marika did not want to face the bad news. She did not want to worry about the German’s coming to Budapest. Although her father was worried. 

Marika #2

The book I read was Annexed and the book that I am reading now is Marika. Both books deal with young people who are faced with serious adult issues. Peter Vanpel was a young teenager who was forced to go into hiding with his family leaving his friends and all his belongings behind.  In the book Marika, The main character is a young first grade girl who is learning about Hitler and the hatred of Jews.  Both of these young people had to change the way they lived. Instead of leaving a normal young life. Each of them, had to adapt to what was happening in the world.

            Peter Van Pel’s family thought that Holland would be a safer palace for Jew’s to live since Holland was Neutral during World War I. Marik’s family thought that changing to Roman Catholic would help them stay safe. Both families would find out that their attempts to keep their family safe were not enough.  Both families ended up having to hide as the German’s began to invade other countries.

            Peter and Marika have some similar personality traits. Both of them are very smart. As matter of fact, Marika could read chapter books even before she started first grade. Peter enjoyed reading romance novels as he dreamed about being reunited with his first love, Liese.  One way that they were different was that Peter was shy and blushed easily. And Marika was strong willed and stubborn. Since Peter was so shy, he spoke seldom, but Marika was talkative and often questioned authority.

One of the differences between Peter Vanpel’s family and Marika’s family is that Peter VanPel’s family was religious. Peter’s mother cried when Peter made her a menorah so they could celebrate Hanukkah, while they were in hiding. They expressed that perhaps they too would have miracle and be free again. However, Marika’s father states that religion is an old fashioned idea so it does not matter if they practice Judaism or any other religion so, they might as well practice Catholicism so they can fit in better during this difficult time. 

Marika #1

The book I am reading is Marika by Andrea Cheng.  The story takes place in Budapest Hungary. Markia’s family wishes to protect her so, all though she was born Maria (Marika) Schnurmacher, she and her family created a fake birth certificate stating that her religion was Catholic. That was a very important fact because of what was going on in the world. There was a Germen leader named Hitler who hated Jews. Marika did not quite understand why her father was always so worried. It seemed like Jews in Australia and Germany were having a very hard time but that was very far away from Budapest. Marika also did not understand why her family didn’t like their last name. Her uncle tries to explain to her that it was a Jewish name and they were pretending to be Roman Catholics.

            While on vacation at their summer home, Marika’s father put up a wall separating his living area and rest of their family. I think he did this to separate himself by the family, and perhaps he is looking to the future and feels that it might be a good hiding place.  Marika has been told that she should not use her hands when she talks because that is a Jewish ways of talking. She has also been told that it is a good thing that she has a small nose because no one would think she was Jewish.  She had a huge Christmas tree that was decorated with the beautiful stars and angels. Her father told her that religion was old fashioned and they might as well be like everyone else, Roman Catholics. I can see that the father is very worried for his family. Because of their Jewish heritage.  Although, the war has not been started yet, Marika’s father and uncle have been stories about their relatives in Austria getting beat up and dragged from the street. Her father knows that in this crazy time it is not a good thing to be Jewish.  

            All of this is very confusing for Marika who was only in first grade. Her behavior reflects this confusion and her father had to talk to her several times about being sensitive to her mother in this difficult time for their family. If I had to predict what might happen to Marika and her family, I would say that her father and uncle will find a way to hide the family if war breaks out and Budapest is not a save place for them.