These are two works by Martin Mendelsberg, who had a lot of his art up at the Holocaust Museum.  While we were at the museum his works didn't seem very significant to me, but reflecting back it's an interesting, creative way to express a point.  The second picture with the skull made me think about Lessing's article about group thinking, which can be related back to the Nazi party.  It is just so incredible how so many people either acted in favor of the Nazis or remained silent.  The quote that we discussed today in class, about how when they persecuted a certain group I said nothing because it wasn't me, and so on, and when they came to get me, there was no one left to speak.  That just really hit me how we can't just sit around and let these terrible things happen to other people, even if for the sole purpose that you could be next.

I liked how the museum showed several positive things and acts of bravery that happened during the Holocaust.  I never knew about the Bielskis or the "civilization" in the forest.  I wrote down a quote that I liked from Asaela Bielski, who was Tuvia's daughter, I think:

"My father bought my mother a revolver

as a gift, which was for her the symbol of

whatever any young woman wants in a

marriage.  This was for her, the means to

stay alive or to kill herself or to die fighting.

It meant that she would never ever fall into

the hands of the Germans."

I really liked this because it expresses the bravery and fight in these people.  I respect them so much, because they were fighting against so many powerful people.  The attitude that they would rather die fighting than give in is so admirable.

This is a link to a speech given by Elie Wiesel:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_kuKXRLEnY

A few things he said in this speech really stood out to me, and they really apply to our class...

"And now the question is, what does one do with memories?  Any psychiatrist will tell you if you suppress memories, they come back with fury.  We must face them.  Even if we cannot articulate them, we must face them.  And memories are many and varied.  Memories of those who died with weapons in their hands.  And those who died with prayers on their lips.  And let no one say that some were heroes and others martyrs.  In those times, the heroes were martyrs and the martyrs were heroes.  It was heroic for a friend to give his piece of bread to his friend.  It was heroic to go around on shabbat and simply say to his or her friends, "It's shabbat today."  It was heroic to have faith.  It was heroic to be human."

"If we decided to tell the tale, it is because we wanted the world to be a better world.  Just a better world.  And learn.  And remember."

"...But there is something more tragic than that.  When the messenger has delivered the message, and nothing has changed."

"We must become the messengers' messengers."

Regarding the traumatic event called the Holocaust, Elie Wiesel calls for us to listen to the stories, to consider the causes of this time of immense suffering, to remember, and to take action to make changes that make the world a better place.  It is one thing to bear witness, it is another thing to bear witness and take action.  Thankfully, we have the ability to meet people who were in World War II and the Holocaust during our lifetime.  Future generations will not be granted this opportunity, and I think that we need to take advantage of it, and be the "messengers' messengers" by not standing by and letting terrible things happen, and by just being a positive being in this world.