MOT, Research Trip

MOT, Research Trip

I came to the Simon Wiesenthal Center/ Museum of Tolerance on January 21st with my friend Diane. We came in and were introduced to themes during the orientation. Prejudiced and unprejudiced doors were introduced to us, the unprejudiced door was locked. We then watch a movie on power of words. The museum was after Simon Wiesenthal, a survivor of the holocaust, he had 89 family members taken. He is commemorated for his harsh life. Words have consequences. There's a small demonstration after the intro movie. The movie was about history’s racist events. Ie blacks, Jews, and even World Trade Center tapings. We all sit down and are presented with a TV program that is used with button questionnaires. Its about the choices we have to involve ourselves with biological warfare, refugees, violation of human rights, and other evil problems. “better world for the new millennium" Next we had a terrorism survey. We are now on a center stage of world assault. Chilling precursor of future attacks. Sep 11 was different, specifically made to kill as many. Attack on us life not even govt. Vivid reminder is ww2's Japan attack. Israel has daily bombings, random bombings everywhere ie schools discos and any public place. Suicide bombings are considered a tactical decision. Chemical weapons are an ideal choice for terrorists, relatively inexpensive to reproduce, but the still destructive. Anthrax is the poor mans atomic bomb. Ethnic profiling raises a question. They advise us to tell our political figures to make a difference and the future is ours to make. Next up, we are on our own to explore the area. We first went to the point of view diner, more questionnaires were asked. Opinions were given. After the Point of View diner, we watched another movie. It was about crimes against humanity and genocide type actions. When hatred goes unchecked the worst is expected The Nazi holocaust was 1939 to 1945. Cambodian genocide was in the 70’s. 800,000 butchered here. The Rwanda genocide was a horrible event. Even schools became killing grounds. In our time we have occurrences of human rights and abuse. Millions are starved in North Korea. They were forced to be condemned to camps; some kids grow up there to be adults. Another example of the depth of hatred was the reporter who was captured and beheaded. This was an unfortunate event. The next exhibit was on Germany in the 20s, after losing the first was Germany felt humiliated. Marches in the streets were a daily routine. Communism is what it was. They wanted to control it all. Other countries sat back and watched. They wanted to get rid of the Jews started in 1919. Why did people listen to Hitler? At the beginning, they didn’t. This was soon to change. After prison he became a political speaker. His respect and political status was growing. He exploited the hopelessness of the Great Depression. He wanted to free Germany of the power of the Jews, which wasn’t even a problem. Anti-Semitism was the poison. Propaganda was everywhere, discrediting Jews of even being real people. The propaganda was found in newspapers and graffiti all over walls in Germany. These hate campaigns would continue. When times are hard they needed a scapegoat. They attacked the Jews of being capitalist abusers. They considered Jews, blacks, and the mentally disabled as subhuman. A book was in the Jewish peril, protocols of the learned elites of Zion. It also stated that Jews were less than human, so they treated them that way. When Hitler was not even a citizen of Germany, he was running for president. People supported him. 1932, Nazis became more active, for Germany another election was on the horizon. He soon became chancellor. He first suspended civil liberties with his brand new power. Using and abusing was the name of the game for Hitler. Jews were expelled at schools both teachers and students put to his. "Repeat a lie long enough, and people will believe it" 1935 new legislation took out Jew rights. Jews can't get married or have sexual intercourse, things of that nature. The Vatican recognized the Nazis, still no one intruded. The Olympics were still held that time period in Germany. 1938 they discussed the Nazi problem, none really wanted to help. Austria didn't want anything to do with them. The world stood silent as Jews scrubbed the streets in front of officials. Crystal night was a night they burned and looted Jewish stores and businesses. England was the only country to retaliate against the Nazis. They organized the deportation and killings of Jews while they were in the war with the rest of the world. Anti-Semitic were all around. They helped. They used chemical methods, shootings for mass murders. Other individuals were also killed such as intellectuals, mentally ill, and blacks but the major penetration was on Jews. Some would try and leave, they were refugees. Many were captured and killed. They risked attack from both sides. They tried to go to Palestine, the Jewish country, their homeland. Men, women, children, the elderly all killed, butchered, tortured, and murdered. It was an organized mass murder. There was still a Jewish resistance by rogue Jews; they would blow up railroad tracks to hinder supply freights of the Nazis. They did what they could. They moved all of living Jews to the ghetto. They would place so many people in only 2 square miles. Disease and death were apparent. Resettlement was gas chambers. Nazis told the men and women they were going to resettlement, but it was really their end. They gave them bread and jam at least before the massacre. Only a few knew what was going on. Jews from the ghetto rose up in revolt. They dared to fight them. Ghetto fighters lasted for a month against the Nazis. More death for the Jews but at least they had the honor and strength to retaliate.. Railroad lines took them to systematic mass murders. Major death camps specially made to kill the Jews were found all over Germany, found in Poland also. Deportations didn't stop. The allies tried to invade the Nazis. Simon Wiesenthal said "Hope lives when people remember." A few survivors told their story. Daughters and sons taken from their parents, all killed. Countries were soon to be liberated. Germany lay in ruins after all of this. Germany radio announced Hitler was dead. Americans were the saviors. . On May 8th 1945 Germany surrendered. Six million Jews and a million others had perished at the hands of the Nazis. After the freedom though, where can they go, some went to America, others would struggle and strive in their home country Palestine. It’s time that the Jews and the rest of the world will never forget.