Blog Post #4

Short Passage:

"We did not know where to go.  We were tried; it had been a long, eventful, trying day.  It was completely dark now and the town was strange.  People were suspicions.  Skeletons of bombed-out buildings stood like ghosts against the dark sky.  Germany was a haunted country-still hostile in defeat" (Klein 241).

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The ending was sad yet happy.  The main character, Gerda Weissman Klein survives and does not die through the Holocaust.  But we find out that her close friend, Abek is dead along with his family (Klein 244).  I always love read a story with a happy ending.  People’s problems are not “over” at this end of this memoir.  For those who have escaped or died due the Nazis, their problems are eliminated.  However, for those who are still alive, some conflicts may remain.  Yes, I think that they are most likely to continue to feel the effects of the adversity they experienced. The people from the book will feel their hardships every day.  I doubt that those who lived through the event will ever forget what happened to them and those around them.  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), “is an anxiety disorder that some people get after seeing or living through a dangerous event” (National Institute of Mental Health).  I think that the people in the memoir defiantly suffered from this.  After being exposed, involved, and hurt by the Holocaust their lives will never recuperate or be the same. 

Word Cloud

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Extra Credit Flim Response

I attended the community film night movie entitled, Poetic Justice.  This drama/romance film was released in the year of 1993 and was the second movie Tupac Shakar was featured in during his career.  The main character, Justice who is played by Janet Jackson, has dealt with a lot in her past.  Tupac on the other hand played a character named, Lucky who trying live a successful and normal life.  He wants what is best for his daughter while trying to keep her safe and earn a living as a postal worker.  He meets Justice at her job where Lucky delivers the mail.  At first they mutually do not like one another.  But as the movie progresses a few obstacles come in their way, but they learn to cope and move on, such as the death of Lucky’s cousin.  After spending time together talking and sharing things about their life, they begin to like each other.  The film  Poetic Justice held my attention the entire time during the film.  I wanted to watch this film not only because it was extra credit, but also because I wanted to learn more about Tupac Shakar and other accomplishments in his life, such as this movie.  I would recommend this drama/romance film to anyone! 

Blog Post #3

         

             This is a literal illustration of Gerda Weissmann Klein as young child.

   This is symbolic representation of loved ones and those in the community who have passed away. Gerda and her family visited the cemetery, “It was only place where Jews could freely enjoy nature.” (Klein 55)

         As this memoir continues Gerda Weissmann Klein is faced with even more difficulties that are described in the pages that I have recently read.  Gerda is finds it truly hard to go on not knowing how her brother is or what he is doing.   Arthur, being her only brother is very near and dear to her heart.  After her and her family finally heard from him and his girlfriend, they were quickly assured he was safe.  But they are still nervous and hopeful for the day he can come home and spend time with his family and friends.  Knowing that Jews are forced to where a Star of David pin and the word Jew in the center of the pin.  Gerda is also faced with the hardship when people around her being killed every day and sent to concentration camps with the Germans.  Not long after her friend’s family was destroyed, her family was to and she herself was sent to a good amount of concentration camp.  I don’t really see any new strategies for coping that are presented in this section of the book.  She stays by her family’s side as she notices more and more.  I think that the Germans are at fault for dealing with adversity in the memoir.  They are ones disturbing the peace among families, friends, and neighbors.  I think the individuals (German soldiers) are to blame for putting others in adverse situations.      

                 

               

Blog Post #2

“It took the Germans Eighteen Days, Eighteen Short Days, to conquer Poland.” (Klein 11)

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Gerda Weissmann Klein, the main character faces a good number of difficulties I this book so far.  She begins the book as teenager and already she has seen and heard many things she should not at her age.  People around her in the town and community are all facing adversities.  Having neighbors and friends being taken over by the Germans is an unfortunate reality she has to face.  The death of some of her family members has also created difficult times for Greda.  “Aunt Anna ran down the scene of the massacre to find her son” (Klein, 14).  Men, women, and children die almost every day.  The thought of her father being ill due to his heart attack, helps her remember what matters most to her.  Her main concern is that she hopes her family can be safe, say together, and say alive during the war against the Germans.  Gerda copes with certain difficulties by sticking to her family roots.  She never disobeys her mom or dad and is always by their side.  She tries to remain busy in adverse situations.  To her family comes first and tries to do anything in order to preserve that gift.  I find that she is very responsible and helpful.  Gerda is very much aware of what is going on around her, especially the war.  If were in Gerda’s shoes I honestly would not know what to do or expect.  The feeling of being scared, helpless, paranoid, and nervous seem like they would always haunt me.  I am brave in certain situations, but this event is on a way larger scale that I do not think I could handle. 

The book that I choose to read during my College Writing class is entitled All But My Life by Gerda Weissmann Klein.  All But My Life is a memoir based on the memories and experiences that Gerda Weissmann Klein has while the Nazis were in Poland.  This memoir is also very similar to The Diary of Anne Frank, since it describes others’ accounts about the Holocaust.  I decided to choose this particular book for a few various reasons.  I have always been intrigued about the Holocaust ever since I was first introduced to the event in the seventh grade.  Although it was very sad time for those individuals, I find it to be interesting.  Because this is a very raw and realistic topic, my attention is always focused on what the text is trying to say.  I really enjoy learning more and more about this subject.  This type of subject is one that you can always continue to learn about from multiple sources at different periods of time.  I expect to learn a good amount of facts and details corresponding to the Holocaust that never knew before.  I hope to understand what the author, Gerda Weissmann Klein is trying to convey through her words.  I hope I can use the facts that I already know to the ones I will learn for this book.  Although I am only on the third chapter in my book I enjoy it.  I think I still need to read more to get a little more attached and in depth in the story.