Aushwitz-Birkenau, Poland - July 1944
The girls at the latrine had a point -- You need to be strong to survive more than a short while there. The stew might be made of twigs, but at the very least they're feeding them. The poison puddle was also crafty... Who would have thought to lure people out with a necessity, only to have it be their downfall? And it worked so easily with the crowd...
Ah, the mysterious Mrs. Paskusz... Is she friend or foe? She produces news and sermons, but who is to say that she isn't one of the guards in disguise? That she isn't another Kapo in a kinder shell? There are those to trust while in the camps, and those to be cautious of. I suppose we'll have to see where her kindness leads.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Chapter 6 - Arrival
Kaposvar, Hungary and Auschwitz, Poland - July 5-July 8, 1944
The lies they tell people.... It was probably to make things go more smoothly, but why bother with that when you're throwing people out of a train, and the old & insane people onto a funeral pyre to be set on fire? It's sad that they'll never see Nana again, though...
The lies they tell people.... It was probably to make things go more smoothly, but why bother with that when you're throwing people out of a train, and the old & insane people onto a funeral pyre to be set on fire? It's sad that they'll never see Nana again, though...
NEED TO KNOW FOR S.O.S.
This is what Mrs. Gunn told us to type out for you guys.
Judit/Jutka - other names for Judith
Dr. Biczo - her favorite teacher
Ilona - Judith's best friend
Jani - Her father
Rozsi - Her mom
Anti - childhood sweetheart
Magda - Her favorite aunt
Peter (Peti) Hanak - her first "serious" boyfriend
"interesting things"
- Magyar - ethnic group known as the Hungarian people. The name Magyar is considered very patriotic
- The Jewish laws that were mentioned - laws that were "negotiated" between Germany/Hungary to suppress Jewish culture --- In return, Germany "agreed" not to invade Hungary... Right. Cause that just lasted so long.
- Gentile - Someone who is not Jewish
- Anti-Semite - someone/something who is against Jews or Jewish culture
- Aryan - anyone descended from northern Europe.... usually blonde hair/blue eyes
Judit/Jutka - other names for Judith
Dr. Biczo - her favorite teacher
Ilona - Judith's best friend
Jani - Her father
Rozsi - Her mom
Anti - childhood sweetheart
Magda - Her favorite aunt
Peter (Peti) Hanak - her first "serious" boyfriend
"interesting things"
- Magyar - ethnic group known as the Hungarian people. The name Magyar is considered very patriotic
- The Jewish laws that were mentioned - laws that were "negotiated" between Germany/Hungary to suppress Jewish culture --- In return, Germany "agreed" not to invade Hungary... Right. Cause that just lasted so long.
- Gentile - Someone who is not Jewish
- Anti-Semite - someone/something who is against Jews or Jewish culture
- Aryan - anyone descended from northern Europe.... usually blonde hair/blue eyes
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Chapter 5 - Humans and Apricots
Kaposvar, Hungary - June 1944
So the time for deportation has arrived... When Jutka was talking about the fruit, was she talking of her virginity or being as a whole? Her body will physically will rot in the coming conditions, but the former can and most likely will be taken from her in the coming days or weeks... When there was mention of poison earlier in the book, were they carrying it for themselves should rape be imminent, or were they going to attempt to poison their attackers?
There was so much death being discussed that day... Of fathers committing suicide, of grandfathers dying while in a coma, and of spirits taking a toll.
The young doctor and the old spinster... Married in a stable, making love in the stalls, while four other people inhabit that same small space. 5 THOUSAND witnesses to every sound made. I know they're trying to make the best of a horrible situation, but is it entirely necessary to have sex that often? And that poor old man... Blinded and broken because of a coin collection. These people are taking over a continent, and they feel the urge to torture innocent men and women further than they already intend to do for a few coins? That doesn't even to fit into their "reasons for war" list. The nazis are ruthless in their "motives" and actions. They're already putting these innocent people into concentration camps, raiding their homes, bombing their towns, and sending cartloads of young girls off to be raped and killed by their soldiers. And I know that it seems out of place for me to be talking about a man defending his coin collection while hundreds upon hundreds of young women are being raped, but rape is a part of every war... Every nation has participated in it, whether or not their like to admit it... Stripping people of their dignity seems to be a favorite of war.
So the time for deportation has arrived... When Jutka was talking about the fruit, was she talking of her virginity or being as a whole? Her body will physically will rot in the coming conditions, but the former can and most likely will be taken from her in the coming days or weeks... When there was mention of poison earlier in the book, were they carrying it for themselves should rape be imminent, or were they going to attempt to poison their attackers?
There was so much death being discussed that day... Of fathers committing suicide, of grandfathers dying while in a coma, and of spirits taking a toll.
The young doctor and the old spinster... Married in a stable, making love in the stalls, while four other people inhabit that same small space. 5 THOUSAND witnesses to every sound made. I know they're trying to make the best of a horrible situation, but is it entirely necessary to have sex that often? And that poor old man... Blinded and broken because of a coin collection. These people are taking over a continent, and they feel the urge to torture innocent men and women further than they already intend to do for a few coins? That doesn't even to fit into their "reasons for war" list. The nazis are ruthless in their "motives" and actions. They're already putting these innocent people into concentration camps, raiding their homes, bombing their towns, and sending cartloads of young girls off to be raped and killed by their soldiers. And I know that it seems out of place for me to be talking about a man defending his coin collection while hundreds upon hundreds of young women are being raped, but rape is a part of every war... Every nation has participated in it, whether or not their like to admit it... Stripping people of their dignity seems to be a favorite of war.
Chapter 4 - Our General
Kaposvar, Hungary - Spring 1944
Judith has proved to be an exceptional girl. She is unafraid where others tremble, instead of relinquishing her prized possessions, she finds temporary homes for them.
How much strength of will would it take for you to watch all of your possessions being taken away, those who you thought were friends threatening to steal your house and property from you, and dealing with bombings and constant fear all the while? Could any of us in this country truly say that we could repeat Judith's actions with our heads held as high as hers? I'm glad that her grandfather didn't have to go through the concentration camps at age 84... but it's sad that out of her entire family, that she's the only one who survived.
Judith has proved to be an exceptional girl. She is unafraid where others tremble, instead of relinquishing her prized possessions, she finds temporary homes for them.
How much strength of will would it take for you to watch all of your possessions being taken away, those who you thought were friends threatening to steal your house and property from you, and dealing with bombings and constant fear all the while? Could any of us in this country truly say that we could repeat Judith's actions with our heads held as high as hers? I'm glad that her grandfather didn't have to go through the concentration camps at age 84... but it's sad that out of her entire family, that she's the only one who survived.
Chapter 3 - Four Years
Kaposvar, Hungary - 1939-1943
It seems a bit inappropriate to me that Dr. Biczo has a "harem" of young girls... Instead of spending their time with other girls their age and, heaven forbid, their FRIENDS, this group of girls gathers at every break to talk in his office about different subjects, then carry his books to the next class. Why can't he carry his own books? Or even get a backpack? Perhaps a cart...
Speaking of carts... How can an entire society believe "rumors" like that to be made up? I had just heard about the girls being carted off before I finished the chapter, and I almost didn't believe it. Maybe that was the optimist (meh) in me... I guess I was wrong on that one. Very wrong.
It seems a bit inappropriate to me that Dr. Biczo has a "harem" of young girls... Instead of spending their time with other girls their age and, heaven forbid, their FRIENDS, this group of girls gathers at every break to talk in his office about different subjects, then carry his books to the next class. Why can't he carry his own books? Or even get a backpack? Perhaps a cart...
Speaking of carts... How can an entire society believe "rumors" like that to be made up? I had just heard about the girls being carted off before I finished the chapter, and I almost didn't believe it. Maybe that was the optimist (meh) in me... I guess I was wrong on that one. Very wrong.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Chapter 2 - Grandfather Escapes
Kaposvar, Hungary - December 1938
Their teacher was totally out of line when he went hunting like that. Yes, teachers have some authority over the students, and yes, people are allowed to voice their opinions (albeit inappropriate to do so in the presence of students,) combining those two liberties into a toxic concoction meant to bleed out the souls and beliefs of ones‘ students is amoral.
Along with her Grandfather’s death, Judith also witnessed the slow but steady decay of all she recognized. Her father lost his whistle, mornings lost their joy, and she was about to lose her life as she knew it. Indeed, grandfather escaped. He escaped the world he, and all other semites knew, was about to take a sharp and painful turn for the worst.
“Warte nur, balde, ruhest du auch -- Wait, soon, you too will rest.”
But this “rest” doesn’t seem close at hand. At the very least, not for Judith.
Their teacher was totally out of line when he went hunting like that. Yes, teachers have some authority over the students, and yes, people are allowed to voice their opinions (albeit inappropriate to do so in the presence of students,) combining those two liberties into a toxic concoction meant to bleed out the souls and beliefs of ones‘ students is amoral.
Along with her Grandfather’s death, Judith also witnessed the slow but steady decay of all she recognized. Her father lost his whistle, mornings lost their joy, and she was about to lose her life as she knew it. Indeed, grandfather escaped. He escaped the world he, and all other semites knew, was about to take a sharp and painful turn for the worst.
“Warte nur, balde, ruhest du auch -- Wait, soon, you too will rest.”
But this “rest” doesn’t seem close at hand. At the very least, not for Judith.
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