Night: 3/23/15

Prompt: Describe what was either believable or unbelievable in your reading. Defend your opinion.
Pages Read: 1-47
Author: Elie Wiesel
Translation editor: Marion Wiesel

     Throughout my reading some things took a while for them to settle in. The reason for this being is because some things are beyond terrible that I find it hard to believe. Of course, in a way I do believe them it just takes me a while to adjust to them. All this happened in real life. The fact that it actually happened takes it a while to settle in. If this book were to be fictional I would accept it faster because I know its fiction, fake. This book is not fake, it is real. The Holocaust was and still is a real deal because sit was the first major genocide.

     In the beginning of the book it is mentioned that babies are used as target practice. Moche the Beadle tells Wiesel everything he saw. Which includes shooting babies. "Infants were tossed in the air and used as targets for the machine guns." Why would someone want to kill babies when they barely had time of life? This was on of the things that seemed strange to me but later on I have considered this event true. Another event is when an inmate comes up to Elie Wiesel and asks him and his father for their age. After a small discussion back and forth the inmate forces them to accept their fake age. "'No.' The man now sounds angry. 'Not fifty. You're forty. Do you hear? Eighteen and forty." The reason they are given a different age is because if they are too young or too old they wi immediately be sent to the gas chambers. This I found shocking because they are not even given the chance to prove themselves.

     I find this whole situation hard to believe at first but then it sinks in. All I could really think of is how thankful I am that the Holocaust is over. Even though it does not pertain to me, I know if I were put in a Jew's shoes or any other Holocaust victim's shoes I would die of fear and pain.  

Holocaust AoW Impressions

     It is interesting to see how there are different topics on the Holocaust. The reason for this being, is because the Holocaust was something that left so many impacts in this World that created a HUGE impact all together. Descendants of Holocaust survivors have developed stressed disorders that that makes them feel unsafe. This shows how tragedies could leave fear upon us for many generations. Then there are new discoveries being made today about the Holocaust. More concentration camps have been discovered. For a long time it was 7 thousand camps, now it is 12 thousand camps. Many of the articles were about survivors. One survivor that caught my interest was a woman (do not know name) but she knows how close she was to death until she was informed about it. She went to a gas chamber thinking it was a shower, then just left because she thought the "showers" did not work. Descendants of Holocaust survivors are just thankful that they were born in this World. Also, how all this needs to be kept in memory.

     The discoveries of the camps surprises me because I thought there was nothing more to the Holocaust, but this proves that there may be more. The woman who walked out of the gas chambers alive made me scared for her. If I were her I know I would be very thankful to be alive, although I'm sure she is, everyone as a matter of fact. Learning about the different topics of the Holocaust from my peers gives me more of an inside scoop of how it was during this dark period. I am just glad that all this is over, but not completely. There are definitely still genocides out there, but hopefully they will soon resolve.

Berlin Memorial Activity Reflection

What did you learn?

     What I learned from this classroom activity is the whole process of the German's plan to weaken and get rid of Jews. In the beginning, they placed decrees which would get rid of lawyers and other's that would clash their plan to remove Jews. Slowly, Germans placed other laws which eventually left Jews with nothing. Basically, their freedom was taken away.

Why do you think this monument was built?

     I think this monument was built as a remembrance. If people learn this and never forget about it then it may never happen again. Though, this would only happen if one is educated well enough on this topic.

What did you notice about the number of laws passed in certain years?

     I noticed that the number of laws were less when it came to the olympics. Trying to hide their plot of getting rid of Jews and their anti-Jew things. I also noticed that the number of laws grew very high the year before Hitler came to power. This is because he still had a high role in power at that time.

Which restrictions do you think you would have the most trouble dealing with?

    One restriction I would have trouble dealing with is mostly all of the things we reviewed in class. There was one where it prohibits Jews to go to a specific school. I think I would have trouble with that because I would like to be in an environment where we all coexist. I would also have trouble with not being able to go to theaters, concerts, exhibits, and beaches. Those are all things that I enjoy going to and someone telling me not to do something is upsetting. Overall, all these laws are unfair for everyone. It is hard to imagine how Jews were able to live like this. Probably, most could not. 

3rd Quarter Reflections

     Two of the books I have read this quarter that is my favorite is either Eleanor & Park or The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. I cannot choose between the two because they are both very different yet left a huge impact on me. Eleanor & Park made me aware that there are people who are going through hardships and I should not be mean to them. Therefore, I should just be nice to everyone because I do not know what they have going on in their personal life. The Absolute True Diary Of a Part-Time Indian made me inspired and hopeful in my life goals. Anyone can achieve anything no matter in what position one is in. The theme of these two books is what made them my favorite.

     In my 40 book challenge I do not know where I am at because I am not keeping track. I like reading books endlessly for enjoyment. Although, I do keep track of the genre I am reading. I like being exposed to different genres and branch out. I have read a book in almost every genre except for auto-biography or biography. Which is basically non-fiction. I just do not know which book to read. Any recommendations? 

     What I enjoyed that was new this quarter is the free choice of AoW's. Gallery walks have helped me gain knowledge of different things around the world instead of just one topic in a week. I also got to know my peers in a way because their article of choice shows me the things that interests them. From there, I am able to interact with them on gallery walks. 

     This quarter I had a journey that made me gain lots of knowledge throughout writing. I have learned how to write argumentative essays along with that is the research. Lots of research needs to be involved. My research has also improved because of the argumentative unit. I am able to find valid information by identifying wether it is bias or not. Word choice, such as adjectives, take a role in bias articles. By knowing this, I am able to make my own conclusion as to which side I am on with argumentative articles.

Bio-Poem - 3/11/15

Arnold Spirit Junior
Sensitive, athletic, intelligent, and artistic
A character in Sherman Alexie's story
Lover of Grandmother Spirit, Mary, and Rowdy
Who notices other's suffering, other's hope, and other's hard work
Who feels useless for his friends, a traitor towards his tribe, and coward to the world

Who learns to be strong during death and his identity in mortality
Who used to think indians can not dream but now knows dreams are endless to anyone
Major character in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
A book that proves how to balance in life without falling and eventually reaching your dream

AoW Impressions - 3/6/15

    From what I have gathered form my peers on international news ISIS is still a huge problem. Only this time ISIS is submitting propaganda online through social media. There is a huge amount of teens that are on social media so now ISIS is got a hold of teens on their side. They also are recruiting females to be their wives. This news really stood out to me because I know ISIS will grow stronger this way. I just do not understand that there would be people in our country who would join ISIS. People recruiting to ISIS from our country shows the different kinds of people our World is made out of.
   
Along with different kinds of people there are different kinds of diseases and bacteria attacking humanity. Some are getting stronger and spread everywhere because of our doing. Almost everything is our doing. Notice I state "our" and not "others" because everyone is involved in something. Parents are rescheduling vaccination dates or either canceling them, thinking it is better for their children. This is false, studies show that children have a higher chance of diseases. There has recently been a measles outbreak in DISNEY PARKS! Just think about that for a minute. Anywhere and anyone could be exposed to diseases. Therefore, parents vaccinate your kids and yourself.

     There were other conflicts that my classmates had mentioned but these two stood out the most to me because most had this. There are so many worries in our World and some are debates, such as, "Should marijuana be legalized for less crime rates?" Then there is, "Is the dress blue and black, or white and gold?" Second, war is a never ending thing. President Obama just granted permission for air strikes. Which is allowing war, in a way...

     Overall, knowing all these new topics popping up every week makes me more aware and included in our society. I find this kind of strange that I feel included but in a way I do. I just hope to hear extremely good news that gets the World's mind off from the bad for a few days. Something that might cause for celebration. Sad truth is, this might not happen, or at least not in my life time.

Comments: Abdiel, Amelia, and Autumn