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The Holocaust only receives four pages in my Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. history text book. That's four pages to account for over six million deaths; four pages to tell the stories of women, men and children burned to ashes by the thousands; four pages to inform our young minds of some of the most horrific events in human history.
Recently, the Holocaust has been thrown repeatedly in my life after reading the novels Night by Elie Wiesel and Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay began my adventure with this event.
Encouraged by my publications advisor and English teacher, Greg Stobbe, fellow sophomore Viviana Hinojosa and I attended the opening ceremony of The Courage to Remember exhibit from The Museum of Tolerance, Sept. 22.
We arrived at California State University, Fresno, lost and confused but eventually ended up in the Student Union Pavilion at about 3:40 p.m. 50 minutes early, we talked about actually getting to meet the survivors, who were scheduled to appear. What questions would we ask them? How much would they be willing to share? Would we be able to tell who they were when they arrived?
A little old lady, whom we later found out was Anna Levin-Ware, came rolling in on a wheelchair next to her husband. Instantly I knew that it was her as those in charge acted with delicacy around her, showing her deep respect. With her first words everything around us seemed to focus on her.
"After this week, I know that I will refuse to watch any longer. I will stand up, not because I think I am right, but because I am human." --Tynin Fries, Opinions Editor
Levin-Ware was born in Grodno in Northern Poland and later married a Hungarian Jew shortly before being taken by Germans in the 1940s to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Her husband -- who was sharing for her because she is in stages of dementia and suffers from loss of hearing due to beatings she took while interned at Auschwitz-Birkenau -- told us of her time in the camps.
Levin-Ware was badly beaten by the female guards at Auschwitz-Birkenau for attempting to open a window. Later Levin-Ware shared how she was placed in a gas chamber, doors locked, ready to die. Then, suddenly, guards suddenly opened the doors and announced that any Hungarians were to leave, including her by marriage. To her surprise, they removed her from the chamber.
But to her horror, she could only listen as the sounds of panic slowly became silent, marking the deaths of those left inside. Throughout her time in the camps, her mother, father, brother and baby sister were killed by various means and times. Along with other parts of her story, she showed the audience a picture of her assembled before the Nazis of her camp when she was in her 20s.
In history classes, we learn the dates, names and facts about this catastrophic event, but what should we really be learning? The answer is the stories of human beings; their stories of being degraded and abused by other human beings to the point where death becomes the norm.
Us, we, my generation needs more than just four pages; we all need experiences that teach us just what mankind is capable of. These stories of the survivors will eventually become nonexistent, as, in a few years, no survivors will be alive. We need to continue to teach their stories in order to help keep their miraculous lives recognized.
Wiesel writes in Night, "Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed. Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never."
If Wiesel remembers with full clarity what he experienced, how can we allow the world to forget? How can we ignore the death of over six million people, just because they were born with the title, "Jew."
The scary part is that not only did the Holocaust happen in Germany, but similar events occur all the time. It happened in France at the Velodrome d'Hiver, in Greece and even prevailed in America with the Japanese-Americans.
This experience will stick with me forever. I am blessed to be able to say that I met a Holocaust survivor and heard a firsthand account of her life. These years need to be remembered, the stories need to be told and those deaths need to have a purpose.
With this week, I learned more than I ever expected. This knowledge drives me to study events such as the Holocaust and keep it my goal to encourage others to do the same.
We need to remember we are all human, none of us can blame another for this event because even those not involved stood by, watched and did nothing. After this week, I know that I will refuse to watch any longer. I will stand up, not because I think I am right, but because I am human.
The exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m daily through Monday and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday. For more information call the museum at (299) 355-1325.
For more opinions, read the Sept. 20 article GOP debate offers trail run for candidates.
For more information on The Courage to Remember, visit Fresno State's online paper, The Collegian, and read Holocaust exhibit visits Fresno State.
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Posted by "Elise Porter" on September 28, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
Great article, Tynin! I would encourage you to read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, if you haven't already. It's a truly touching story about a woman who maintains her Christian faith while in the camps.
The only thing I have to say, to call the Japanese internment a Holocaust is a bit of a stretch. Yes, it was a horrible invasion of privacy and theft of personal liberties. But, it was certainly not a genocide.
Newberg, OR
Posted by "Chelsea Wathen" on September 27, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
Tynin,
As a past Feather staffer myself, I was deeply touched to see that girls I was once taking out to lunch for sister to sister are now writing amazing articles that are impacting a student writer for a college newspaper.
The Feather taught me everything I know and gave me a love for writing, which I can already see you have as well. I am completely impressed with this article; you did an amazing job with really describing your experience. I feel like I was right there with you.
Please keep writing and never stop, you have a gift.
Chelsea Wathen, 09, currently attends Fresno Pacific University.
Posted by "Adam Loughney" on September 26, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
I think it is really cool that Tynin was able to meet the survivor. I hope that we are able to Elie Wiesel to visit our school.
Posted by "Brooke Stobbe" on September 26, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
What a fantastic article, Tynie. You have such a gift with expressing your emotions into words. The opening is so relatable and moving, it really sets the rest of the article up. But what a fantastic story it is in itself. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by "sabrina" on September 26, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
Tynin this is so inspirational! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by "Angie Fries" on September 26, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
Your article stirred so many emotions for me. I worked at CSUF when Anna Ware was the Costume Director for the Theatre Arts Department. In spite of all she personnally endured in her youth, her spirit was intact. What an amazing woman and what an amazing article about her.
Posted by "Tyler Laird" on September 26, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
It's amazing that someone could still have hope after such a devastating experience. I am glad to see this story and hear about this inspiring story. I only wish I had gone.
Sanger, CA
Posted by "David Fries" on September 26, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
Tynin, you have captured a lot in a short article. It is important to remember and to share such tragedies so they are not repeated. You have opened the eyes of many, including my own, to how blessed so many of us are and how so many live a very a life we only see in our worst nightmares.
Posted by "Janice Line" on September 25, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
Tynin, I am so glad that you got to have this experience! I was blessed to hear the first hand account when you got home and I know how deeply it impacted you. You will remember this for the rest of your life and I am sure it will influence how you see the world. Great article, keep it up!
Posted by "Debbie Fries" on September 25, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
I really enjoyed reading your article. I have always been amazed at how people can treat other human beings. The fact that many groups are trying to say that the Holocaust never happened infuriates me. I am so proud of the things that you took from your encounter with this woman. I hope that your article serves as a reminder to others to never forget!
Posted by "Viviana Hinojosa" on September 25, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
Going to this exhibit was a wonderful experience. Actually being able to meet a Holocaust survivor was a once in a life time opportunity which I am glad to have taken. Being one of six people who got to hear her story was very moving.
The horrible ordeal she had to go through broke my heart and I'm sure the hearts of all the listeners around her. Nothing could ever compare to the moment she looked at me and smiled. The feeling that came over me is indescribable. This is an amazing article, Tynin! Great job!
Posted by "Michael Ogdon" on September 25, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
I want to reinforce the thoughts shared here with the harsh reality that people are still held in prisons today. Homelessness, addictions, illnesses, fears... Where does Hope come from?
The FCS Choral Department is going to present a concert on October 27th based on this very topic - The Holocaust and Hope. This will be a benefit concert for the Fresno Rescue Mission. The concert will be held at the Riverpark Bible Church at 7:30 pm.
Posted by "Rayna Endicott" on September 25, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
I so wish i would have went to this exhibit! Even hearing you and Viv retell the stories she told you guys was truly amazing. That is such an amazing experience that you guys were able to have! Tynin, this is such a good article!!
Posted by "Jason Kim" on September 23, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
After I read this article, I was thinking how can such terrible event like Holocaust ever happen and that people just wacch it happen and did nothing about it. It is such a sad reality that no one ever spoke up to prevent such events.
However, I realized that if people do not start asserting their beliefs things like the Holocaust will happen again. Who knows?
We have to learn from the mistakes from the past so that we are not ashamed of ourselves as the followers of Jesus Christ. After all, we were made in God's image.
Posted by "Callista Fries" on September 23, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
The first sentence just made me want to read this article good job this is a moving article.
Posted by "hannah avila" on September 23, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
Tynin this in my opinion this is one of your best articles! I was so intrigued with everything you wrote and loved all your opinions about everything. You are an awesome writer and I want to say thank you for writing this article because, even though I wasn't at the opening, I learned a lot, and I would love to hear Levin-Ware's full story sometime! Love you friend and keep up the great work!!
Posted by "Daniel Moore" on September 28, 2011 at 1:01 a.m.
Good article. I wish that I had gone to that exhibit now.
Thanks for the in depth coverage.