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| Gerda Weissmann, age 16, in a Nazi identification photograph. When she was liberated, Gerda weighed only 68 pounds, had not bathed in three years, and her hair had turned white. |
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| Kurt Klein, an American soldier who came upon the abandoned women in Volary, gave this photo to Gerda. The two were married in 1946, and had three children and eight grandchildren. |
"Why? Why did we walk like meek sheep to the slaughterhouse? Why did we not fight back? What had we to lose? Nothing but our lives. Why did we not run away and hide? We might have had a chance to survive. Why did we walk deliberately and obediently into their clutches? I know why. Because we had faith in humanity. Because we did not really think that human beings were capable of committing such crimes." -- From All But My Life, by Gerda Weissmann Klein
In class, we read the poem, "The Divine." The video showed those in Gerda's life, who, in the midst of the Nazi persecution, showed compassion. (Frau Kugler, Merin, and of course, Kurt Klein).
In the comments section, please write one example of something that gives you "faith in humanity" today. (It might be something you see here at school, in the media, in the community, etc.) Write about one step YOU can take to illustrate or encourage "faith in humanity." How can you put "faith in humanity" into action and make this school, town, and world a better place? Use complete sentences and be mindful of writing rules.
*Lesson plan courtesy of Teaching Tolerance One Survivor Remembers Teacher's Guide, pages 42-43.
Things that I have faith in humanity. 1) A doctor who offered free medical care after Hurricane Sandy. 2) The parents who tattooed insulin pumps on their somache so their diabetic kid wouldn't feel "different." 3) The police officer who bought shoes for a barefoot homeless man. 4) The Texas A&M students that blocked Westboro Baptist church protesters whith a human wall. I can help by doing some more comunity service more often. For example feed my starving children is a good place to start.
ReplyDeleteI have faith in humanity when someone will help someone in need. When someone takes in the care of someone who has no home and no where to go, for example the story of Micheal Oher and the Tuohy family. When a firefighter will go in a burning church no matter the circumstances or no matter his faith. I can help my community by volunteering with different projects or community clean up.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about all the bad things that have happend, and all the bad people out there I just try to think about how the good people out number the bad people. After major disasters and the shootings like the one in Conneticut so many good people come together and help. Even though bad things happen, there are so many good people that come and help out. Also when I see so many people volunteering at places like Feed my Starving Children that really helps me keep a positive out look. They don't have to do it. They do it out the kindness of their hearts. That really makes a huge difference in places all around the world!I have gone to FMSC many times and it feels really good to know that you have helped feed so many different people.
ReplyDeleteGood answer, thank you!
DeleteI feel faith and humanity when I see someone helping out someone else. This occurs at school, on the street, in the store, everywhere! For example, when there might be a homeless person on the road, and someone pulls over and gives them food, a blanket, etc. It shows that even though there are some bad people in this world, there are way more good people to keep us on track. Another example is the Boston Bombing. When the bomb first went off, most people ran away from the explosion, but some poeple ran at the explosion to help the injured. I think that is really powerful because they are risking there own life to help people who cant get help for themselves. I think thats how it was with the Holocost. There were bad people 'running' the Holocost, but there were also people who risked their own lives to save those who couldnt help themselves. I can help do something good by volunteering at a homeless shelter, or giving my old cloths to people who need it.
ReplyDeleteFaith in Humanity: There is only three things that I would encourage those are one being kind to others when they are nice to you in the first place. Two don't be the bully who is being mean. Three be the nice friend who doesn't abandon anyone.
ReplyDeleteAndre Johnson an NFL player took 12 abused kids to a toy store, each kid got 80 seconds to throw as many toys in their cart as possible it cost him $19521 after they each finished. there are many other things like this but the news only covers stories of bad things happening.
ReplyDeleteI have faith in humanity when I see people go out of their way to help others. Sometimes it as little as holding a door open for someone or it can be as big as helping out after major disasters. We see all these horrible things happening around us and we wonder whats happening to our world. Then we see people helping others in their time of need. People going out of their way and putting other's need's in front of their own.The fact that our whole town,state, country, world can join together and help each other in our time of need.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that we can put our differences a side to help others and change our world is amazing.The fact that we join together in a time of need. This restores my faith in humanity.
I have faith and humanity when I see people helping others out f the good of their hearts. I watched a movie last night called The Impossible. It is about a tsunami and this family who survived it. In one part the mom and son here a little boy screaming. They need to get to safety but instead they go help the little boy. I have done many service projects in my life and they make me feel so good. Terrible things happen and it is the people who step up and do something are what make these things better. sometimes bad things bring out the best in people but you really have to try and be brave.
ReplyDeleteI have faith and humanity when i think of all of the good people out there who try to help victims of shootings, I think of all the people who help them, I think I want to be like them. When I realize all of the bad happening in the world, I also realize al of the good in the world and all of the good people who help others, donate money and volunteer.
ReplyDeleteI have faith in humanity when I see people go out of their way to help someone in need. Such as when the Boston bombing happened people that weren't even part of the race jumped the fences to help and encourage hope to the people that were seriously hurt. When I see things like that happen in the media it gives me hope for our future.
ReplyDeleteI have faith in humanity when people do things to help people in need and to save someones life. For example, a school teacher in that school shooting in Connecticut hid her students so the shooter wouldn't find them. All we hear about on the news is the bad things that happen in this world and not the good things. I can help my community by volunteering somewhere like Feed My Starving Children.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of us still having hope in humanity is when or if someone's lunch trey falls and they help pick it up. Or like if someone gets booked and they help pick it up. That is a sign of someone who could help building up the goodness in people. I started to help with this kind of stuff and I'm going to keep doing this.
ReplyDeleteI find faith in humanity when I see people volunteering to help people in need. For example, after the Boston bombing or Connecticut shooting, people from across the county sent packages to those who lost loved ones. Even simple things like going to Feed My Starving Children really makes a difference. I've been to the Simpson Shelter House in Minneapolis to feed the homeless and that makes in impact on the community. It's sad to say but sometimes the worst things bring out the best in the community.
ReplyDeleteSome things that give me faith in humanity is when you see people making donations and helping people in need. When I see people giving their time to do things for other people that gives me faith in humanity. Another not so big thing is when I am outside, riding my bike, or in public and people just pleasantly smile or say something nice that makes my day. A way I can help show faith in humanity is by giving my time to people who need it or simply just giving someone a nice compliment. Another way I can help is by doing things myself and encouraging others to do good things.
ReplyDeleteI think we still have hope in humanity when I saw a youtube video of a guy on his motorcycle waiting for the light to turn. A old man was crossing the street and got to the side walk. He tripped on the curve and the guy on the motorcycle saw him fall and he went to help him up. I am going to start helping kids that drop their stuff or don't know where to go for classes or for other things.
ReplyDeleteI find faith in humanity when people volunteer to help out somewhere. For example Feed My Starving Children, the nursing home, or a food shelter. A way that I can show faith in humanity is by helping other people more often and doing volunteer work.
ReplyDeleteWhat gives me faith in humanity is when I see someone helping out someone else. Not because they have to, but because it comes from the kindness of their hearts. For example at school, if someone drops their books and many people pass them by and think “I have to get to my class on time”, but then there is that one person who takes their time to actually stop and help them. Also last week on my way home from subway, I fell off my bike and my chain got all messed up and I couldn't fix it. I was about 2 miles away from home and couldn't call anyone to go pick me up and I didn't want to walk my bike back. Then a nice man stopped for about 10 minutes and helped me fix my bike. It really made my day and made me think that people have kindness in their hearts.
ReplyDeleteSo many things happen in this world by human beings. Most of those things can’t be comprehended. The thing that restores my faith in humanity, are the people who go out of their way to make situations better. The fundraisers, benefits, etc. that people organize and participate are all doing a selfless thing. I'm pretty sure a vast majority of our school have volunteered or donated something. The little things count. If everyone stops helping when tragic events happen or just everyday helping , then we should all worry. It isn't just a few peple who make the world better, it's everyone working together.
ReplyDeleteI find faith and humanity when somebody goes out of their way in their day to help someone else out. Some examples would be running for a cure, or even visiting a relative. Or even right now our community is helping out a little boy chase in the hospital. I think our community is very good at going out of our way to help people, and this definitely shows how caring we all are.
ReplyDeleteI find faith and humanity when I see people helping other people who need to be helped because they don' know what to do in school. Or in other places around in life. I saw some one get booked in the hallway and a bunch of other people came over to help him pick up his books. Things like that even if they are little they can make a big difference in someones life if they are needing it.
ReplyDeleteI find faith in humanity when I hear people talking about how they have helped other people in need, or maybe when I see people helping people in need. Places around my school maybe when someone gets booked and someone else helps them pick it up.
ReplyDeleteI find faith in humanity watching and hearing a lot of things, like today i saw that the red cross is helping the people that were affected by the tornado in Oklahoma, or whenever teachers really care about their students, sure there are bullys and killers and many bad things out there, but at the same time there are good people that care for those ones in need, and there are people that try to help as much as they can, Most of the stuff that we hear on the news are things like "today there was a shooting at... or A kid got kidnap, but that doesn't mean there isn't good news out there, i still have faith in humanity and i hope that one day us as humans learn how to accept that all of us are different and that's what makes us unique.
ReplyDeleteI find faith in humanity when i see people stand up for people that are being bullied or when people are nice and care for other people
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