|
|
Student Letters
These are letters written by students who participated in the Wings Of
Witness Workshops
When you came on Friday because of the "Wings of Witness" program,
you made me think about how racism is a bad thing. You made me think about how
many innocent people died, especially innocent little children. You made me
think about my own future. After September 11, many people in this country
blamed the entire Muslim population for the hideous act of a few terrorists who happened
to be Muslim. These men also killed innocent people. It is a shame that humanity
did not learn enough from the Holocaust to prevent September 11 from happening.
As a Muslim person, I am ashamed of the terrorists who caused suffering to
thousands of people. Therefore, I could relate to what you told us about the Holocaust
because I felt the pain and suffering of the children who experienced a tragedy
at such a young age. Thank you for your contribution to achieve understanding
between the people who happen to be different from one another. Keep up the good
work.
7th Grade Student, Pierre Van Cortland Middle School, New York
Last week, a man named Mr. Schrier came to our school. He wanted us to help
him make butterfly shaped wings for a Holocaust memorial made out of 6 million pop-tops.
He was going around the country asking other kids do the same thing.
I felt that his was important to me because my grandfather was in Auschwitz
for four months before the war ended. Except for him, his entire family was
killed. Murdered. I dedicated every single pop-top I used to every single member
of my grandfather's family who died there. On Friday, I will bring in translated
postcards from Vienna, Austria in 1938
John Paul Courtney, 7th Grade Student, Pierre Van Cortland Middle School
See John Paul's Memorial to his
Grandfather who survived three concentration camps and to his other family
members destroyed by the Nazis.
I think Mr. Schrier's idea with the feathers made out of soda can tabs was
very creative. It was a really good way for him to connect with our history and
abused ancestors. I liked it because he took something that we use, see, and
throw away in everyday life, and turned it into a historic monument. It might
not have meant much to many, but for others it was a historical symbol. It seems
like it's going to take a lot of time, community participation, and a lot of
hard work to compete the butterfly. To make it into a butterfly was a very
interesting idea. He takes the story about the Spanish Ghetto and turns it into
a very interesting, sad story. It is good that he acted upon the acts of the
Holocaust and let everybody take part in it to help him out. Everybody seemed so
willing and caring to help him out. And I finally realized how many people were
killed during the tragedy. I can't and don't even want to imagine if each cap
was the size of an adult how big the butterfly would be. I don't think that I'll
ever forget what he did for everybody. I hope that one day, I'll actually see
his work art, the butterfly. I will be able to tell my children or grandchildren
that I helped him with that piece of work.
7th Grade Student, Pierre Van Cortland Middle School, New York
Dear Mr. Jeffrey Schrier,
I would just like to thank you for giving up your time to talk to me
about the holocaust. I think what you are trying to accomplish is so
wonderful. Because if we were to look at something like the butterfly
every day we would be reminded of the holocaust and the horrible
things Adolph Hitler tried to accomplish. If we were reminded of these
horrible things he did every day then the chances of something like
this happening again would be really rear. I also think that not that
many people would try to honor the Jews like you are. So I think you
are one of god's angels because you are helping out gods chosen
people. The experience with the wings of witness helped me understand
better how many people actually died and how horrible it was, because
I used to think Hitler was a genius but now I think he is a lame.
Thank you again.
Sincerely, Student, Rio Contiguo School
|
|
