Introduction

Facing History and Ourselves is a course that focuses in on learning about the Holocaust.  During the duration of the course the class viewed films showing exactly how the Holocaust was able to happen.  Starting with the rise of Hitler into power in Germany and the extremely high number of followers that believed the words he spoke.  Next came the discrimination of Jewish people, blaming them for the pour economy in Germany.  Jews were treated horribly and forced to wear the Jewish star on their clothing so everyone knew that they were Jewish.  The Nazi’s then forced Jews into Ghettos, wrenching them from their homes in the middle of the night and bringing them to filthy conditions that were barricaded from the rest of Europe.  Once in the Ghettos many starved to death from the lack of food and others died from disease and illness that spread rapidly due to the tight quarters and human remains that were left on the street.  We saw how the Jews were transported to the concentration camps and we saw what occurred once one was within them.  We saw chimneys, we saw the smoke, and we saw the terror.  We saw the lies, we saw the humans that had no morals what so ever as they stood behind twenty men and shot them all in the back of the head, or as they brought a group of woman and children into the gas chambers telling them they were going to take showers, only to lock the door and listen to their screams. 

                I took this course because I had heard many upperclassmen talking about it and how good of a class it was.  My cousin in particular had taken the course the year before I did and had said that he enjoyed it very much, and I being one to follow in my families footsteps decided that I wanted to take it as well.  This however was not the only reason for my decision, I have a knack for history, I enjoy class discussions and learning about how the world got to where it is today.  When reading the course description I was much intrigued that I would be studying about the Holocaust, even though it is such a tragic period I thought that it was something worth learning about.  After taking this course I realize that it first went above and beyond my expectations, and second that the course was more about discovering who I am through learning about the Holocaust. 

                I come from a family that has lived in the small town of Westborough for almost 100 years now.  We have a tight family bond considering about ninety percent of our family lives in Westborough and most of us live on the same street as one another.  Many of my ideas and opinions come from those of my parents and grandparents and I am often called “old school.”  However this does not bother me I enjoy my music from the 70’s, and 80’s and I tend to enjoy watching older movies starring John Candy and Chevy Chase more than I do new releases.  I wouldn’t trade the relationship I have with my family for anything and I quit like having wisdom being only a door away.