Friday, April 26, 2013
Those Choice-less Choices.
“But I couldn’t hesitate. I just had to do it. I aimed the gun through the window, straight at the center of his back, then pulled the trigger”- Halina, pg. 141 and 142, Escaping into the Night
I thought this quote was beautifully written, it is short but powerful and meaningful. It reflects on her options; it’s her choiceless choice. She really has no choice, either let Batya die, or all escape safely and shoot a Nazi in the process, so she really had no choice. I think that was the best choice for their situation, and I think about how hard it must’ve been for Halina and Rueven to shoot an officer, because I’m sure 13 year olds don’t want to take anyones life away! I’m sure many people had to go through this as well while in the Holocaust, even in the Holocaust museum there was a woman talking about in an interview, that she had to shoot an officer in her own building so the children she was sheltering would be safe. I would never want to be in that situation, especially at this age, but whatever it takes for you to survive and to help your loved ones survive.
A real life connection I have to make would have to be relating this to the homeless, and people living in the streets or in poverty. It’s kind of a weird connection, because most homeless people don’t go out and shoot officers, but they share a strong connection of doing anything to survive. They beg for food, money, and help, and do what they have to do to make it through to another day. They both struggle to find food and its hard to have good hygiene, or maintain being healthy. So they compare a lot to each other, especially with shooting the officer, expressing the will to survive.
Annie
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I like your connection to the homeless. I also imagine those choiceless choices you chose to write about. I guess my fear is when we get to the point as a society when people really do have a choice but then try to say they didn't. I have students that often try to argue that the only way to take care of a problem with another kid is to fight them. I once got into an emotional discussion with a class (they had all the emotion) about what to do when you find money on the floor and there's clearly no one around to try and give it back to. They were arguing that they should just take it and I was trying to get them to see that they had other options. They finally asked me what I would do and I said that when I find money that can't possibly be returned I give it to charity. What's really that fine line between a choice and a choiceless choice? Thanks for making me thing about something deeply today. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Jews in the Holocaust had to make a difficult decision, whether it be to kill someone for another's sake or simply give in. I liked how you gave an example with the woman at the Holocaust museum. It is terrifying to think that anyone had to go through that tragedy knowing that they might not even survive. I also liked how you explained how people back then did not have choice in certain things. For example how the Jews did not have a choice of leaving their homes and not being able to go to their homes.
ReplyDeleteI definitely be afraid to shoot down an officer. If I were to shoot and miss, I’m sure that the Nazi would start shooting in my direction and hunt me down. Halina must have been brave along with the woman that had to risk her life to protect her kids. All I can think of is how lucky I am to have been born in this time rather than the time of the Holocaust. Many people should be more grateful that they didn’t have to go through all of the things the Jews had to go through. People need to be more thankful of their homes, and the food they have to feed their families unlike the homeless. The homeless would be extremely thankful for just $5 while most people would want much more, but they’d end up wasting it. I once saw a homeless man living under bridge in the city and all he had were a couple of blankets, a shopping cart, and cardboard boxes. He also had a small, dirty dog that hid inside one of the boxes. That made me think of how lucky I am. It made me wish I had money on me to give him, so he wouldn’t need to struggle as much to keep himself and his dog alive.
ReplyDeleteI definitely be afraid to shoot down an officer. If I were to shoot and miss, I’m sure that the Nazi would start shooting in my direction and hunt me down. Halina must have been brave along with the woman that had to risk her life to protect her kids. All I can think of is how lucky I am to have been born in this time rather than the time of the Holocaust. Many people should be more grateful that they didn’t have to go through all of the things the Jews had to go through. People need to be more thankful of their homes, and the food they have to feed their families unlike the homeless. The homeless would be extremely thankful for just $5 while most people would want much more, but they’d end up wasting it. I once saw a homeless man living under bridge in the city and all he had were a couple of blankets, a shopping cart, and cardboard boxes. He also had a small, dirty dog that hid inside one of the boxes. That made me think of how lucky I am. It made me wish I had money on me to give him, so he wouldn’t need to struggle as much to keep himself and his dog alive.
ReplyDelete