The place you start from

“hugged her the way I wished I’d hugged Mama that last day we parted at the gate”

pg 144, Halina

After I had finished this part all I could think of is how Halina has had to be someone she isn’t she’s only thirteen, and has to already help somebody when she has a tough situation to deal with herself. It is really an eye opener showing what these kids had to become in the Holocaust

they had to grow up in such a small amount of time. they had to step up and not become a bystander “Thou shalt not be a victim, thou shalt not be a perpetrator, but, above all, thou shalt not be a bystander.” This should apply to Halina a lot because she didn't have to comfort Batya at all but instead she got involved because she had to be strong for the both of them.

I think this involves growing up so I can connect this to people who live in bad neighborhoods and how they have to grow up fast. some people who live in ghettos have to grow up fast and learn quickly because of the cruel place they live in. Which in my opinion really hits what the Holocaust did for Jewish kids. I think its really sickening considering that kids in bad neighborhoods can have similar situations to the Jewish kids who were in hiding in the Holocaust. I think this should change I think their should be no more bad neighborhoods and no genocide. http://psychology.about.com/od/nindex/g/nature-nurture.htm this is a link hat has some information that's very interesting. This link is talking about Nature vs Nurture.

Sadness

“Sadness alone can kill us. We have to be thankful for small things.” - Eli. Page 96, of Escaping Into the Night.

I agree with this quote and understand the part of where he said “Sadness alone can kill us” because if you’re sad and emotional, you’re just going to be thinking about all the negativity in your life and not be thinking of the things you have, and should be thankful for it because there's others that don't even have what you have that can help them survive even by just a little. And it can probably or will lead you to suicide possibly, because at one point you’re just not going to be able to take it all in and you’re gonna feel like you’ve had enough of it, that’s why you don't look at the bad side. So it’s good that Eli’s thinking that way.

This reminds me of how people, such as Tyler Clementi, feel hopeless because of bullying... and other teenagers on the news committing suicide because of bullying. They don't understand that there's people out there that love them, like their parents and friends. They just look at the bad stuff going around them, and start to feel hopeless and lonely, when they’re really not alone. I don't think bullying is right because no one deserves to be bullied, it doesn't matter what race they are or religion. And the victims that commit suicide may feel like they’re hopeless or lonely, but you just gotta keep you’re head up and do something about it. Take a stand for yourself.