So, we do appreciate the people who have our backs.
In history, the people, including children, who stood up against Hitler & the Nazis are appreciated in books such as Scholastic’s HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST. Sometimes it was just a cup of tea and food smuggled to a sickly child. What makes their book for young readers especially potent is that their
stories of bravery are all about acts of resistance undertaken by teenagers in Europe during World War II.
Allan Zullo and Mara Bovsun’s book remembers greater-than-a- cuppa-tea actions. The bravery of severe resistance, the acting of deceptive roles in the face of likely arrest, torture & death.
Leading the memorialization of the good people who had the backs of Jews & others’ Hitler targeted is the group, Yad Vashem education center & memorial keeps the flame of memory burning.
The link above is to one of many pages there.
It is especially noteworthy in these times, because the page I selected, honors Muslim Rescuers of Jewish people.
Today is Poetry Friday and also Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The poem of Martin Niemoller is one that many of us studied in school.
“First They Came For The Jews”
by Martin Niemoller
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
You may also want to learn about the brave IRENA SENDER. Whose feats
are documented in at least two books for students.
http://www.irenasendler.org/facts-about-irena/
This poem gives me chills. Thanks for remembering Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jan.
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Thank you, Jan; it is good to read again of the incredible self-sacrificing love of Irena Sendler. I think of Alan Paton’s (author of Cry the Beloved Country) timeless words: “There is only one way in which one can endure man’s inhumanity to man and that is to try, in one’s own life, to exemplify man’s humanity to man.”
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Thank you, Jan. We have much to learn, don’t we? And these heroes make fine examples. Sometimes we are not as powerless as we think we are. Thank you. xo
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Jan – what a powerful post. I hope we can put an end to the hatred soon. Blessings! #resist
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Thank you for this important and timely post. We must remember. We must act NOW.
Additionally, thank you for the lovely postcard!
Last of all, Chrome blocks me from your website. It thinks your site is not safe. Luckily, Safari lets me in. Don’t know what you can do about that, but thought I’d let you know.
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Thank you for everything.
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It is such an important poem to remember these days. Thank you for sharing the links to the Holocaust remembrance. There is still much we can do today to have the backs of our neighbors. If enough of us speak out and act now with those small acts like a cup of tea, maybe we won’t get to the point of imprisonment and death.
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There is a new biography of Irena Sendler, Irena’s Children, for adults. I have read a short picture book about her too. This book looks just right for younger kids, and I do know the poem, gives a lesson we all need to remember.Thanks, Jan.
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Jan, this is a powerful poem that needs to be shared.
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Jan, thank you for sharing this. I just finished Irena’s children and the kindnesses that were acts of daring were astounding. To think no one really had time to think….just do what is right. I pray that we can continue to shine light on small and big acts that uphold what’s right and good.
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Dear Linda, It is so, so like you to add depth. Appreciations.
We are together in being grateful for her story. So this prompts me to share aanother resource link
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The Holocaust left my grandfather an orphan, and forever scarred emotionally and psychologically. Thank you for this powerful and tender reminder.
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Profound sorrow about your family’s lost due to those times & event.
And appreciations for your sharing today.
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I remember that poem, and thought of it right after Nov 8th. How wonderful to learn that there were Muslim rescuers of Jewish children.
It’s also Multicultural Children’s Book Day. You could add any of your posts about diverse children’s books to the Blog linky list, Jan. http://www.pragmaticmom.com/2017/01/today-multicultural-childrens-book-day/
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Like Liz, I’ve seen many variations of this poem recently and at the DC women’s march. My favorite is brief: “First they came for the … NOT THIS TIME.”
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This is a powerful post, Jan.
Thank you.
Joan
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This is such a powerful poem and much quoted these days. Thanks for sharing it on this day of remembrance.
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