A Picture is Worth 55 Words

Getting out of bed is much more difficult than usual.

Falling back into bed, forcing myself to stand up.

Not straightening my hair, too much work today.

Not too much homework, then came Wednesday.

Track practice shortens my homework time,

Tryouts for a softball team,

Retaking a lost test.

I need rest.

Waiting for

Friday.

"An Unheard Cry"

I chose the title "An Unheard Cry" for this chapter because of the peoples' inability to hear Madame Schachter's warning. Although her cries were audible to the people, they assumed that Madame Schachter was delusional. She screamed "Fire", but upon looking out of the windows of the cattle cars, the Jews saw no fire. They shut her up and ignored her message, only to find out later that it was true. When they arrived at Auschwitz, Madame Schachter was finally silent. They realized that she had been right all along. Madame Schachter's cry had not been heard, and now the cries of the Jews wouldn't be either.

All that the Jews wanted was for Madame Schachter to be quiet. They refused to believe that there was actually a fire, because they could not see it. "Once more the young men tied her up and gagged her. They even struck her. People encouraged them: 'Make her be quiet! She's mad! Shut her up! She's not the only one. She can keep her mouth shut . . .' " (Wiesel 24) It is sad that the Jews were trying so hard to silence her cries, when they really should have listened to her. This quote says that they even went so far as to hit her, and that everyone was encouraging this. If they had not been so ignorant, they would have appreciated the warning.

My Found Poem and Questions

“No (11) Humanity (30)”

Moshe the Beadle (6) warned (8) them (10)

Then came the ghetto (9), deportation (11) began (13)

“When is our turn coming?” (15) It would not be long in coming now (5).

Madame Schachter was screaming “Fire!”(22) In the air the smell of burning flesh (26)

Auschwitz. (26) “Didn’t you know what was in store for you at Auschwitz?” (28)

The prisoner in charge smiled (38) The first human words. (39)

“Work is liberty.” (43) The monsters lied (41)

Optimism (7) killed (4) many (6) Jews of Sighet (8)

I am looking forward to meeting actual Holocaust survivors on Monday. I think that it will be a great learning experience because they have first hand accounts of what happened. Even though this experience will be similar to reading Night, we will actually get to ask questions. Here are my two questions that I have for the guest speakers:

1) Did you receive any warnings before the Holocaust that hinted that something might be going wrong?

2) How were you liberated after being imprisoned?

Response to article: Auschwitz camp's stolen sign recovered in three pieces

The sign leading to the entrance of Auschwitz camp was stolen and cut into three pieces. Each piece contained a word of the phrase that the sign read, "Arbeit Macht Frei" , meaning work sets you free. Although the death camp was a horrible institution where many innocent lives were lost, there is no reason for the destruction of its' sign. The sign stands as a symbol for all of the suffering that was endured at Auschwitz and a reminder of all of the lives that were taken. It is horrible that anyone would even think to steal it.