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Essays on being optimistic
On the importance of being optimistic
On the importance of being optimistic
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“To all those who have known adversity and despair, I offer my belief that out of the darkness can come light.” - Marion Blumenthal Lazan. The interpretation of this quote means that optimism and hope can break through misery. The life of Marion Blumenthal Lazan is not only astonishing, but inspiring in many ways. It all began when the Lazan family attempted to emigrate from Germany to America, only to find themselves having an unsuccessful escape and their dreams in ruins when the Nazis invaded Holland.
The Holocaust was a most horrifying era for many Jews, including Marion and her family as they experienced gruesome conditions for six and one half years. Bergen-Belsen was one of the major camps they were imprisoned in. The Lazan family
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The fearfulness that was in Marion’s heart never had terminated as she lived in grating camps. Even at a young age, Marion developed a way to adapt to the harsh environment and horrible nightmares. Although many things had vitiated her physical strength, it increased her mental strength. Many of the readers and listeners who have encountered Marion’s Holocaust story and her speech years later about her experience was hugely impacted from the sorrow and dread that was felt in assimilating the mortifying details of her history. The description of her story baffled the minds of many people.
Marion’s story had greatly impacted me in several factors. The horrendous details shocked me to the point where it was unimaginable to conceptualize. The devastation and sorrow that filled my mind after being informed of Marion’s story certainly changed my perspective on things because it helped me realize that you don’t know how dearly you hold things that you love until you are faced with losing them.
Marion Lazan faced unforgettable struggles in her involvement in the Holocaust and has inspired many people including myself to stay strong through harsh situations. Marion and her family’s courage and hope showed the world what the strength and endurance of one family, “four perfect pebbles,” can do
When in America, Helen found that it was hard not to talk about past and the stories of her imprisonment. “Some survivors found it impossible to talk about their pasts. By staying silent, they hoped to bury the horrible nightmares of the last few years. They wanted to spare their children and those who knew little about the holocaust from listening to their terrible stories.” In the efforts to save people from having to hear about the gruesome past, the survivors also lacked the resources to mentally recovery from the tragedy.
Christine De Pizan’s work in The Book of The City of Ladies pioneers a new genre of feminist literature that exposes a time period from the perspective of its female population. Due to this, De Pizan justifiably earns the title of a revolutionary author. However, to say that De Pizan revolutionized the conditions of women in the medieval ages and onward is an overstatement. In her book, De Pizan critiques sexist arguments in order to defend women against misogyny. The change that De Pizan presented in medieval culture was gradual because she was attempting to amend people’s perspectives on women rather than offer any institutional rectifications. She worked to establish that women can be just as mighty as men, and thus, they are not innately inferior. However, her goal was not to ensure that women have equal access to exercise and pursue their virtuous roles. Therefore, if observed
The Silber Medal winning biography, “Surviving Hitler," written by Andrea Warren paints picture of life for teenagers during the Holocaust, mainly by telling the story of Jack Mandelbaum. Avoiding the use of historical analysis, Warren, along with Mandelbaum’s experiences, explains how Jack, along with a few other Jewish and non-Jewish people survived.
The holocaust was truly a dark time in recent human history. Families were torn apart. Those who had at least family member had someone to look to for strength when they didn’t feel like they could carry on. As much as family can be a burden, the positives outweigh the negatives.
Most historical events, whether beneficial or detrimental to society, bear witnesses. Regardless of how many total were affected by the event, each person owns a personal account of what they endured during the event. Elie Wiesel, author of Night, expresses the personal account of Elizer, a Jewish teenager, who fought to stay alive during the holocaust, and shows the importance of witness accounts, the will to survive, and the remembrance of past historical events. Night encompasses the idea of “Literature of Witness” by simultaneously showing how millions of people were affected by the holocaust and how each person, principally Elizer, has their own personal story to tell to understand and remember that horrendous time.
The Holocaust will forever be known as one of the largest genocides ever recorded in history. 11 million perished, and 6 million of the departed were Jewish. The concentration camps where the prisoners were held were considered to be the closest one could get to a living hell. There is no surprise that the men, women, and children there were afraid. One is considered blessed to have a family member alongside oneself.
...act her mind from all the mental breakdowns she was having. The physical pain opted out cheryl from grieving. Regardless of the fact that people expected Cheryl to fail while walking the trail, she ended stronger and proved everyone wrong. The baggage she carried with while walking the trail also made her a better person as she continued her journey, and when her journey was over she had no regrets. Through all of the physical, mental, and emotional pain, she tried her best to remain strong. The way she dealt with her problems was dysfunctional to some people; however, it made her a better person in the end.
In conclusion, this captivating tale taught many life lessons, including the freedom of forgiveness, and the importance of dignity on survival. Hillenbrand captured the reader’s emotions through the use of morals and themes. The book itself, although initially difficult to spark an interest in, is truly remarkable both in the words written by Hillenbrand, and by the story provided by Zamperini. It is, on one hand, informative enough to teach readers about World War 2, and on the other hand, interesting enough to capture the attention of even those that don’t enjoy reading. This capturing, inspiring, and unforgettable tale reminds us that perseverance can lead us through anything, and help us to remain “unbroken”.
“Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed…“(Wiesel 32) Livia-Bitton Jackson wrote a novel based on her personal experience, I Have Lived a Thousand Years. Elli was a Holocaust victim and her only companion was her mother. Together they fought for hunger, mistreatment and more. By examining the themes carefully, the audience could comprehend how the author had a purpose when she wrote this novel. In addition, by seeing each theme, the audience could see what the author was attacking, and why. By illustrating a sense of the plight of millions of Holocaust victims, Livia-Bitton Jackson explores the powerful themes of one’s will to survive, faith, and racism.
"A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust-Victims." A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust-Victims. University of South Florida. Web. 19 May 2014.
During the rule of Adolf Hitler, many children who were Jewish lived a very frightening and difficult life. They never were given the love and compassion that every child needs and deserves growing up. The Holocaust is a story that will continue to be shared till the end of time.
"Victims." A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust. University of South Florida, 1 Jan. 1997. Web. 19 May 2014. .
Though it took 10 years for Wiesel to speak of his tragic memories of the Holocaust, he does an excellent job of fearlessly sharing his story for the others who cannot. His struggles with faith and search for meaning are inspiring. Night immediately grabs the reader’s attention and holds it until the last page; it leaves the reader yearning for more stories of Wiesel life. Works Cited "Elie Wiesel Interview -- Page 3 / 4 -- Academy of Achievement."
A person may have heard second hand accounts of those who have experienced the Holocaust, taking in the stories as facts without really thinking about them. But when one listens to one retelling his or her story of what occurred in the Holocaust, one can actually feel the other’s pain and suffering. Upon hearing Mrs. Gluck-Stewart’s personal narrative of the Holocaust, I underwent the feelings of horror, pain, and fear.
Cheryl faced many obstacles before backpacking through the Pacific Crest Trail, she had to deal with loss of people who she loved dearly. While on this journey the baggage Cheryl was carrying around was not physical but emotional. At the end of this short story Cheryl says, “How there was no escape or denial. No numbing anything down with a martini or covering it up with a roll in hay.” What Cheryl portrays here is emotion, she is