After reading chapter one, and reading everyone’s posts, I
have concluded that there were many factors that resulted in the Jews not
taking action or resisting the German officers. I think it was a combination of
not knowing for sure what would really happen, not believing what would happen
because they didn’t want to believe it. In
the beginning of the chapter, it is stated that there was always positive news
that said the Red Army was on its way and the war wouldn’t last long, and
people were so hopeful, they would even say it probably wouldn’t even reach
them. I think due to this extra comfort from the radio and also due to not truly
knowing what would happen if the war did reach them, the Jews remained confident
that everything would blow over eventually and life would return to how it
always was. Even with Moishe’s warning of terror and violence, the Jews didn’t
react because they didn’t want to believe it. They were hearing on the radio
that everything would be fine, and didn’t want to think about the possibility that
they might be in danger.
I agree with you Cami. I also believe that the Jews didn't necessarily understand what was going to happen. It's interesting that you pointed out the news because that could definitely be a major factor as to why they were hopeful and optimistic. Even today, people are constantly believing the news and hopeful of situations because no one wants to believe in the worst.
ReplyDeleteI feel that even though they didn't know exactly what would happen, they still knew in the back of their minds that something was wrong. However, I believe they made the conscious decision to ignore it, and instead hoped it was all going to be okay and that the news reports were right.
DeleteI like your point about an extra sense of comfort Cami. I feel as though their reliance on the news was comforting as well as misleading. They depended on the news so much because they didn't want it to be wrong. Even though I think it's good that they kept hope alive, I feel like it got to the point where hope was blinding them from the actual facts.
ReplyDeleteIn many Holocaust novels there is always someone who promotes the news that the Red Army is near regardless of how bad the circumstances have become. It is important that they hang onto this hope because it gave them strength to survive the atrocities around them by believing it would come to an end. I don't think it really blinded them too much. I feel as though they were really still deeply nervous but unwilling to accept that such a great danger might be present and using the news of the incoming Red Army to try to brush it off. It is interesting at what point does believing things will get better protect you and when does it harm?
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