Holocaust Lecture

Last Thursday, which actually was my birthday, I had the opportunity to listen to a guest lecture from Theodore Weiss, President of the Holocaust Education Foundation. People have asked me why I chose to spend my birthday night listening to something so depressing, but I figured it won’t be much longer until there are no Holocaust survivors left and I wanted to make the most out of the chance to learn from one firsthand.

Instead of needing to give background information about Theodore Weiss, his story provides all the background anyone should need. The title of his lecture was “Memories” and he spent the better part of 2 hours just recounting his experiences as a Jew during the Holocaust. Forgive me if not all the information I give is 100% accurate according to his story, I am merely going off my memory of what was said and it has been about 5 days. Also, his accent was a little difficult to understand at times, so if I mispronounce or misstate anything it is purely unintentional. For this purpose I am going to write this from my point of view as the listener, instead of statement of fact.

Weiss started off by telling us that growing up as a Jew was difficult, but for the most part life was pretty good. He grew up in a village located in what is now modern-day Hungary. He came from a very large extended family, I believe he said that he had 10 aunts and uncles and 72 cousins. His family worked on farms and for the most part, food and the necessities of life were plentiful. Being Jewish during this time, it was common to be harassed and occasionally beat-up. This was just accepted in the community and over time Weiss said he learned to defend himself.

As time passed however, things continued to get worse and worse for him and his family. Eventually, the Jewish citizens in the village were forced to wear gold patches of the Star of David so they could be easily located when it was time for certain events to happen. Taxes became heavy and the life resources that were once ample became scarce. It got to the point where Weiss and his family had hardly enough to eat and survive.

One day, while just going about the normal daily routine, soldiers showed up. Weiss told us that he and his family were blindfolded and taken from their home. Not knowing where they were going or what was going on; they were placed on a train. When they had arrived at the destination they were lead from the train and placed into a long line. Weiss was able to stick with his family until now, but that would soon change. The place they were at was Auschwitz-Birkenau, which was among the largest concentration camps during the war. According to Weiss, the camp was separated into two distinct camps, Auschwitz being the “work camp” and Birkenau being the “death camp.” When his family arrived at the end of the line, they were separated into two separate lines, one to Auschwitz and one to Birkenau. His mom and sister were placed in the line to Auschwitz and Weiss, his brother, and his dad were placed in the line that lead over to Birkenau. He hasn’t seen his mom and sister since.

As Weiss, his brother, and his dad were being lead down the road to Birkenau, the soldiers just grabbed his brother for no apparent reason and shot and killed him. He was able to stick with his dad through the first night, but the next day they were separated and that was the last they ever saw of each other.

Imagine that, having your mom and sister drug away never to be seen again, your brother killed right in front of you, and your dad soon to be gone forever. I don’t think I could ever comprehend something like that. And for what? Because of your ethnicity, heritage, whatever?

Weiss was now all alone, I believe he said he was somewhere between the age of 11 and 12 at this time. Every night in Birkenau all the prisoners were lined up and the soldiers randomly selected people to be taken to die, whether by firing squad or by gas chamber. There was a name for this but I couldn’t understand what it was called. Weiss was able to survive for a while luckily, but the night came when he was chosen. Once the chosen were marched into a barrack, presumably a gas chamber, they were arranged and lined up. Weiss remembers there being two windows opened in the back of the chamber for some reason. He said that all of a sudden the man next to him in line made a run for the window. Weiss followed him and they both proceeded to dive out the window and out of the chamber just in time.

He didn’t know what possessed him to do it. At the time, being a young boy, Weiss didn’t know they were going to die in that barrack. Something possessed him and he made a move.

At this time, the allied troops were closing in. Weiss even said that after his later research, the war might have even been over at this time and Hitler already dead. Nonetheless, the Jews were still being persecuted and killed. Before the camp was taken, the inmates were loaded up and led on the “death march.” Weiss remembers this as being the most terrible thing ever. It was the winter and they were forced to march without food for days. Only an average of 2 out of 10 survived the march. After, if I remember right, a week or so of marching, he and another guy decided to sneak off the road and find a place to lie down and die.

They found a dirt road somewhere off the beaten path, and laid down. Soon after, a truck full of American soldiers passed by and instead of just driving on, stopped and helped them. They were taken to a hospital and the doctor refused service since the two were Jews. The American soldier demanded they be treated and after some commotion, Weiss and the other man were admitted into the hospital and treated.

Weiss spent 6 weeks in the hospital, recovering from various diseases such as Typhoid and others due to malnutrition. After he was recovered enough, he was admitted to a type of boarding facility, where he could be educated and somewhat provided for. An opportunity to move to Canada came up and he took it, sailing across the North Atlantic and into Halifax. Not liking the people in Halifax, Weiss continued over to Montreal. He had no high school diploma or anything like it, but being exceptionally good at math, he was accepted into Cargill University, and later Harvard.

The main message of his lecture was that one should never forget the capacity of the human species to do evil, and likewise the capacity to do good. He cites the example of the American soldier who went out of his way to help. The soldier didn’t have to do it, but it was how he was raised. The soldier’s mother told him when he was young, that the second he doesn’t stop and help someone in need, he is no longer her son.

I look at Theodore Weiss and admire him. Not for what he had to go through, but because of how he overcame it. We all have bad days and sometimes we feel that nothing could possibly get any worse. I look at this man and think, “I have had the easiest life ever.” Sure I may have a lot of homework and am wondering if I can get it done in time, but at least I don’t have to wonder whether or not I am going to be killed tonight. I may have car problems that get frustrating sometimes, but I have never had to walk for days, even weeks, in the cold without food…I have a car.

There are so many things that are taken for granted every day that would have been an absolute luxury to these people during the Holocaust.

He said it has happened before, and it can happen again. Be thankful for the way things are today because it could be a lot worse.

Salt Lake Tribune article.

Writing a paper.

This could quite possibly be the most boring entry in the history of my journal. In fact, let's just get the award ceremony over with before we start.

Now presenting the trophy for "Most Boring Journal Entry Ever":
Alright, now that we got that over with, I don't want this blog to turn into a negative vent-a-thon. So I am going to take my horrendous paper writing experience from last night and turn it into a positive and edifying experience.

Hold on, I'm thinking of the positives.

Still thinking...

So I had to write a paper for my communications class that was due this morning. Since I had been sick all last week I was unable to get very much work done, but I did make the effort to quickly browse over the paper requirements. They looked very similar to the requirements for my first paper so I didn't give it much thought and just figured I would pound it out last night. If there is one quality I have, it is that I am extraordinarily good at procrastination. Is that a quality? At the expense of the positivity of this entry, we will call it a quality for now. Anyways, 11:30 rolls around last night and I settle in to get this paper done.

You see, in communications we are studying the concept of media representation. The purpose of studying this subject is to understand how media, such as advertisements, commercials, etc., communicates with us the viewer. What is it exactly that the producers of media want us to understand? What are they trying to tell us? How effective are their persuasions?

For the paper we were asked to provide an image and provide an interpretation. When developing an understanding and interpretation of an image, the viewer goes through two steps known as "levels of meaning." The first level of meaning is known as the "denotative level of meaning," or the "basic descriptive level of meaning." The second is known as the "connotative level of meaning," or the "broader cultural meaning."

Basically, the denotative level of meaning is just what you see. There are no interpretations being made, just simple descriptions. The connotative level of meaning explains what each denotative element and/or their relationship to each other "mean" based on specific cultural knowledges (what we know to be true in our culture).

So for example, the trophy found at the top of this entry.

Denotative level of meaning: A silver cup with handles atop a black pedestal. The text: "Most Boring Journal Entry Ever" engraved into the pedestal.

Connotative level of meaning: A silver cup with handles atop a pedestal in American culture represents what would be known as a trophy, an award for accomplishing some sort of achievement. The text: "Most Boring Journal Entry Ever" found engraved into the pedestal indicates that something or someone has received, or is going to receive this trophy for having created a very boring journal entry.

By examining the denotative and connotative elements of any image, and linking the two using cultural knowledge, a "myth" can be created. This a different definition for myth, it does not mean "something that is not true" like the definition we are used to seeing. In fact, a myth according to communications is the exact opposite. It means a "universal truth," the general truth about society or culture that the image has produced. So the myth for the image of the trophy would be, "This journal entry is the most boring journal entry ever." That is the truth that the image creates. And that was just part 1 of my paper.

Neat, huh?

So, after slaving through part 2 of the paper, a concept of media representation that frustrated me so badly it will not be mentioned, I finally finished my paper at 7:30 this morning. Time for bed.

8:30 this morning. time to get up.

You know those days when sleeping for an extra minute is all you want to do? And a minute becomes five minutes, then ten minutes, then 15 minutes? That's how this morning was. I squeezed every last second out of that alarm clock before I finally forced myself to get up. A quick shower and I was out the door five minutes later than usual...not bad. My historic night was over and the new day was bright and encouraging.

There was 6 inches of snow on my car.

Check it out, I am not a fan of tragedies. I like my stories to conclude with happy endings. If I would have ended right there, this story would have been an absolute and epic tragedy. But lucky for you, reader, I am not ending here. Fast forward to 2:30. School is over and it is time to reward myself for making it through a frustrating night and a sleep deprived day. I present to you:


The Spicy Baconator, from Wendy's. Pepper Jack Cheese, 2 Beef Patties, Six Strips of Bacon, Loads of Jalapenos, Spicy Chipotle Sauce. Enough said.

Could an ending get any more happier? Didn't think so.

Summer Sales

I really enjoy going to school. It is fun being on campus with thousands of other people just like me and the whole college atmosphere at the U is a fun one to be involved with. The campus is set on the east side of Salt Lake "up on the hill" and has great views overlooking downtown and the valley to the west with the mountains directly to the east. Having been attending the U for nearly 3 years now, I have a good knowledge of where all the buildings are and the quickest routes to get from one to another (the campus is quite large).

I have had my share of "shortcuts gone bad." For instance, about a month ago I was trying to find a good way to get from my communications class (lower campus - or downhill) to my economics class (upper campus - or uphill). I have only fifteen minutes between them and it takes about that time to get from one to the next. The Marriott Library, the main library on campus, is situated right in the middle of campus and subsequently right in the middle of my path to economics. After growing tired of always walking around the large and wide building, I decided that I was going to go through it.

Bad idea.

The library is going through a massive renovation and the south, east, and north entrances are all blocked off due to construction. Wish I would have known that before I entered this now-become labyrinth of twisted steel and concrete! After about 20 minutes of frantically trying to find my way out of there, I finally got to the exit, conveniently known as the entrance 20 minutes previous. I was by now, of course, 20 minutes late to class with another 10 of walking left to go. Although this is equivalent to a modern day horror story, and one that is for sure much more entertaining than I Still Know What You Did Last Summer or Scream, or even both of them combined, I would prefer to take that passage to class every day rather than the one I have to take from Writing to Math.

In order for me to get to the Engineering Building (where my math class is) from the Business Building (writing class), I have to pass by the Student Union. A great place to hang out, watch the game, bowl, get some food, or use the computers - the Student Union has many great attributes. But sometimes you just want a peaceful walk by the building and to be...

LEFT ALONE!

Ain't gonna happen. This is where the summer sales parasites wait for you. These leeches prey on college students, flashing their big signs that claim, "Make thousands of dollars in three months," and they will stop at nothing short of getting your attention. In Utah, it's all about selling security systems and pest control. They target the returned missionaries because RM's have experience going door to door and "selling religion." Now all you have to do is sell security systems. Just sugar coat the presentation, master slimy sales tactics, and you're good to go. Just don't plan on getting any sleep at night if you have a conscience.

I had this one guy from Platinum Security offer me a dollar bill just to listen to him. I refused, but felt rude when he kept talking and I was walking away, so mistakingly I stopped and listened. Within a minute he was trying to get me to sign a lengthy contract and told me that I was stupid and a failure if I didn't. I told him that he was wasting my time and got ready to leave. Trying to impress me, he threw the dollar bill in my direction and said "Here, take this, I don't need it, I work for Platinum and make thousands." I said to him, "I don't want it." If there is one thing that bugs me more than almost anything, it is people trying to impress me with their money. It's a dollar bill. It's made of paper. Sure it could have gotten me a Junior Bacon Cheeseburger, or maybe a small box of French Fries, but it wasn't going to buy me happiness (just a few extra grams of fat).

I did the whole security summer extravaganza last year, and that's a story in of itself. I almost got tricked into something similar again this year with another company, but luckily I have learned my lesson and got out. Maybe, if you are lucky and I am in the mood, I will write about it sometime. But not today. The focal point today is this area by the union and avoiding the recruiters for summer sales. I have learned that if you go along the east side of the library and west of the waterfall, there are fewer recruiters. Plus the area is larger so it is harder for them to single you out. Also, if you have an ipod, it is an awesome weapon. Just put those headphones on and turn it up loud! Make sure it is loud enough so they know you can't hear them. Head forward, eyes straight, keep walking. Works flawlessly!

Now I am not trying to say that the opportunities presented by some of these recruiters aren't worthwhile for some people, but for me they aren't. I've been there, done that. It is possible to make some good money. But, if I ever wanted to do something like that again, I know where to go and how to sign up. I am just tired of getting harassed every day by these guys. Who are they to tell me what I want and don't want? Who are they to tell me that in order to truly be successful I must enlist in their army of salesmen?

I am proud to be a student of the University of Utah, and especially a university where freedom of speech and opinion can be expressed without consequence. I enjoy attending classes where opinions differ. I like to debate with others about the existence of God and similar controversial topics in an academic system without fear of being expelled. I am being prepared for the real world by interacting with those from all backgrounds and belief systems. I enjoy being "outside the bubble."

But, with freedom comes sacrifice.

Although I don't agree with the summer sales programs and their sales tactics, I respect their opinion and their right to be on campus. Thankfully, I have freedom of choice. That's what college is all about, or at least should be. Choosing for yourself what you want to become of your life. As for summer sales, the Utah college craze, I choose no.

Good reads that make you consider:

Summer Sales Jobs Lucrative, But Tricky
- Unbiased information from the school newspaper
Missing Ethics In Door-to-Door Alarm Sales
- Sounds similar to what tactics the recruiters use on college students. It's no wonder the recruiters are former "top salesmen"
Article about Firstline Security
-The company I worked for, went bankrupt, but undoubtedly similar to most other summer sale alarm companies.
And another
-Obviously I'm against this!