Behavior at play insults Jewish students
The following is a Counterpoint
By Josh Weinstein
At the play, "The Diary of Anne Frank," presented at Triad Stage, I noticed that some middle school students were not acting appropriately during several scenes. I would like to explain to them why my school didn't appreciate it when these students misbehaved.
My school is a Jewish school and Anne Frank was a Jew. That gives us a deeper feeling of connection and seriousness about Anne Frank. I understand that it's hard to take something seriously that you don't understand or don't have a personal connection to. The connection we have to Anne Frank is a very deep one. We Jews have gone through many wars, discrimination and times when our religion almost failed to continue.
One of the worst times was the Holocaust. In the Holocaust, Hitler aimed to completely erase the Jews of Europe, who numbered 11 million people. At first, people didn't take what Hitler said seriously and thought he was a joke. That was a very big mistake as Hitler killed more than half the Jews of Europe. He erased 6 million Jewish lives from the world.
Anne lived in hiding throughout the Holocaust and World War II. She was told terrible stories of what was happening to her old friends and people she knew. Eventually, Anne became another victim. Another Jewish life erased.
Some of us had family who lived through the Holocaust or were killed in it. This is why we have an incalculable connection to Anne Frank. This is also why we were deeply insulted by the misbehavior. It's almost like laughing at the murder of 6 million innocent people.
I hope this letter helps these students have a better understanding of Anne Frank and the play now.
The writer is an eighth-grade student.
Comments (10)
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Josh,
It's good to see that you have an appreciation for the history of the Jewish people, and I would agree that the study of the Holocaust or any other historical incident of genocidal intent is of a worthwhile, relevant and beneficial nature.
But don't allow yourself to be ofended by the misbehavior of a few middle school students, at that age not taking things seriously is more of a way of life than a snub of any given presentation.
Think instead of the children who did listen and learn from the play you attended. Any eyes that were opened, and any knowledge gained by anyone there about such an evil chapter in world history, provides that much less chance of it ever happening again.
Posted on October 2, 2006 6:01 AM
Was anyone making out on the back row?
Posted on October 2, 2006 7:00 AM
yes, definitely from the schindlers list seinfeld episode....newman!...
josh, all the $$$ and gifts from your pending bar mitzvah will help put this behind you...
Posted on October 2, 2006 7:34 AM
hey you get a day off from school today and those laughing gentile losers don't!....
josh- it definitely wasnt the new garden friends school 8th graders laughing...they were silent.
Posted on October 2, 2006 7:50 AM
jH,
excellent advise. often times we focus on the minority and forget to appreciate the larger audience. i hope josh considers it a life lesson and learns from it.........
Posted on October 2, 2006 10:33 AM
Josh, I agree w/janherman. The play could have been about muslims or christians or wiccans and those kids still would have laughed. Don't get your knickers in a twist!
Posted on October 2, 2006 11:48 AM
"My school is a Jewish school and Anne Frank was a Jew. That gives us a deeper feeling of connection and seriousness about Anne Frank."
I sometimes worry about people who view this sort of thing as their special possession. IMO, Anne Frank's story is special because it speaks to ALL people, regardless of their heritage or religious views. It was a story telling everyone that no matter who is de-humanized, they are still human and worthy of dignity. The story works universally, which is why it's important for everyone to hear it, not simply because we need to keep from trying to exterminate Jews.
Sometimes I wonder why it is that we have been able to ignore instances of genocide repeatedly over the years since World War 2. It's as if people are saying "Genocide is not a problem so long as the Jews are safe."
Conversely, I would be concerned over people who ignore Frank's story because she was Jewish. But I suspect that in the case of this letter, it was merely a set of thoughtless kids resenting being told to listen to something "because it's good for you."
Posted on October 2, 2006 12:27 PM
Don't have anything to say about the misbehavior, but the play was amazing! Congrads to all who produced this wonderful and thoughtful play.
The beginning and ending was much different than what I had seen before. I brought the plight of Anne and her family into a 21st century context.
Posted on October 2, 2006 3:34 PM
Didn't see the play but I've read the book several times over the year. For many of us, it is our best and most personal understanding of the holocaust and the people living their lives during it.
I must say that I really can agree with nemo0037's comments. My ancestry is mostly German and that doesn't make me identify at all with the Nazi's that ran concentration camps. Of course, my folks immigrated during the 1800's and had no part of it.
When folks try to take ownership of other's human tragedy, it gets a little tough to swallow. It reminds me of black folks who want reparations for events that happened to their ancestors pre-civil war.
Of course, I'm caucasian and you can say anything about my race and I'm not allowed to be insulted.
Posted on October 2, 2006 3:55 PM
Josh,
While I support your involvement in the world around you, I agree with JH. Most kids your age feel uncomfortable with displays of emotion. So they laugh to cover a host of emotions. Even adults are guilty of laughing/talking at inappropriate times.
The Diary of Anne Frank was a heart-wrenching story about man's inhumanity towards man. I can understand why it would stir such deep emotions. And I can understand those kids were uncomfortable. I am not trying to justify bad behavior; only trying to say I think their response was not meant to be disrespectful.
Posted on October 3, 2006 8:20 AM