I wasn't originally planning to post any more about "Europa, Europa," but I was interested in how differently this class seemed to feel than some of my class members last year. Perel "became" "racially pure", not just "racially pure", but actually a German soldier and then a member of the Hitler Youth, in this movie. Most of you seemed to view this as admirable, a triumph of sorts because he "outsmarted" the Nazis. Some in the past have been almost morally outraged at his decision, and have viewed it as a betrayal of his people and his brothers. I would venture to guess that Holocaust survivors who have viewed this movie also have varying opinions on the topic. For the sake of argument, I just wondered if there was anyone who did not speak up in class on the opposing side but would like to do so on here. If this post speaks to anyone, I am very curious to hear your opinions.
Lit Terms 2
5 years ago
11 comments:
I Think that it was wrong of him to try to blend in with the Nazis, because it was as if he wasn't proud to be jewish. If something like this happened to another group of people, such as Christians, i think that it is showing weakness not to stand up and tell them that you believe a certain way. ___ Trevor B.
well I think I'm with the majorty on this one. Rev. Trev has a point, but put yourself in his shoes. He was working with the situation he was put in. Now I know everybody looks at what he did differently, but the bottom line was that he was trying to survive. Like Mrs. Davis said, he was hiding, just in a different way.
Well, Adam, I am not sure if that was mean or not. I do think this certainly makes for an interesting discussion.
I don't think it was a matter of being ashamed of being Jewish, but wanting to survive at all costs. I feel the majority of Christians, myself included, would have done the same thing if they were in such circumstances.
I don't think it was wrong of him to try and survive. Some say that he betrayed his people by becoming a soldier and then a Hitler Youth. I disagree. It wasn't like he was out there torturing his people. He was just trying to survive. I think it takes courage to go and take shelter with those who would like nothing more than to kill you.
I don't know I have to agree with Trevor. I think that he did betray his people by joining the Nazis. I think that he was weak to not to stand up and say "hey I'm a Jew and I am proud." If I were him I would have held strong to my beliefs and announced that I was a Jew and I am proud to be one. I would rather die than not hold to my beliefs. -Nick H.
After watching this movie I felt that his actions were justified by the situations he was thrown into, and the fact he never killed anyone. He just floated his way through the war. However, upon thinking it over, if I had been a Holocaust survivor and saw this movie, I would feel disgust towards the main character. I would've felt it wasn't fair that I suffered through the camps and he simply blended in with the Nazis. I definately see myself changing my opinion had I been a camp survivor. It just wouldn't seem fair to me.
-Laura Hoffmann
I don't think that he was completely wrong for covering up his identity, but at the same time it made me think somewhat less of him. While his family and millions of other Jews were suffering for their beliefs he took the easy way out and was living a much better life at the Hitler youth school. To me it just seems sort of the same scenario when people commit a sin, ask for forgiveness for it, then go out and do the same thing again and blame it on the "circumstances." If he wants to be proud and satisfied with who he really is then I don't think he should try to hide it.
-Kate
morality is not the question here. when times get tough human instinct kicks in and that instinct in one word.... survival. and thats what he did.
i had mixed feelings about this movie. i understand that he was trying to survive, but its almost like he portrayed his people by doing it. i do agree with the fact that his family was just thrilled to see he was alive, but i'm surprised that other Jewish people didn't look down at him.
A. carroll
I believe he was just trying to survive. There were many people who hid and got away with it during the Holocaust, he just was able to hide in plain sight. He was given a choice that first time, to either say he was Jewish, and die then, or to say he was German and live for a little bit longer. He didn't know how long he was going to survive. He was just trying to hold on just a little bit longer. And its not like he converted to the Nazi party and went around killing people. He was just wearing a mask. Once he made that decision, he had no choice but to keep pretending.
Post a Comment