Thursday, April 17, 2014

PERIOD 6: AMERICA AND THE HOLOCAUST

Complex social and political factors shaped America's response to the Holocaust, from Kristallnacht in 1938 through the liberation of the death camps in 1945. For a short time, the U.S. had an opportunity to open its doors, but instead erected a "paper wall," a bureaucratic maze that prevented all but a few Jewish refugees from entering the country. When do you think the government should have become involved in helping the Jews and what should it have done? What were the factors that prevented the government from helping Jewish refugees enter the country?

34 comments:

Dan Finger said...

I was not in school on Thrusday so I can't complete this blog.

Dan Finger said...

I was not in school on Thrusday so I can't complete this blog.

Emily Ryan said...

America and the Holocaust broadened my view on what role the United States played before the country entered world war two, but while the holocaust in Germany was occuring. I learned a lot of how the government created ridiculous pieces of legislation, preventing Jews from entering the country. I had previously been aware that the United States knew of the injustices against Jews going on throughout Europe, but I had not known the government went to such lengths to prevent them from taking refuge in the country. I believe that immediately after the United States got confirmation that the Nazi goal wad to exterminate all Jews in Europe, it should have stepped in. I think the government could have done a lot to help Jews throughout the Holocaust, and at least prevent a good portion of innocent lives from being lost. Eventhough the United States promoted freedom, antisemitism was still present which made the lives of American Jews difficult already; this was an underlying factor as to why the United States did not jump in and help the Jews. I think if they had tried to help, they could have made deals to take in a certain amount of refugees every few months or so, or even told them they could stay only until the holocaust and the war was over. Instead the United States government did near to nothing when it could have saved lives and gone against the antisemetic ideas of the time and "fight for humanity" as some American organizations tried to convince them to do.

Emily Ryan said...

America and the Holocaust broadened my view on what role the United States played before the country entered world war two, but while the holocaust in Germany was occuring. I learned a lot of how the government created ridiculous pieces of legislation, preventing Jews from entering the country. I had previously been aware that the United States knew of the injustices against Jews going on throughout Europe, but I had not known the government went to such lengths to prevent them from taking refuge in the country. I believe that immediately after the United States got confirmation that the Nazi goal wad to exterminate all Jews in Europe, it should have stepped in. I think the government could have done a lot to help Jews throughout the Holocaust, and at least prevent a good portion of innocent lives from being lost. Eventhough the United States promoted freedom, antisemitism was still present which made the lives of American Jews difficult already; this was an underlying factor as to why the United States did not jump in and help the Jews. I think if they had tried to help, they could have made deals to take in a certain amount of refugees every few months or so, or even told them they could stay only until the holocaust and the war was over. Instead the United States government did near to nothing when it could have saved lives and gone against the antisemetic ideas of the time and "fight for humanity" as some American organizations tried to convince them to do.

Emily Ryan said...

America and the Holocaust broadened my view on what role the United States played before the country entered world war two, but while the holocaust in Germany was occuring. I learned a lot of how the government created ridiculous pieces of legislation, preventing Jews from entering the country. I had previously been aware that the United States knew of the injustices against Jews going on throughout Europe, but I had not known the government went to such lengths to prevent them from taking refuge in the country. I believe that immediately after the United States got confirmation that the Nazi goal wad to exterminate all Jews in Europe, it should have stepped in. I think the government could have done a lot to help Jews throughout the Holocaust, and at least prevent a good portion of innocent lives from being lost. Eventhough the United States promoted freedom, antisemitism was still present which made the lives of American Jews difficult already; this was an underlying factor as to why the United States did not jump in and help the Jews. I think if they had tried to help, they could have made deals to take in a certain amount of refugees every few months or so, or even told them they could stay only until the holocaust and the war was over. Instead the United States government did near to nothing when it could have saved lives and gone against the antisemetic ideas of the time and "fight for humanity" as some American organizations tried to convince them to do.

Emily Ryan said...

America and the Holocaust broadened my view on what role the United States played before the country entered world war two, but while the holocaust in Germany was occuring. I learned a lot of how the government created ridiculous pieces of legislation, preventing Jews from entering the country. I had previously been aware that the United States knew of the injustices against Jews going on throughout Europe, but I had not known the government went to such lengths to prevent them from taking refuge in the country. I believe that immediately after the United States got confirmation that the Nazi goal wad to exterminate all Jews in Europe, it should have stepped in. I think the government could have done a lot to help Jews throughout the Holocaust, and at least prevent a good portion of innocent lives from being lost. Eventhough the United States promoted freedom, antisemitism was still present which made the lives of American Jews difficult already; this was an underlying factor as to why the United States did not jump in and help the Jews. I think if they had tried to help, they could have made deals to take in a certain amount of refugees every few months or so, or even told them they could stay only until the holocaust and the war was over. Instead the United States government did near to nothing when it could have saved lives and gone against the antisemetic ideas of the time and "fight for humanity" as some American organizations tried to convince them to do.

Emily Ryan said...

America and the Holocaust broadened my view on what role the United States played before the country entered world war two, but while the holocaust in Germany was occuring. I learned a lot of how the government created ridiculous pieces of legislation, preventing Jews from entering the country. I had previously been aware that the United States knew of the injustices against Jews going on throughout Europe, but I had not known the government went to such lengths to prevent them from taking refuge in the country. I believe that immediately after the United States got confirmation that the Nazi goal wad to exterminate all Jews in Europe, it should have stepped in. I think the government could have done a lot to help Jews throughout the Holocaust, and at least prevent a good portion of innocent lives from being lost. Eventhough the United States promoted freedom, antisemitism was still present which made the lives of American Jews difficult already; this was an underlying factor as to why the United States did not jump in and help the Jews. I think if they had tried to help, they could have made deals to take in a certain amount of refugees every few months or so, or even told them they could stay only until the holocaust and the war was over. Instead the United States government did near to nothing when it could have saved lives and gone against the antisemetic ideas of the time and "fight for humanity" as some American organizations tried to convince them to do.

Emily Ryan said...

America and the Holocaust broadened my view on what role the United States played before the country entered world war two, but while the holocaust in Germany was occuring. I learned a lot of how the government created ridiculous pieces of legislation, preventing Jews from entering the country. I had previously been aware that the United States knew of the injustices against Jews going on throughout Europe, but I had not known the government went to such lengths to prevent them from taking refuge in the country. I believe that immediately after the United States got confirmation that the Nazi goal wad to exterminate all Jews in Europe, it should have stepped in. I think the government could have done a lot to help Jews throughout the Holocaust, and at least prevent a good portion of innocent lives from being lost. Eventhough the United States promoted freedom, antisemitism was still present which made the lives of American Jews difficult already; this was an underlying factor as to why the United States did not jump in and help the Jews. I think if they had tried to help, they could have made deals to take in a certain amount of refugees every few months or so, or even told them they could stay only until the holocaust and the war was over. Instead the United States government did near to nothing when it could have saved lives and gone against the antisemetic ideas of the time and "fight for humanity" as some American organizations tried to convince them to do.

Sarah Foley said...

I was actually completed stunned by the video we watched in class today, mainly due to the inaction of the United States during the Holocaust. In addition, I was astounded by the number of Jews evacuated from each European country involved and later by how many Jews were executed in such a short amount of time. It was thousands every single day, and the United States did not do all in their power to save the Jews in Europe. In fact, the video said that the government actually blocked and ignored reports of the genocide. In my opinion, inaction is just as bad as the action itself. What the US did wasn't all that different than what the Nazis did. Turning a blind eye did not help the situation in the slightest. I couldn't believe my ears when the video went on to say that the US government actually displayed Anti-Semetic attitudes regarding rescuing the Jews: they didn't want to deal with them if they came here! And I always thought the US was the one country that didn't turn a blind eye...I'm incredibly disappointed with the United States' lack of aid and action.

Sarah Foley said...

I was actually completed stunned by the video we watched in class today, mainly due to the inaction of the United States during the Holocaust. In addition, I was astounded by the number of Jews evacuated from each European country involved and later by how many Jews were executed in such a short amount of time. It was thousands every single day, and the United States did not do all in their power to save the Jews in Europe. In fact, the video said that the government actually blocked and ignored reports of the genocide. In my opinion, inaction is just as bad as the action itself. What the US did wasn't all that different than what the Nazis did. Turning a blind eye did not help the situation in the slightest. I couldn't believe my ears when the video went on to say that the US government actually displayed Anti-Semetic attitudes regarding rescuing the Jews: they didn't want to deal with them if they came here! And I always thought the US was the one country that didn't turn a blind eye...I'm incredibly disappointed with the United States' lack of aid and action.

Jack Kinsman said...

While vile and horrifying, it is not totally surprising to see the United States government have a history self interest during times of conflict. The several opportunities that our politicians had to intervene to with-held information about the daily genocides going on in these death camps ended up playing second fiddle to the war and America's image during the time. To have read and confirmed documents saying (behind closed doors, of course) that the second most pressing matter behind taking down the Nazi Regime was the fear of having to simply harbor these lost souls. "Give me your weak, your sick and your poor," written on the statue of liberty on Ellis Island clearly meant nothing to these pompous ass-wipes who held a false conference to only string along and dash the hopes of American jews, some of which had waited for their family members to receive their Visa to the US, of which some received after their death. This negligence is something of a habit when it comes to certain arrogance that runs in the veins of our political system.

Tim Forrest said...

Some of the factors that prevented the U.S military from helping the Jewish communities was the slow response by Congress. While the Genocide was going on, the U.S government was still talking back at one another not knowing what to do. Had they not have argued and discussed what to do, and actually took action, millions of lives possibly could have been saved. Due not only to Hitler’s communist gain, and wiping out the entire Jewish population, it possibly could have been stopped a couple years earlier because of the U.S government acting in a more swiftly manner. Also, France was the country that had helped Germany out a lot, by giving them supplies. This only made it worse for the Jewish race because it made it easier for Germany to kill more of them. If it wasn’t for France helping Germany out, the Jewish race could had been saved by the millions. Not only this, but from the effects of France it made it harder for the U.S to save more Jews.

Tim Forrest said...

Some of the factors that prevented the U.S military from helping the Jewish communities was the slow response by Congress. While the Genocide was going on, the U.S government was still talking back at one another not knowing what to do. Had they not have argued and discussed what to do, and actually took action, millions of lives possibly could have been saved. Due not only to Hitler’s communist gain, and wiping out the entire Jewish population, it possibly could have been stopped a couple years earlier because of the U.S government acting in a more swiftly manner. Also, France was the country that had helped Germany out a lot, by giving them supplies. This only made it worse for the Jewish race because it made it easier for Germany to kill more of them. If it wasn’t for France helping Germany out, the Jewish race could had been saved by the millions. Not only this, but from the effects of France it made it harder for the U.S to save more Jews.

Emily Ryan said...

America and the Holocaust broadened my view on what role the United States played before the country entered world war two, but while the holocaust in Germany was occuring. I learned a lot of how the government created ridiculous pieces of legislation, preventing Jews from entering the country. I had previously been aware that the United States knew of the injustices against Jews going on throughout Europe, but I had not known the government went to such lengths to prevent them from taking refuge in the country. I believe that immediately after the United States got confirmation that the Nazi goal wad to exterminate all Jews in Europe, it should have stepped in. I think the government could have done a lot to help Jews throughout the Holocaust, and at least prevent a good portion of innocent lives from being lost. Eventhough the United States promoted freedom, antisemitism was still present which made the lives of American Jews difficult already; this was an underlying factor as to why the United States did not jump in and help the Jews. I think if they had tried to help, they could have made deals to take in a certain amount of refugees every few months or so, or even told them they could stay only until the holocaust and the war was over. Instead the United States government did near to nothing when it could have saved lives and gone against the antisemetic ideas of the time and "fight for humanity" as some American organizations tried to convince them to do.

Ellie Simmons said...

I feel like the U.S.'s inaction in terms of the holocaust is something that really doesn't get enough attention, I don't even remember truly discussing it in history class, despite the fact that we learned about the incidents like the U.S. Maine that made this inaction so blaring. But the total inaction and opposition is really appalling, as are the facts on the bureaucratic red tape that existed back then (I've always found it ironic that one politician like Breckinridge or a department can be so secretly obstructive in a government that preaches about checks and balances). I think the U.S. should have been involved far sooner, with a proactive government like ours they had to have known about it practically as soon as it was happening, and they certainly should have began acting at least at their first opportunities to shelter refugees. Again there's that irony (more like hypocrisy...) in that we have this history of sort of "big stick" politics and acting like we were the police of the international world, yet we rolled over for the Nazis and practically acquiesced to the killings. I think what shocks me the most is the outright opposition to basically any even small effort to help, I'm not saying they should have been expected to bust in right away and liberate all the camps, but they couldn't even be bothered to let refugees into the country? That's what shows the antisemitism. Maybe if the government just didn't want to send troops into other nations like Germany and "over-step," you could perhaps try to argue they were just thinking politically and pragmatically, but the fact that they couldn't even allow the borders to remain open and visa policies to remain the same shows there was blatant anti-Semitic feelings among those with power. If the U.S. had done nothing and been a bystander, that would have been awful, but what's worse is that they literally took action to prevent Jews from entering the country. The fact is, I can't think of any explanation other than antisemitism as to why the U.S. couldn't have at least kept the immigration process efficient and allowed the countless Jews waiting on visas to enter the country. What they really should have done is help in sheltering refugee's and the rescue effort, they were position and had the power to very easily make a huge difference and they couldn't have been bothered due to antisemitism and political doublespeak by men like Breckinridge (it would have been a "danger" to be released millions of Jews, effectively saving their lives, come on!)

Ellie Simmons said...

I feel like the U.S.'s inaction in terms of the holocaust is something that really doesn't get enough attention, I don't even remember truly discussing it in history class, despite the fact that we learned about the incidents like the U.S. Maine that made this inaction so blaring. But the total inaction and opposition is really appalling, as are the facts on the bureaucratic red tape that existed back then (I've always found it ironic that one politician like Breckinridge or a department can be so secretly obstructive in a government that preaches about checks and balances). I think the U.S. should have been involved far sooner, with a proactive government like ours they had to have known about it practically as soon as it was happening, and they certainly should have began acting at least at their first opportunities to shelter refugees. Again there's that irony (more like hypocrisy...) in that we have this history of sort of "big stick" politics and acting like we were the police of the international world, yet we rolled over for the Nazis and practically acquiesced to the killings. I think what shocks me the most is the outright opposition to basically any even small effort to help, I'm not saying they should have been expected to bust in right away and liberate all the camps, but they couldn't even be bothered to let refugees into the country? That's what shows the antisemitism. Maybe if the government just didn't want to send troops into other nations like Germany and "over-step," you could perhaps try to argue they were just thinking politically and pragmatically, but the fact that they couldn't even allow the borders to remain open and visa policies to remain the same shows there was blatant anti-Semitic feelings among those with power. If the U.S. had done nothing and been a bystander, that would have been awful, but what's worse is that they literally took action to prevent Jews from entering the country. The fact is, I can't think of any explanation other than antisemitism as to why the U.S. couldn't have at least kept the immigration process efficient and allowed the countless Jews waiting on visas to enter the country. What they really should have done is help in sheltering refugee's and the rescue effort, they were position and had the power to very easily make a huge difference and they couldn't have been bothered due to antisemitism and political doublespeak by men like Breckinridge (it would have been a "danger" to be released millions of Jews, effectively saving their lives, come on!)

Tim Forrest said...

Some of the factors that prevented the U.S military from helping the Jewish communities was the slow response by Congress. While the Genocide was going on, the U.S government was still talking back at one another not knowing what to do. Had they not have argued and discussed what to do, and actually took action, millions of lives possibly could have been saved. Due not only to Hitler’s communist gain, and wiping out the entire Jewish population, it possibly could have been stopped a couple years earlier because of the U.S government acting in a more swiftly manner. Also, France was the country that had helped Germany out a lot, by giving them supplies. This only made it worse for the Jewish race because it made it easier for Germany to kill more of them. If it wasn’t for France helping Germany out, the Jewish race could had been saved by the millions. Not only this, but from the effects of France it made it harder for the U.S to save more Jews.

Julie Pham said...

When people think of the Holocaust, Nazis are probably the first offenders to come to mind. But America’s response, or lack of, aided the Nazis by allowing them to continue instead of trying to help the Jews. Being passive bystanders made America have some responsibility in the deaths that they could’ve prevented. I know there was a lot for the government to consider when deciding whether or not to allow Jewish refugees into the country; however, the government seemed passive of the subject. Rather than spreading the information and doing things in a timely manner, things were put off and information was withheld from the people. I think this is immature and wrong because people should be aware of what is happening in the world, especially if it concerns their country.

Stacey Cusson said...

I was surprised that the US hadn't tried to help the Jews when the massive genocide was occurring in Europe. Seeing as how our country is supposed to be a model for other countries, I would've thought that they would at least try to help the Jews in Europe, but instead they made it almost impossible for anyone to come into the country by creating restrictive legislation. The man’s parents in the video had been constantly denied access to the U.S. because they wouldn't give them the papers they needed although they were previously told they were going to be given them. If the US had taken action and let the Jews in, thousands of people could’ve been saved, however there was also opposition from american citizens who began a wave of anti-antisemitism because they didn't want the Jews to steal their jobs. I think that the US could’ve offered temporary relief for the Jews and other countries would've followed their example, and once the war was over then they could’ve safely returned to Europe. If only the US had stepped in when Hitler started acting against the treaty made after WWI, then maybe the genocide could’ve been avoided along with the major war. I also believe that the US was aware of the genocide happening in Europe, yet America chose to be a bystander rather than being proactive.

Mike Ferraro said...

This film was truly and honestly eye-opening. With that, it left me with disgust and many questions. Today, the thought of an event lasting a few weeks without US intervention is crazy. The fact that European Jews were being herded like cattle and gassed for 4 years is sickening. I remembered then, oh it was kept a secret, but then when I saw the stories of thousands of Jews being massacred daily being published in American newspapers, I was lost of words. Not only was it published, but they put the story on page 6. You would think such acts and such headlines that include 'slain' and 'extermination' wouldn't catch people's eye and make the front page. Honestly, its shameful to see that American people and many government officials were against helping the Jews and swept the stories under the carpet so the public wouldn't learn what was happening.

Mads Fallentin said...

I have learned a good bit about the holocaust previously in my high school career, but this was the first time I got an insight on the United States' involvement in the holocaust. I was surprised, first of all, at how difficult it was for Jews to enter America, due in part to the anti semitism that was still flourishing at the time in the U.S. In addittion I was surprised at, for one, how unaware Americans were of the events taking place in Europe, and even more so at how slow they were to react once they realized what was going on. It was frustrating to watch in hindsight, millions of Jews, innocent people, being slaughtered while the U.S. looked on, doing nothing before it was already too late. I was also aggrevated at the slow process of the U.S congress and their inability to fulfill promises.

Joe Bretta said...

I was absolutely shocked while I watched this film. How any country could turn their backs on an entire race and not even feel an ounce of guilt if absolutely terrible. it makes me feel awful to be an American. Not only did the American Government not do anything to help the Jews that were being killed, but they just stood by and didn't’ even let them into the country. the American Government also knew for a long time that these killings were going on, but they didn't care. People in America were completely aware of the situation going on in Europe despite it being on page six and not page one. The American people still did nothing.

Liz Makris said...

Before watching this film, I was not aware of the actions, or lack thereof, of the United States during the time of the Holocaust. The Holocaust was always something that I thought of as having occurred in Europe, and not really having much of a connection to the rest of the world. Now, my view is completely different. This film is yet another example of guilt by inaction: the fact that it is not just the direct perpetrators who are responsible, but also everyone who stands by and does nothing to stop what is happening. In my opinion, the U.S. government should have become involved in helping the Jews as soon as it learned of the crimes against humanity that were being committed. As Americans and as citizens of the world it was our duty not just to take notice of the atrocities that were occurring in Europe, but also to do something about them. The fact that the U.S. did not help Jewish refugees enter the country speaks to the intense Anti-Semitism that existed during the time, as well as the xenophobia that has played a large role in many parts of American history. It is heartbreaking to imagine how differently things could have turned out if the United States had simply opened its arms to the Jews.

Brian Bernard said...

The main thing I learned from the movie was the extend of anti-semanticist views that plagued much of US citizens and the US government. I can relate this to US history, as antisemitism has been prevalent throughout US history: the civil war,economic depression in eastern Europe (1881-1920) causing immigration, and even later with the Johnson Reed act of 1924 which limited Jewish immigration. Many people including Henry Ford, believed that the Jews were responsible for WW1 and even considered Jews war profiteers. So, after watching this film, I'm not entirely surprised that the antisemitism extended during WW2 when millions of Jews were slaughtered and the US turned a blind eye. Since antisemitism plauged the minds of many Americans in the early 20th century, these ideas were extended to their kids, whereas, once those kids matured and took jobs in the US government; there bias towards jews which is learned from their fathers may have affected their judgement in WW2 to save the Jews. Nonetheless, I think it's absolutely terrible what happened and am ashamed that I am part of a country that could be so jaded to the truth.

Daniel Triana said...

Unfortunately while the Nazis were in power in Germany the US was also having a rough time with their economy. Therefore they pushed the government to keep immigrants out so that they could not keep affecting the economy. While many people wanted to help and helped to spread the word about what was really going on in Germany, there was a lot of people who died know the whole story. To make matters even worse for the Jews, citizens of the US also had antisemistic feelings and there was even Nazi uprisings in the US. Therefore it was hard for the supporters of helping the Jews to raise awareness.

Jameson Bradley said...

After watching this film I soon realized the lack of effort the Us put in to try and stop the Nazis. I learned that the US actually denied some ships that were sending Jews over and we basically killed them off, by not letting them in we just sent them back to their death. Once our country had known that the Hitler's main focus was to kill off the Jews for no reason we should have stopped him right then and there but for some reason we decided not to. It really disgusts me knowing that we really didn't do anything to help the Jews at all. Congress never made a decision quick enough and they should have realized we needed to help, but never did.

Julia Kalinowski said...

After viewing this film, I was astonished by what little the American government really did to help the victims of the Holocaust, instead making it very difficult to come to the safety of America and ultimately rejecting many of the people who needed help. I believe that America should have both opened the doors to victims of these crimes attempting to leave behind their lives for safety and security as well as tried to help remaining victims in other countries as well. The government had numerous opportunities to aid these suffering people, though ultimately turned a blind eye. These factors which led to the United States erecting a paper wall included the anti-Semitist sentiment in America, lack of general knowledge, as well as generally ignoring the problem. Though the government was warned numerous times about the Holocaust and the genocide that was occurring over in Europe, each time the decision was pushed aside and excuses were made; though if this was different, we can now see the millions of lives that would have been saved.

Kevin White said...

The fact that the US had no response to helping the refugees of the Holocaust was absurd. The US should've started helping the Jewish refugees once they found out that the German government was torturing them and killing them. Eventually the US did step in to help the refugees but it was almost too late to save all of them. The fact that the Nazi Germany was able to kill 6 million Jews without a response from the US really says something about us aiding them. Eventually the US did step in when they realized how big the problem actually was. The US should have step up to help once all that madness started occurring.

Sabina Spofford said...

The movie that we watched in class really stunned me because I never knew about America's relation to the Holocaust. I think that many people (including myself prior to this film) are under the impression that the Germans were the bad guys in World War II while in reality, many other countries such as the US were no better. I couldn't believe that the US would just sit back and watch the deaths of 6 million Jews unfold before their eyes. There were many points in which our country could have intervened to save the Jews. For example, I believe that a good time that the US could have intervened was when Germany invaded Poland. The antisemitism that existed in the United States at the time of the Holocaust is what made the US not help which is a horrible excuse

Amy Kaiser said...

After watching this film my eyes were really opened as to the lengths the nazis went to in order to prevent Jews from leaving the country. I had no idea that's laws were actually enacted to stop Jews from leaving the country. I had always assumed it was just the Nazis keeping them there against their will. I was also shocked as to how aware the government was of the treatment of the Jews yet how little they did to help. I'm disgusted that the US did nothing to help the refugees and hope if the same thing happened again in another country we would not be such bystanders. I feel like they used antisemitism as an excuse when in reality there is no excuse for not helping those innocent people.

Brett Vicidomino said...

The film, America and the Holocaust, showed me how poor the American government responded to helping the Jewish refugees, which I had not had much knowledge of before. I was not aware that the government made laws to prevent Jews from coming into the country. In my opinion, once the U.S. learned that the Nazi's wanted to exterminate all Jews, they should have stepped in and done everythings in their power to stop the extermination of Jews from happening. This wasn't just a fight for the Jewish people, this was a fight for humanity and it is a disgrace to humanity that the U.S. did not get involved when they had the power and ability to. This kind of an event is just one of the many examples of the misuse of power in our political system, and how in some cases, the wrong people are the ones possesing a lot of power.

Yvonne Langa said...

After watching this film I was disgusted on how so many people just stood by to watch the inhumanity perfomed towards millions of Jews everyday. I also felt sorry for the people that carried out the orders of just killing them because no human can be that heartless or have no emotion whatsoever to not realize what they were doing is wrong. Innocent people were killed, countries nearby just watching the massacre without aiding with help. This just shocked me as to how leaders with power didn't even try to help. I was also surprised when all the Jews on the ship came looking for refuge in America were just turned down and had to go back. Thousands of innocent children were on that ship and America couldn't even see that. This film was very eye opening to me and I'm still in disbelief as to how no one could help including America.

Ben Lazarine said...

Before this film I was always very confused as to why more jews didn't leave Germany. I was quite angry by the end of the film when I learned America created policies for the sole purpose of reducing European immigration. I think that right after FDR condemned the Nazi party America should've opened its doors. Instead of doing this America took steps to make immigration impossible. Many people in America feared immigrants taking jobs so they pressured their government to stop it. This allowed anti-semetic campaigns to begin all over America. America should've taken the opportunity they had to open their doors as soon as they learned of the acts occuring in Germany.

Amber considine said...

Absent