It’s important to remember the past, especially when it has to do with social justice issues. This past week, our German Culture Club on-campus created events for students, faculty and the public to attend in honor of Holocaust Rememberance day, which was on Wednesday, April 15th. This is a day where we can not only remember the lives that were ruined and lost as a result of the Nazi Regime’s actions but learn from the people who stood up against this totalitarian, racist authority.
My classes this semester have caused me to realized that I am one of many people who grew up thinking, learning and hearing that human rights inequality are a thing of the past. For example, WWII is taught more as a war against countries and ideals and that it was the only time there was racial inequality at that intense of a level. In reality, it had been happening before that and continues to happen to this day. Currently, our campus has formed a coalition called Black Lives Matter that has started a discussion and dialogue about the racial inequality that is happening in the US and how people are faced with prejudice and injustice in their daily lives. With racial, sexual and religious inequality happening here in the United States and in Europe, now is an important time to understand what has happened in the past to understand how we can combat inequality in an effective and peaceful way.
To begin the week, the White Rose Exhibition was shown in the Clark Library from the Sunday the 12th until the following Sunday the 19th. The traveling exhibit has come from Germany to the US to inform viewers of the non-violent resistance group, Die Weisse Rose, towards the Nazi Regime. The exhibit consists of 47 life size posters documenting the group’s story.
On Monday, the White Rose Opening Reception was held in the Library, where Professor Dr. Laura McLary, head of department of International Languages and Cultures, presented fascinating information and research on Die Weisse Rose and how some of the leaders, Hans and Sophie Scholl had an incredible impact on others by writing six leaflets against the Nazi Regime.
As college students, it sometimes feels like we are miles away from real, big social issues like human rights inequality. But these students, who started Die Weisse Rose, were college students who grew up in wealthy families, were a part of the bourgeois class, and merely refused to accept the Nazi ideals. They truly weren’t much different then we are here today. By bringing this exhibit to UP, we can continue spreading and supporting the efforts of the Die Weisse Rose.
To continue the week, there was a screening of Sophie Scholl: Die Letzten Tag on Thursday the 16th at 7:00p.m.. The movie was about Sophie Scholl and her brother Hans who were convicted of high treason on the 22nd of February 1942. They were members of the White Rose organization that resisted Hitler’s war policies and called for nonviolence resistance against the Nazi regime. The film emphasizes the personal courage of the members of this organization and symbolizes the resistance against National Socialism.
We wanted to bring these events to campus for many reasons. One reason was to create a place where we can openly discuss the significance of non-violent resistance to racial, sexual and religious prejudices, to understand that these issues are not so removed from us here at UP. We have a responsibility to take actions and keep this dialogue going. The German Culture Club encouraged those who attended the events to have the mindset that these issues are still manifested in our reality and how Die Weisse Rose fought for their beliefs. It can be a model for people to stand up and make our world a better, more peaceful place.
Some content credited to Tina Bachmeier.