Monday, March 11, 2013

Do You Know The Way To Wadowice? --Danielle Sargent


March 10, 2013

Today we went to Wadowice and were able to have some free time to experience Polish culture in the square.  We were able to tour an exhibit which had some things from Pope John Paul II’s house in it.  Currently his house is being renovated so we were unable to take an actual tour through his house, but we were able to see it from the outside.  Seeing the things from his childhood was incredible.  Even though he is no longer living, I was able to feel a connection with him, more so than from any movie I have seen about him, or any book that I have read. 
 

The Mass Basilica of Wadowice is located near the home of Pope John Paul II, with a very large square in front of it which people congregate around.  This was particularly interesting because all of the people from the surrounding area came together to this center point to socialize as well as attend the services.  Throughout the mass there was standing room only.  The beautiful church was full of excitement from the parishioners, and even though the entire mass was performed in Polish, I was still able to understand what was happening and I felt welcomed. 

Later in the evening we had a lecture from Father Manfred where he taught us about the different backgrounds and approaches of the Polish, Germans, and the Jewish in relation to the Holocaust.  Because of all the stories passed down over the years as well as historical events, everyone comes with their own approach towards other people.  There is no blank slate.  Different groups see things from different perspectives for obvious reasons. 

For the Jewish, as explained by Father Manfred, their hope is “in the shadow of the Shoah”.  Shoah is the Jewish word for Holocaust.  Auschwitz is not a place of ‘shalom’ which changed the way that Jews are looked at worldwide.  What was a celebratory religion became scarred with death and horror.  The Shoah is a constant wound for all Jewish people.  The Polish Catholics that were also in the camp were deeply affected by the Holocaust.  They were forced to experience death and torture just as many of the Jews.  However, for the Polish Catholics, this confirmed their religion and became a symbol to represent human dignity.  Both religions survived this, and in survival comes strength. 

The Germans come from the perpetrator perspective of the Holocaust.  They must take a critical approach when discussing this part of their history (which they do not like to do).  They have the difficult task of honoring their dead for who they were as family members and friends, and not for their job of being a Nazi.  For the Germans, it is very important to separate the two:  this is their wound.

For all who were involved, the Holocaust or Shoah left deep scars that have lasted years.  The cultures have kept these wounds known so that this “experiment” will not happen again.  However, by sharing these bad memories, this creates a separation for the future.  People look at others differently and without trust.  Will trust and forgiveness ever be established to mend the destroyed relationship between these three groups or will the world be forced to live with this mistake forever?

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