The first day here in Poland made me realize something that I will analyze more deeply as I continue on this week long journey. Our guide for the week, Sister Mary, discussed with us a few things that we need to realize as we go about our tours of Poland. One of which is that "this is 2016, not the 1940s." She meant that as we walk through the camps and the towns of Poland we will not see nearly as destructive scenes as those did in the 40s. It is easy to think that because times have changed, so have the views of the people of Poland, however, as I witness and interact with the people of Poland I begin to disagree. One thing that kept on popping up in my head was "how do these people go about their everyday lives on some of the grounds in which the event of the Holocaust took place? The tour of the town took us through cemeteries, centers, museums, and squares. All that were touched by World War II and the Holocaust. The pictures attached are images of two cemeteries that we had the opportunity to visit here yesterday. One photo is of the only Jewish cemetery left in the country, the next of a Parish cemetery. It is clear to the eye which photo is which. As we walked through the Jewish cemetery my heart was heavy. It was quit unbelievable that this cemetery was destroyed during WWII and there was no stopping the mass destruction and bombing that took place. The people buried there prior to this were clearly effected without having to be alive to witness it. Some of tomb stones were consisted of broken pieces laying on the grounds. Fortunately, a wonderful family put in the time to help stand the rest of the stones up back to their normal position and place numbers on the back of them. As we left the Jewish cemetery we came across a Parish cemetery. In contrast to the Jewish cemetery, where there was no families visiting, no candles being lit, or tomb stones laying broken on the ground, this cemetery was filled with color and vibrance. Family members swarmed the grounds, placing beautiful candles and flowers on the clean tomb stones of their loved ones. People were smiling as they remembered the ones that have passed and there was a sense of love filling the atmosphere. The phrase Sister Mary had stated about it no longer being the 1940s came to mind. I could not help but think that if this is not 1940, the war is over, and the Holocaust is over, then why is it still clearly indicated that Jewish people are still treated in such ways as before the war?
On the bus ride home I had the chance to reflect back on this experience. I understand that the citizens of Poland must not live in the past or dwell on the events that occurred that many of them were not alive to witness, however, I still think that the image of the 1940s still impacts peoples minds. There are clear distinctions of segregation, a major topic that filled the 1940s. I will continue to observe and witness as this journey continues.
-Kristie Botti
Blog Post #1
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