Dear Michigan Mother

I was going to write a blog about the tragedy in Boston and and ask the question "why can't we all just get along?"  I was going to update and say that my project rocked the socks off some people and was a huge success.  But then there was an article that was brought to my attention that I feel is in need of a little more attention then my opinion on Boston or my view on how awesome I am.  :)   So here I go.

Dear Michigan Mother,
I have no words that can express my thoughts, my feelings, and my reactions when reading the actions you took in your daughters school district by pulling The Diary of Anne Frank from their curriculum.  Many words came to mind when I read the article about what you did.  Anger.  Disbelief.  Shocked.  But most of all, sadness.  Sadness that there are still people in this world who are denying the younger generations the opportunity to learn about the Shoah.  Sadness that you would rob your daughter and her classmates the opportunity to learn what an amazing woman Anne Frank was.  Sadness that you robbed your daughter one of the most powerful lessons that Anne Frank has to teach the world.  In her book, she states, "In spite of everything, I believe people are still good at heart."  I cannot tell you the amount of times I used this quote to help me get through the evil of this world.  And now, your daughter and her classmates, will not have that opportunity to learn more from that quote and others.  To compare Anne Frank's Diary to pornography is like comparing apples to cows.  The two have nothing to do with one another.  I take it you have never read the book, so I suggest you may want to not only read the book, but study the book.  Take in the words, that this amazing heroic, but scared little girl wrote about.  It is a tragedy that you are denying your daughter the opportunity to learn about this.  If we do not learn about history now, we are doomed to repeat it.  I feel for your daughter and her two classmates that are not able to read this book.  My school did not offer it and I was allowed to read it on my own (at the same age your daughter is).  It changed my life.  I hope your daughter finds a way to read it and I hope it changes her life. 

Sincerly,
Natalie

Shame on this mother.  I am sorry, but shame on her and the school district.  If the unedited version was too much, then they should have given her the edited version and been done with it.  Sounds like the mom wanted to throw a fit and get 2 minutes of fame.  This is what I have a problem with.  She and the school district for not TEACHING Shoah education and allowing it to be passed off like it is just no big deal.    If I would have told my mom that this book was making me uncomfortable, three things would have happened.  1) She would have talked with me about it (What a novel concept between mother and daughter at that age) 2) She would have bought me the edited version, or 3) I would have skipped over it and not read it, because really what teacher is going to ask the body part questions on a test about the Holocaust?!  So, in most states 5th grade is the sex-ed talk.  What did this mom do during that?  Take her daughter out and not let her watch the movie?

Anne Frank went through everything, and much more any little girl went through at that time in her life and I do not see why this mom is having a fit over the book.  Another question raises to mind, why not skip the chapters or sections of that book?  The mom could have told her daughter not to read those sections, the teacher could have pulled it from the lesson plan.  There is so much wrong here, that I cannot wrap my head around it.  Were the kids just uncomfortable at the changes Anne was going though or uncomfortable at the torture and unfairness that she and her family had to endure? 

This.  This is why history repeats itself, ladies and gentlemen.  When we do not teach our friends, families, the younger generations about something as tragic as the Shoah, this is when Holocaust denial comes into play, and bombings, Holocausts, and school shootings begin. 

Let's promise to end this now.  Let's teach those around us about mass tragedies, school shootings, the Shoah.  Let's end Holocaust denial.  Let's remember the 11 million that died and let's not forget them.  Let's stop bullying.  Because something tells me, one mom started it and it lead to another, who went to another.  Bullying one mom to pull their kids from reading the book.  So let's end bullying. 

"I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains".  -Anne Frank.



Let's remember the beauty that is around us and the hope that we can change the world if we just educate one person. This is why I want to do what I am planning on doing: http://www.gofundme.com/2biju8


Here is the article I am referencing:
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/pageviews/2013/04/michigan-mother-complains-about-anne-frank-diary-being-%E2%80%98inappropriate%E2%80%99-for-her-dau

Yom HaShoah 2013

April 7th was Holocaust remembrance day.  Every year, I look forward to this day. Why?  I am not a practicing Jew.  I was born and raised Christian.  Heck, last year was the first time I learned I was of Jewish decent.  So why do I look forward to this day?  Before this year, I always thought it was important to remember the 6 million that perished.  This year is was different. 

This year:
-I learned I had family members that died in the camps.   
-I created a very doable project to help in the field of Forensics and in Shoah studies
-I signed up for a Jewish learning class and learned 5 million others perished. (I knew others had died, but did not know the number was that high)
-I attended a Yom HaShoah service

This service was put on by a local temple, and I was in awe.  I went with the idea it was a remembrance service and names would be read.  In the Christian church, the remembrance services I have gone to, in such for those that lost their lives in 9/11, was quite different.  The pastor would give a sermon, people would cry, verses read, lights are low, and soft hymns are sung.  It's a sad experience.  One which is quite impacting on a person.  This service was different, at least for me.  

Pictures from camps, historical pictures and facts, and artifacts.  The candle lighting, the prayers, but most of all giving the individuals a name.  I stayed a listened to names and learned camp names I have never heard before.  I was asked to read names.  I was nervous.  What if I couldn't pronounce their names?  What if I messed up?  Would I dishonor a congregation member?  But worse, would I be dishonoring and not doing justice to those individual's who I read?  I took my place, read, and my heart broke.  Age 2, 7, 56, 74...  Dachau, Treblinka, Auschwitz...  Line after line... person after person.  My heart had never felt so shattered in my life.  I had been through some pretty tough things in my life...but to imagine myself back there in that time...it was unreal.  My words cannot explain what I felt.  I stepped down and a congregation member mouthed the words "Very good" to me.  I felt better.  Maybe I did do a little bit of justice to those people I have read.  

I went back the following day.  I went to their Sunday morning all Hebrew service, which in itself, fascinated me.  Then I watched a movie and learned more about the camps I have never heard before, the guilt individuals felt, and how Jews are becoming stronger and rebuilding a life in Germany.  Again, words cannot explain what I experienced during the film.  

I wish that I could come back every year to experience what I did this year.  It was amazing.  It was holy, breath taking, and mind blowing.  

I encourage everyone to find a Yom HaShoah service and attend it.  Not just because I have a weird passion for the Holocaust...but because the 11 million that perished, need their names, their stories, and the lives to be remembered.  That is why this project is so important.  

http://www.gofundme.com/2biju8

Please take time to read it, and think about it, and share it.  If you have questions email me or comment here.  Please do not let these 11 million individuals be forgotten.  

Living in Scotland

I am getting very excited to move and have been looking on campus and around the campus to live.  My mom has a different idea on where I should live.  She thinks I should live an hour and half away with a friends family.  While it would be nice to know people, even though I have never met these people...I want to live on my own.  I want to get to know the city I will spending 5-6 years in.  I want to meet the locals.  This is why I am pushing the "Go Fund Me" website so much.  I actually need $30,000 to live on campus, but $20,000 will help for the first semester and for part of the second semester, and I hope to get a job to help pay for the rest of it.  

So please, help me reach this goal.  http://www.gofundme.com/2biju8

Share it with everyone you know.  Donate as much or as little as you can.  Please.  

I cannot wait to start this part of my life, but I need your help.   

New Journey, New Blog!

April 1, marks exactly 5 months away till I get to start graduate school welcome week!  

I have created this blog, so as I get ready for the move, during school, and after school, you the readers can follow along with me in my wonderful new journey.  I hope you are as excited as I am.  

So, a little bit about me.  I will be moving to the wonderful UK from the good 'ol USA to pursue a Masters in Human Anatomy and a PhD in Forensic Anthropology with a specialization in Mass Graves.  Science has always been a passion of mine and I am beyond thrilled to be taking this opportunity of a life time to pursue it in another country.  

To find out exactly what I want to do with my degrees please check this website out: http://www.gofundme.com/2biju8

If you have any questions please feel free to ask.  

So, that is it for now.  I cannot wait to experience this new journey with you all.  

Have a wonderful day!