A small act of courage.

Is it right to risk bringing such danger on one's relatives and friends by challenging the forces of law and order? This question always puzzles me. As we know, if most non-Jews stood up for Jews, they would be tortured or even killed. A while ago in class, our teacher asked 'If you had Jew next door neighbor for years, and than they were being taken away, would you stand up against the Nazi's and help them?' Of course you would like to. But there are often too many risks, often involving your family and friends as well. You see, surviving is a human instinct, so even though you may want to help them, because of the consequences. Most wouldn't speak up. Some brave-hearted would. The people of Le Chambon Sur Liginon did just that. They saved Jews for years, risking everything they had for good.

Many woman sent children to Switzerland, avoiding forces that could have been risky. Even though the ones who didn't stand up would be safe, the villagers in Le Chambon where the real survivors. They saved an others life, risking there's. The Villagers in Le Chambon were heroes. The people, who watched the persecution of Jews and did nothing, may have felt deep guilt. Guilt which was later too strong for them. So in some cases, it’s not a good idea, but in the end you may find that it’s the wrong decision to simply watch. People who did stand up felt pride, and joy that they saved people. Heres the Le Chambon website: http://www1.yadvashem.org/righteous_new/france/trocme.html

In Some in cases I would say you should stand up. Feel pride. In 'the boy in the Stripped Pyjamas ‘ this courage appeared. Bruno, the young protagonist, son of the Nazi commandant at Out-With (Auschwitz) showed this courage even though he didn't really understand what was happening around him. It. His was a very small act of resistance. But one small boy can make a very small change, even if it isn't noticeable. He didn’t really help anything, but he remained loyal to his friend and saw no difference based on religion. He simply saw him as a human being. Even though nothing changed after Bruno and Shmuel got sent to the gas chambers, Bruno 'invisibly' brought a bit of hope to Jews and Shmuel. Perhaps Bruno’s death might have made his father stop and think. I have to admit that Bruno didn't go up and stop a Jew from going to a Concentration camp. But he did give hope to Shmuel, and a friendship that helped Shmuel go through many struggles.

Another similar example is '‘Rose Blanche’' by Roberto Innocenti. It has a similar idea to the boy in the stripped Pyjamas. When Rose Blanche finds a concentration camp, she helps the Jewish children by giving them food. Again, I find that it’s an invisible Resistance. Even though she was not fighting against the governmental laws, she brought hope. Rose Blanche was also a real resistance against Hitlers party, heres the website : http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007188

Altogether, I find that if you want to do the right thing and stop what’s wrong, and risk bringing your family into danger, it s good to do that. Mind you, you would need to be very brave hearted like the people of Le Chambon. Risking your life is a very hard thing to do. But if you knew that it was risky, you probably didn't. Even though this would be the easier choice, you might have a feeling of guilt. I find that standing up is the right thing to besides the consequences. Justice is the key word to success.

Reflection on "Rose Blanche":
I find that the book 'Rose Blanche' connects with John Boynes book, 'The boy in the stripped pyjamas' in many ways. They both contain the 'idea of one against all'. Side against side. Some people stuck in the middle. Choices. Sacrificing, and mostly courage to see the dignity of all people.The town that Rose Blanche stayed in often had the affect of darkness, being shown in things such as the weather and people. Dark, grey sky's. Gray buildings and people. But in all the photos Rose Blanche was very brightly colored, as if a girl of hope. It was almost similar when Bruno moved to the New house out of Berlin, Men wore uniforms, and his house was gray and dark. Gray and dark colors are symbolized as troubled times, or a horrible place. Both are used in this way.The 'oppression' is also linked to the 'dividing', 'clothes (again), and food. Both Jews and non-Jews are separated by similarities and differences. Behind a fence, separated by one barbed wire, separating them from truth and reality. Clothes come in with the sense of how Jews had their clothes taken away by the Nazi's. At the end of the book, her clothes are found torn on the barbed wire. Its as if she’s stuck between both sides of the barbed wire, Jews and non-Jews. Like she can't chose between which is right and wrong. Clothes also appeared in colors, bright colors and dark. Food came in many things as well, such as how the Mayor was a very fat, plump man; this also showed his high statues. As for the Jews, they were lower down, a lower status and getting lower and lower. Thinner and Thinner. The biggest themes I find here are 'death for a life’, 'Resistnce', and most of all ‘curiosity and innocence’ where Rose Blanche is used to build up the story.