Survivors and Rebels

Grandma, me, and Jonronnie
During our visit to the Holocaust Museum, Gladys and I looked up our German family name, Rohr. The survivors catalogue listed about 6 Rohrs who survived! I had often wondered how my grandma could live through all the horrible physical and emotional ailments that afflicted her. She was very close to HER grandma, Catherine Rohr. In fact, she was Grandma Rohr's favorite!!! I was so happy to see our family survived!!! Maybe it is a bit genetic...survival...makes me smile.

I also come from a long line of tough Norwegians. My maiden name is Ronneberg. During the occupation of Norway by the Nazis, a small band of resistance fighters managed to blow up a section of the Vermork heavy-water plant, allowing for 3000 pounds of heavy water to be washed away, leaving very little for the Nazis to use. Among them was Joachim Ronneberg. As with the Rorh's, we are distant cousins. However, I have often wondered why I feel so strongly in the rights and wrongs of things...and why I have a natural compulsion to rebel. Maybe that too is in the genes!

Dreams

They are so powerful! The sub-conscious mind never rests! Perhaps the nightmares and bizarre dreams I am having is my mind's way of coping with the information of the Holocaust. Sleep has become a journey and an end...hate that!!!

I f you ever get the chance...

This movie is one of the best films on the Holocaust! It is based on the notes from the Wannsee Conference. The film is historically correct and the acting is amazing! I will be doing my first major paper on this film. I never tire of watching it becuase there is so much to it. No guns, no action....just dialogue. Lots of dialogue regarding the Final Solution to the Jewish Question.

I downloaded the Wannsee Protocol and cross-referenced it with the movie. A few times I get a little sick in my stomach, but that's because they talk, banally, about T-4, CO gas and the use of gas chambers. One of the last scenes is Eichmann (Steven Tucci) telling those at the conference that they will soon have the ability to kill 2500 Jews per HOUR...and gives the total figures per day, per week, per year. That's usually when I get queasy.

Been a little busy...

Hopefully I will get some photos posted soon. I feel like I am never gonna rest! Our winter break is next week and I will be spending the break writing papers! :-(

My holocaust class is by far my favorite. I read all I can to kinda catch-up with some of my classmates who have had her Nazi Germany class. The films are just so sad. I get really and depressed sometimes! I swear I am gonna need therapy after it's all over!

Really Weird: Went to view a movie on the Wannsee Conference. The conference was held in secret. Notes surfaced in the 80's, so we know this happened...It's when the decision was made to carry out "The Final Solution to the Jewish Question." On my way home, the song Cult of Personality came on the radio...I was totally freaked!

In Loving Memory

Yesterday afternoon we said our good-byes to John Reynard. He was one of most beloved employees. John was a loving and charasmatic human being who touched everyone he met. We loved him and we will miss him!

Congratulations, ...In Atomic Proportions!

With airhorns in hand, the crowd went wild for the band formerly known as "Unnecessary Backtalk." The band won first place in the battle of the bands at the Capital Theatre. It was soooo much fun!