Talk:Mona Weissmark

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For me as a German - the other side -, this clip’s message is from high importance. Prof. Weissmark is so courageous not only to be rational against her fears and hatred, which exist since her childhood, she also does her research against the common attitude in society back then, which was comfortable with Germany being suspected as a whole. People mostly have the tendency to simplify contexts – our brains just work like that. As so often, things are not as easy as they appear. Prof. Weissmark’s research, her class that I’m taking during the summer in Harvard and especially her book ‘Justice Matters’ are bringing light also in my thoughts. Germany does a very good job about illuminating what happened. Historical research and school education in Germany put a strong focus especially on the Third Reich - even though our history cannot be reduced to these 12 years of horror. But this is our duty, our historical legacy. We Germans will never be able to make up for our crimes, but step-by-step we can try to understand what happened - thoroughly and honestly -, so that something like the Holocaust hopefully never happens again. Thanks to Prof. Weissmark this becomes a little bit easier. - Sven, Psych. of Diversity, Harvard Summer '10 SOliverP1987 (talk) 05:43, 19 July 2010 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by SOliverP1987 (talk • contribs) 05:42, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

(Psych. of Diversity Summer '10) The clip generally was fantastic and it showed different perspectives on how each side thought of the Holocaust. Professor Wiessmark was very frank on how she felt about the Germans. There was on part that struck me and it was on when she talked about how her parents explained the Holocaust to her and it was “THE Germans…” and thus she felt that the whole German race was anti-Semitic. However when Professor Weissmark’s father told her that he was rescued by a German family and she wasn’t able to categorize it, I found that to be the most intriguing. It is amazing how the context that one is raised up in affects their thoughts and everyday life. For example, Professor Weissmark at first hated the German people only because they were portrayed as “bad” people. But then when you look at the Seebaβ family they saw people in need and they provided help for their fellow man whether or not they were Jewish. This was a great opportunity for Professor Weissmark and I concur with her that children sometimes have to finish what the parents went through at least for some closure on the matter. -Elizabeth

Psych. Of Diversity Summer `10

The documentary was a very informative and actually quite surprising account of Prof. Weissmark's past struggles with German hatred. Her confrontation with her internal struggle was impressive and to be commended. Our values are what define as a person. We demonstrate these values in everyday life through our behaviour. How was pass down our values to our children is in kind of "reverse order". We shape their attitudes and behaviors growing up. What this does is instill a set of values within the next generation that reinforced through our own behavior. What is fascinating about this video clip is that it demonstrates the change in Prof.Weissmark's perception of German people will impact her future generations to come. - Vivek —Preceding unsigned comment added by Vhp567 (talk • contribs) 16:02, 20 July 2010 (UTC)

(Psych. of Diversity Summer 2010) I was moved by Prof. Weissmark's honesty and openness regarding her feelings toward Germany. There were several moments during the film where it appeared she was still attempting to grapple with the experiences her parents had to endure. I commend her bravery and her willingness to share what is such a deeply personal history. She made a concerted effort to break the cycle of hatred. There appears to be a natural propensity to reserve sympathy or empathy for the "other side." It's easier to adopt an "us versus them" approach when confronted with the victim/perpetrator dynamic. What Prof. Weissmark has done is to step above the feelings of deep contempt that has mired her for most of her life in an effort to understand her own feelings as well as understand the feelings of the members of the oppressive regime. What Prof. Weissmark has shown through her work is that it's simply more complicated--we cannot relegate the horrors of the Holocaust to a simple victimize/victimized equation (i.e. German/Nazi = victimize; Jew = victimized). As with most things, there's much more to it. World War II Germany faced a number of circumstances that were complex and multifaceted. Prof. Weissmark has elected to take a 360 degree view of the myriad conditions that the German people faced at the time, and assume an open-minded approach, a perspective that had previously evaded her. It goes without saying that it takes courage to confront what were certainly very complex and raw emotions. These emotions were all she knew--all that she identified with--until she chose ('chose' being the key word) to confront them. She chose to confront the deep-rooted hatred she harbored toward the German people in an effort to develop a new perspective and understanding, and arguably a new identity. (S. Epson) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Soshaughnessy (talk • contribs) 01:31, 17 July 2010 (UTC)

This is a remarkable story and also, an extraordinary opportunity for Professor Weissmark. In regards to one's entire identity being formed by tragedy, I think that when someone greatly respects their family members, who have endured deplorable events, s/he may become consumed with the fear and anger felt by them. It is easy, in these cases, to lose sight of the progress in breaking down the oppressor-oppressed relations which have been, and still can be made: We are all victims of sorts, however difficult it may be to accept the fact that one's oppressor is, in some way, victimized as well, this video exemplifies the importance of the acknowledgment of this fact. -Ana —Preceding unsigned comment added by 140.247.7.25 (talk) 15:06, 16 July 2010 (UTC)

Psych 314 Discussion:
- I think the video was very moving, and very interesting. I thought the way Prof. Weissmark said that she grew up hating Germans because that's what she had learned from the history of the Holocaust was interesting, and the way she described that she had to move past that. I was touched by the openness of the family that helped her father and the other prisoner, especially given the risks to themselves if they were caught hiding prisoners from the camps. It just goes to show how selfless some people are, especially in times of need. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.237.109.194 (talk) 21:14, 4 March 2009 (UTC)

"I liked the underlying idea that the son of the German family brought up and that is loving your fellow man. I respect Professor Weissmark for recognizing the dissonance in her feelings toward Germans and learning to accept and appreciate the help that the German family gave her father. I do, however, disagree that children have to finish what their parents started. I remember the agony and distress expressed by the children of SS officers in the film we watched in class and I don't think it's fair or right for children to grow up trying to close lose ends for the rights or wrongs of their parents."

-The documentary was really interesting and almost unbelievable, at the same time, it was eye-opening and makes you appreciate that even when things may be absolutely horrendous, there exists true goodness in mankind. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.237.109.194 (talk) 16:08, 5 March 2009 (UTC)

Overall, the video was very moving and captivating. Some of aspects that stood out was how parents pass down and impact their children have by the wording of phrases such as "The Germans." Moreover, an intriguing comment I thought was that "Children have to finish what their parents did not finish." This is an interesting quote that should be applied to different diverse issues being experienced and the generational differences that exist. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.237.109.194 (talk) 17:51, 5 March 2009 (UTC)

The movie made me realize how emotional pains from Holocaust didn't just end with its victims, but rather are still being carried down through generations. To many of us, the Holocaust is just a historical event; but to descendants of its survivors, the event is still very real. It was good to see how Prof. W's change in attitude/feelings evolved; the video also gives a sliver of hope that there is indeed a way to deal with seemingly indelible remnants from the Holocaust. --Tami —Preceding unsigned comment added by 140.247.159.41 (talk) 03:18, 17 July 2010 (UTC)

The video was really moving and it motivates you to understand the humanity and the inhumanity in this world. The biggest thing to take away from the video was the quote "children have to finish what their parents did not finish." It really lets you understand how much your parents pass down to you and how much you reflect your parent's views. Great video. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 140.247.4.138 (talk) 05:18, 18 July 2010 (UTC)

discussion: I liked how Professor Weissmark was able to come to terms with her feelings for Germans. This video was very moving and interesting. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Pbh401 (talk • contribs) 18:01, 5 March 2009 (UTC)

Psych 314 Discussion

This was a great way to show exactly how history can continue to hurt as time goes on. Not only for the Holocaust but for any conflict in history, from something like this to family disputes. I think it's amazing that Professor Weissmark was able to take control of how she felt and try to figure it out rather than just live with it. This brings me to what was also my favorite line "Children have to finish what their parents did not finish.". This is so true, and I really believe it's the only way to stop the negative cycle from repeating itself and turning something into such a massive web that it's near impossible to fix. Great film. -Jen —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.174.22.143 (talk) 21:56, 19 July 2010 (UTC)

I think this is an excellent example of not only how prejudice can be inherited, but also how prejudice can be felt on many other axes besides race. Not only do many American, Israeli, and European Jews have lingering psychological issues and biases against Germans, but many people in Western European countries such as England and France still discriminate against Germans, Poles, and Austrians because of leftover feelings from World War II. To many Americans, who mostly think of discrimination as a racial issue, the concept of discrimination within the Caucasian race is very difficult to grasp. However, this video shows clearly how relatable the struggle Professor Weissmark felt is to issues of American racism. It was particularly meaningful to me because my great-grandfather escaped from Nazi Poland in the 30s as a teenager, but the rest of his family was killed in Auschwitz. We have visited the memorial in Israel and seen their names on the walls. I am curious to know if Professor Weissmark had a lot more family in that camp or other camps, and what, if any information she has on them. The story of how the Seebass family saved her father is really, really amazing. I'm really glad that they were recognized by Yad Vashem. -Kate —Preceding unsigned comment added by 140.247.5.122 (talk) 03:04, 20 July 2010 (UTC)

I found it very hard to conceptualize the feelings of resentment the children of Nazis and survivors might have for each other, as well as the feelings that the children of slaves and slave owners might have. After all, it is not the children that were part of the issue, it is the parents. Guilt and hate are clearly feelings that can be passed on from generation to generation, and must be dealt with. I liked the idea of the children of Nazis and survivors ending the negative feelings towards each other together, in a peaceful and unified way, to show not only that the conflict is ended, but that there are no residual enmities between the groups. I enjoyed the video since it helped me see the point of view of the children of NAzis and survivors, and why they feel that way towards each other even though they were not involved in the original conflict. -JD —Preceding unsigned comment added by 140.247.193.212 (talk) 04:38, 20 July 2010 (UTC)

Professor Wiessmark's story is remarkable. Though Prof. Weissmark did not encounter what her parents went through physically and mentally at the time, she suffered emotionally through their views. Feeling the hate towards Germans was understandable from her standpoint, but to realize that not all Germans are the same and to accept that reality, takes courage. The line, "Children have to finish what their parents did not finish" is very controversial because though some children may feel an obligation to finish what their parents started, they do not have to. I understand that sometimes people may get caught up in their parents views and feel the need to avenge them (if that is the right word for it), but it is not always the case. One does not need to feel obligated to fix something that wasn't their fault, and that happened many years before. What's done is done.One cannot change the past. -Keyla —Preceding unsigned comment added by 140.247.193.84 (talk) 06:04, 20 July 2010 (UTC)

Discussion of "Seeing the Other Side"

Professor Weissmark has been able to reexamine her inherited prejudice of the German people and come to understand the complexity of such a context. She has reconsidered an era in history when civilization lost its humanity and humanity its soul and she has looked at this history with newly unprejudiced eyes. In doing so she has made a conscious effort to break the cycle of hatred of an “us” versus “them” approach and instead adopted a compassion for all humanity. I agree with Jen’s point about how history can continue to hurt as time goes on and believe that an open discussion of such history, exactly what Professor Weissmark does, can heal such deeply cut wounds. I would also like to say that the New England Holocaust Memorial here in Boston has allowed me to reflect on the meaning of freedom and oppression and has made me remember the freedoms many were forced to give up during the Holocaust. The six luminous glass towers of the memorial – one for each of the six major Nazi concentration camps – have invited me to contemplate the universal issues of prejudice and persecution that still exist today, reminding me ever so much that we as humanity cannot give evil another chance. - Alexis —Preceding unsigned comment added by 140.247.236.227 (talk) 06:47, 20 July 2010 (UTC)

I'm particularly struck by the notion that emotions, feelings can be transmitted across generations. I've heard the word "legacy" used to describe this transmission. In some cases, I think it's understandable that a legacy is allowed to grow, but I wonder to what degree the legacy reflects reality and vice versa. Also, can legacies become diluted or transformed? I wonder. For example, if a legacy is transmitted down several generations, I wonder how that affects the perceptions of the youngest generation relative to the origin of that legacy? And, I'm also interested in how these legacies begin. I think also we can transmit our feelings rather unconsciously without any real intent to create a legacy. However, as in the video, children can pick these things (stories, anecdotes, facial cues, etc.) up and can come to understand and take on these feelings for their own. I do wonder how often people test their legacies the way Professor Weissmark did. To bring it front and center and face it in a respectful and exploratory spirit. I can only hope that we can consider our own legacies in such a way and "finish the work our parents began." 140.247.132.63 (talk) 14:00, 20 July 2010 (UTC)Jason.

The emotions in this short documentary are so intense and personal, and it is clear that many people can empathize with Mona. The things that she heard and observed from her parents were imprinted in herself, and whether it was conscious or subconscious the deeply ingrained hatred towards "THE Germans" were understandable. Watching Mona's mom cry probably left a huge impression of how much "THE Germans" have hurt her parents psychologically, and that led her to believe how 'evil' they were. However, it was wonderful to see Mona accepting the past and moving towards the better good of the future with compassion and forgiveness because she was brave enough to dig through her past--her parents past-- and realize that Germans do not equal Nazis, and nothing in history is black and white as it portrays to be. In my experience of my parents generation transmitting their values to me, I am still deeply affected by the Korean War and the Japanese Invasion-- even if it happened almost 60 years ago. My parents casual behaviors of hating the Japanese for who and what they are, saying petty phrases like "Oh the Japs" or "Nipons" as I grew up did embed in my mind how much they have hurt my country. But because I am living in a globalized generation AND in the United States of America, my values are slowly changing to view people as equal and love an individual by their personality and presence instead of their race or color. --Cindy Oh —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.134.66.144 (talk) 13:54, 20 July 2010 (UTC)

This documentary addresses how history impacts prejudice and racism regardless of whether or not one experiences such events first hand or not. The fact that such atrocities can not ever be fully amended often results bitterness that continues through generations. It is amazing what great steps must be taken before one can fully accept that not all members of a specific race are how one perceived them growing up. I think it is amazing that Professor Wiessmark dedicates her life to holding such meetings between newer generations of those who have hurt and those who were harmed, because it guides people like herself, into at least acknowledging and discussing the tensions between the two groups. My father originated in Burma, and since I was young he told me stories about the atrocities of the rape of Nanking in China and Japanese occupation in Burma. I was told that family and close friends of my great grandfather were raped and killed because of it, and my previously wealthy family was looted and lost all possessions including their house. Though these interactions were two generations removed from what Professor Wiessmark experienced, since I was young, I developed an internal dislike of Japanese people. Though prejudice is unfair, it is something I believe most if not all people experience at different levels because of how different countries typically interact with each other during times of war. The idea that prejudice passes on to future generations is very real, and I am glad I watched this documentary. -Zhi —Preceding unsigned comment added by 140.247.25.6 (talk) 14:40, 20 July 2010 (UTC)

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