Friday, September 30, 2016

August Landmesser, The Man Behind The Crossed Arms

by Savannah Cox

     There is a picture at the beginning of this article of a group of Nazis saluting Adolf Hitler except for one man. This man was named August Landmesser whose life came to a devastating end. Although, most men in the crowd saluted out of fear, Landmesser could not bring himself to do it. He was deeply in love with a Jewish woman named Irma Eckler. Their engagement caused Landmesser to be expelled from the party and they had their first daughter the same year.  At the time, their marriage was not recognized because their application was denied due to the newly enacted Nuremberg Laws. The couple tried to flee to Denmark where they were stopped at the border and Landmesser was imprisoned for "dishonoring the race." Shortly after being released from prison, Landmesser was arrested again, and sent to work in a concentration camp for 30 months. He would never see his wife again. Irma would soon be captured by the Gestapos and sent to various prisons and concentration camps where she would give birth to their second child, Irene. Both children were sent to orphanages. Irma died in a gas chamber at Bernburg in 1942. Landmesser was released in 1941 and soon drafted into a penal infantry to Croatia where he went missing and presumed dead. In 1951, the Senate of Hamburg recognized the marriage of August Landmesser and Irma Eckler.

     This article has informed me about a few laws enacted at that time that I was not aware of. It also informed me of how corrupt their society was, although, the holocaust was a big indicator of that. Reading a personal story about a Jewish family during this time makes me feel more sympathy for the peoples lives that were ruined. Millions of families were ripped apart and brutally treated just like this one/


Wednesday, September 21, 2016

"North Korea Bans Sarcasm"

By John Kuroski


     Last month, citizens of North Korea were warned by government officials not to make any sarcastic comments or indirect criticisms about the country's leadership. North Korea tends to blame other countries for their internal problems, which created the phrase, "This is all America's fault" that is commonly and sarcastically used by citizens. More specifically, North Korean citizens were warned not to join in on mockery directed at their leader, Kim Jong-un. At the end of the article, Kuroski adds something about The Wedding Ban. I clicked on that to read about the Wedding Ban and in addition to weddings, funerals and any freedom of movement in and out of the capitol are also prohibited.
     This article is informative as well as hilarious. Even though North Korea is ruled by a delusional dictator, the ridiculous events going on are hard to grasp. After getting over the comical side of what's happening in North Korea, I feel heartbroken for what their citizens have to go through. I hope they get out from Kim Jong-un's rule and will no longer live miserable lives.

Saturday, September 10, 2016


The Wedding Photoshoot


     This short article tells a story about single twin sisters who set up a wedding photoshoot with their father. He has Alzheimer's disease and there is an unfortunate chance that he will not be able to attend either of his daughters' weddings. With donated wedding dresses, the twins and their father took pictures in a neighbors front yard to create those special memories he may not be a part of.

     This story is depressing because the sisters have to accept that they will lose their dad very soon. The fact that they are making the most out of the time they have left with him is kind hearted and thoughtful.