Poem: After Dachau

Muffled — a bell tolls,
the vibrations stretch the seams between my ribs
inhalation is my blessing this morning.

My ears hear birds singing,
leaves in green dancing on outstretched
branches.

Humanity died a death here,
our bodies
mobile stars, we’re led through these gates,
appeased by an iron lie.
Our bodies were de-personned here
stripped of name, point of origin, profession, and power —
we were made disinfected hairless lab rats, fit for use.

Humanity died here —
placed in stripped suits, labeled and decorated for the simple knowledge needed to kill. Humanity died here.

We ran for bread and soup
and the least was made last.
For bread and watery soup.

At night, warm bodies cooled by dead bodies,
dead bodies stiff as wood turned kindling for the ovens.
Stocked.

Humanity died, Hear, Oh! Israel, the cries of the people —
let not the word of G-d go unheeded or unheard.

Humanity died here —
atone and be revived. Bring your prayers to the water
and bathe your sorrow and regret —
let it lift and be carried away with the stream.

Humanity died —
Hear, Oh Israel!
Our God is one and so are we.
Pray for us that we will be reconciled to the great soul of man.

Humanity died here —
But, Never Again!

Ieisha McIntyre, — MWW Participant

Why Take This Trip?

I decided to invest in this trip due to the amount of knowledge, experience, and friendships I made last year. I wished to build upon my understanding of the Holocaust and discover the beginnings of the Nazi party through experiences outside classroom walls. — Cindy Evans, MWW Participant

Poem: Contemplating Holocaust

I've often thought that were it me to be
held sacrifice for the vice of economy
to appease the God of currency
that not a victim would I be.
But, alas stand I
In Nuremberg and Munich,
where the Mad Dog was birthed
And Think
No they come for the teachers first.

Often,
I’ve thought, “I would resist and survive the challenge of the long walk. The crowded heat of cattle cars.
The endless weighting of life against life.
The rending of family,”
These would only shore up my resistance.
And Then the callouses on my foot from too much sight seeing, reminds me of my fragility.

I often think of my love,
for the underdog.
For whom I always route,
having been the underdog myself,
I’m familiar with this suit.

But, I’m routing for the underdog to win,
Defeat those privileged few.
So, am I any different then from those who yelled, “Die, Jew”?

Thinking
I will always be the one who could not stand
but hold up their bare hand
to the cannon in defense of the other.
Knowing, I am one man in Tienanmen,
Knowing I am Malcolm X,
Knowing I am Harriet Tubman,
and would rather shot one who strove to go back
and save the forward moving few than allow one
to nestle in the bosom of mother oppression.

Then,
I think of times I’ve passed a man with a sign,
weighed the change in my pocket,
and moved on.

Where are the Mad Dogs now?
What sacrificial call is being heard?
Where in this world is the contemplation of Holocaust?

— Ieisha McIntyre, MWW Participant

A Walk Through Dachau

As I was walking through Dachau Concentration Camp, I couldn’t help but imagine the prisoners in every place we visited, every road we walked on, every room we stood in.  The feeling was overwhelming.  To think of us during that time, in there place, knowing our grandfathers would not have a chance, and out uncles, brothers, husbands, and fathers, the men we often see as strong, be in that hell.  Even to consider suicide as an option.  It’s hard to think about.  It’s even harder to learn about what those men at Dachau experienced, and were forced to go through.  I don’t  know how the families of the prisoners could bare it.  I guess they didn’t have much of a choice, all they could do was hope and pray and get through the day.  Everyone during that time was unbelievably strong and brave, even if they felt weak and scared.  I left the camp feeling humbled and with a heavy heart and mind.  --Ashley Gill, MWW Student Participant

Hitler's Table- Stashed in a Forgoten Hall

While on a tour of Munich we were introduced to the horrors of the Nazi party, Hitler, and the roles they played in turning Germany into a place of terror, destruction, and lies.  We stopped at many places throughout Munich and learned about their history and how they developed.  One place in particular was Hitler’s headquarters, which has now been transformed into a performing arts school.  What was so interesting was that in the back hallway stood a long, black, old-looking table.  At this table, Hitler signed the Munich Treaty.  I thought it was interesting when our guide explained that they kept this table as acknowledgement of the past, but decided not to display the table, to prevent power given to the piece.  This was an illuminating experience for me, because I believe if they had chosen to encase/display, or burn the table, It would have given it the power HItler meant everything he touched to have.  I like that the table was just placed in a hallway that many pass through as a constant reminder of what happened that one hopes no one ever forgets.     -Ashley Lopez, MWW Student Participant

The Tour Begins

We are off and running.  The adventures of our long trip over to Europe are still fresh in mind, but we hit the road first thing with a walking tour of Munich, focusing, of course, on the Third Reich, and how it got it’s beginnings in Munich.   Thank you to Milk and Honey Tours for the most memorable journey.  Our guide Michael expertly made the history come to life before our eyes.

In the afternoon we heard the very personal and private Holocaust stories from Max Mannheimer.  Sent to the concentration camp in Dachau when he was 23, Max and his brother were the only survivors in his family of 8.  Thank you Max for opening up yourself to us.

Get Ready to Blog

It's almost time to blog.  Get your writers mind ready cause we're expecting all participants to have your say.