sparks of humnaity- assignment 6

[Joe Blumenthal]

One of the main question that permeates Holocaust study is how did the survivors make it physically? From an scientific standpoint it is very hard to explain because it doesnt make any sense. How the human body can live in those conditions for months and years on end, defies human nature. Perhaps, it is the spiritual or emotional sparks, that contributed to these physical miracles. In the story The Camp Blanket, we read about how a girl is literally starved and freezing to death. How she can think thoughts and discuss things and ponder to herself is impressive. Usually at that stage in despair, one is affeced that his mind doesnt work properly. Yet even the given conditions, she is able to make it, and after creeping into the corner, she is handed a blanket for warmth. Where this blanket came from we dont know? Who the giver is, the girl and the readers dont find out. But maybe, that is how the blanket truly works. The fact that the girl doesnt know who is helping her magnifies the spark of humanity displayed. It keeps her wondering and thinking, and generates a bigger desire to investigate and live on. The greater the spark in the girl's emotions, the bigger push for physical continuation is displayed. The simple of act just being given the blanket to warm up or the small peice of bread isnt what kept the Jews like this girl from giving up. But the way that they were given or acquired those small peices of bread. When one is totally freezing to hasnt eaten, on top of everything else, a small peice of bread isnt going to save them. I can even come up with a possible argument for why it might even hurt the person more, if there body isnt used to food. Yet, because of the style of how these things were given, made them really help. Sparks of humaity, took spiritual boosts and turned them into physical gains. This is how these sparks were truly appreciated and used to capacity throughout the Holocaust, like in the story The Camp Blanket.

[Karen Shawn]

Joe, I appreciate your insights, but I read them only now because you are posting them in a group we are not using. Please go into the group called "Reflections" and post your work there so the class can benefit from reading it.