Question

2.

In the context of the text, what can we learn from tragedy? How did the Holocaust change
the world? How can it encourage positive change and the avoidance of future violence? Cite
evidence from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art, or history in your
answer.​

Answer 1

The Holocaust teaches us about the dangers of hatred, the need for human rights protections, and the possibility of kindness in the face of atrocity. It has also led to significant geopolitical changes, including the redefinition of national borders and the establishment of Israel.

Step-by-step explanation:

Learning about tragedy, especially one as profound as the Holocaust, provides several lessons. It acts as an important reminder of the consequences of unchecked hatred and the potential for societal breakdown. The Holocaust challenged the notion of Western superiority by demonstrating that a 'civilized' nation could commit acts of egregious barbarism. This historical event has compelled societies to institute safeguards to preserve human rights and to ensure that tolerance and diversity are maintained as core values.

Moreover, the genocide reminds us of the importance of kindness and altruism in the face of great darkness. Individuals who responded with courage and decency during these times serve as inspiration and models for positive behavior in today's world. Memorials such as Yad Vashem honor the righteous and encourage us to live similarly noble lives.

Following the Holocaust, the world map changed significantly, with the creation of Israel as a homeland for Jewish people and the reshaping of international relations. Understanding the effects of such events can shape our knowledge of human behavior and inspire positive change to prevent future violence.

Answer 2

' The greatest cruelties of our century have been the impersonal cruelties of remote decision...' Eric Hobsbawm, the Age of Extremes

Step-by-step explanation:

I´m not sure if Holocaust really is capable of, or encouraging, positive change. To start with, etnical clensing just continuied after the Holocaust in the same way it had started the violent 20th century (Armenian genocide by the Turks), whether in Europe (Yugoslavia), Asia (Vietnam war) or Africa (Congo).

Secondly, and as Eric Hobsbawm clearly and eloquently points out, technology has made its victims invisible. The perfect organization of the holocaust by German bureaucrats (timetables of trains and the like) was possibly because it consisted of many people just doing their job unconsciously.

So only if we learn to see people at the other end of the world as real people there is a possibility of change. But our personal involvement and comprehension is becoming less and less real in a virtual world.