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Re: Congratulations! Only...

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In Reply to: Congratulations! Only... posted by clarkjohnsen on November 25, 2004 at 17:44:48:

Hey Clark!
Thanks for your encouragement!
All I can say is that they did what they thought would work for them...and we documented what they did. You have to remember: these people are educators, not ideologues. They are not under an ideologue's imperative to find the proper atrocity that makes them able to grind a personal political axe. Your question makes me laugh, really. It's as if you're saying "my genocide is better than your genocide." KnowwhutImean?
Anyway, if they spent time trying to be sure they'd found the "perfect" genocide to study then they probably would still be deciding. And do you really think they don't talk about these other atrocities in their work? Your implied assumption that they only consider the Jewish holocaust suggest a narrow way of thinking (ie leaps to unquestioned assumptions).
I hadn't thought about this before, but there's really another reason why the Holocaust can be studied with uncommon fruitfulness: it was particularly well documented, from both sides. The the presence of so much important prior work and so many sources provides lots of study material.
Elliot

Follow Ups:

"Your question makes me laugh." Glad to brighten your day. - clarkjohnsen 06:35:35 11/27/04 (3)
I was simply commenting on the use of the WWII European holocaust (as opposed to the Japanese one) as the all-too-regular default position on such things, when other *far worse* genocides go ignored -- which might have been all the more reason to study one of those.
By the way, there are "many sources" on the others as well.
Good luck with sales!
clark
- Context is everything. - EBerlin 11:18:07 11/27/04 (0)
  It seems you implied criticism of the good people of Whitwell for the subject they chose. I think that's misplaced. If you were to say: "Let's also not forget these other atrocities and their victims" then fine...
  Also, and this is to everyone, is there really any question that the volume of available sources and documentation of the Jewish Holocaust is vastly greater than any other? I think not. That's not to say other tragedies lack sources, but it's a matter of what's available to a small school in a poor, Tennessee valley. They must to work with subject matter for which materials are easily available, and also proven in pedagogical environments.
- Contradicting yourself, clark - Victor Khomenko 08:23:09 11/27/04 (1)
  ***when other *far worse* genocides go ignored
  ...and...
  "By the way, there are "many sources" on the others as well."
  Truth is there are indeed many other sources covering all sorts of artocities.
  The problem is no one seems to care. OK, so the Armenians care about 1905, and Jews about WWII, and the Chinese about Nanking, and the Russians about the NKVD... while completely natural it is also disheartening.
  I had chance to speak to many American students and former students, and it is nearly impossible to find one who knew anything about all of the above. The Holocaust being one possible, albeint shaky, exception.
  We live in the "I don't give shit" society where a Sunday fooball (or whatever...) and sale on a dishwasher mean more than hystory of humanity.
  In light of all this I still maintain that the Holocaust was unique among the other genocides, and instead of blaming someone for bringing it up once again, we should blame instead all those who really don't give a damn.
  - No I'm not. But can't say I disagree otherwise, except about the uniqueness. nt - clarkjohnsen 08:30:39 11/27/04 (0)
    d
Good luck, though your work seems to be doing well already! - tinear 08:29:53 11/26/04 (3)
Another reason the Holocaust has traction here: we have a huge population of Jews in this country; we were directly involved in stopping the perpetrators of that horrific event; the repercussions of the Holocaust still reverberate in today's ME.
With all the movies, documentaries, and essays which have generated a Holocaust genre, I don't know how much more is needed on the subject...but it is germane.
Congratulations!
- The irony is... - EBerlin 09:26:36 11/26/04 (2)
  ...that before we made "Paper Clips" I was also of the opinion that there were too many Holocaust films vying for attention and awards. But then we found this lovely little story and were compelled to tell it. As some commentators have pointed out, it's pretty different than most Holocaust stories. There are very, very few historical images of any kind, and there's not a single one that is horrifying.
  A few have said it really isn't a Holccaust film at all, but a story about the small town where the story takes place. We really fell in love with the people of Whitwell, Tennessee.
  I'll let viewers make up their own minds about these matters.
  Elliot
  - Well, now I'm really curious....unfortunately, I live in a tiny - tinear 12:39:07 11/26/04 (1)
    little town and I'll have to wait for video...sure hopes it makes it there soon.
    - Re: Well, now I'm really curious....unfortunately, I live in a tiny - EBerlin 20:23:01 11/26/04 (0)
      Video (DVD) should be out Spring or Summer, but we haven't started that work yet. HBO and/or HBO Family broadcast expected in September 05.

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