Bill, you recently asked what our favorite stories from your past posts are.
Ones like this one are mine. I love love love hearing profiles of inspiring men and women who stood up and fought for the Greater Good and what inspired them to fight for it.
It was, indeed, a compelling movie headed by a great actor. Nice to hear the background. I am amazed at some people and often wonder how I would fare in situations like his, especially one after another. Grandfather and grandson.
I have always been grateful to have grown up in a free democratic society that has a separation of powers to ensure no one person can accumulate the power to take over the government. Then I watched in horror the events of January 6 as a group of over zealous supporters showed a willingness to install one man as head of the government in complete disregard of our constitution and national values. I apologize for the political commentary. But I see the parallel between then and now and am saddened that history just might repeat itself. How can we be sure that every future election will not be challenged with the same fervor as the last?
The poem “Children Learn What They Live” by Dorothy Law Nolte is a great expression of the theme of Bill’s article. Here’s a link to a website with the poem on the open page and a treasure trove of information and publications: https://childrenlearnwhattheylive.com/
Indeed. Thank you for sharing today. My father was born in Germany in 1937 and immigrated to the US in1955. Not enough space here for the things we learned. Though I hope lessons are learned to prevent future atrocities. On that note, an impactful moment in this life, as a child, many years ago,:
I was a towhead, with bluish green eyes, and, because of my parents accents, had a bit of an accent myself. I was about 10 years old and in a healthcare facility visiting grandpa. There was a small public dining/vending machine area near the kitchen and not far from where the family was visiting. I was tasked to go and get some food.
As I waited for the elevator, I thought about what goodies I was going to get. The doors opened and there was a woman in the lift, and as I stepped toward the car, she cowered back into the corner and began shaking and crying. I'm 10, I don't know what is going on, so I go to her to ask if she's okay, or comfort her in some way. As I approached her, she shook harder and cried more loudly. I was big time scared, so I held the elevator door open and yelled for help. That made her cringe and she was trying to make herself smaller and hide in the corner.
Moments later, nurses arrived, both dark-haired and one led me away while the other calmed and eventually got the woman out of the elevator and to her room.
The nurse who led me away, had made sure I had seen the tattoo on the woman's arm, and when she took me back to my parents, told them what had happened. Between my grandparents and my parents, I got a rather indepth and personalized history lesson that day.
It still haunts me all these decades later. What that woman must have been through. To have such a visceral reaction to a mere child. Surely, lesson learned, indeed.
The kids are watching.............may they be given worthy memories.
Fabulous story that arrived just when my granddaughter is here staying for several days. An appropriate reminder that 'kids are listening' and watching. I pray that my legacy is just as powerful.
Dang, that's powerful. I remember a story about a 1950's research project on rats...how when they were placed in water, they quickly drowned, but when rescued quickly and put back they could survive hours, presumably because they had faith they would be rescued again. What hope, faith in the future, and in Dieter's case, core beliefs of right over wrong can do to make any hardship survivable. Thank you for a poignant story this morning.
Yes, the movie "Rescue Dawn" was very intriguing, I stumble on it this Spring on Netflix. It is a very inspiring movie and portrays Dieters story very well.
Good story! I didn't realize this weekend had that significance. I just wrote this yesterday about my old German teacher who was a Holocaust refugee: https://medium.com/@jennifer.l.sala/a-holocaust-refugees-story-9b900222ef13
Bill, you recently asked what our favorite stories from your past posts are.
Ones like this one are mine. I love love love hearing profiles of inspiring men and women who stood up and fought for the Greater Good and what inspired them to fight for it.
Thank you.
It was, indeed, a compelling movie headed by a great actor. Nice to hear the background. I am amazed at some people and often wonder how I would fare in situations like his, especially one after another. Grandfather and grandson.
I have always been grateful to have grown up in a free democratic society that has a separation of powers to ensure no one person can accumulate the power to take over the government. Then I watched in horror the events of January 6 as a group of over zealous supporters showed a willingness to install one man as head of the government in complete disregard of our constitution and national values. I apologize for the political commentary. But I see the parallel between then and now and am saddened that history just might repeat itself. How can we be sure that every future election will not be challenged with the same fervor as the last?
The poem “Children Learn What They Live” by Dorothy Law Nolte is a great expression of the theme of Bill’s article. Here’s a link to a website with the poem on the open page and a treasure trove of information and publications: https://childrenlearnwhattheylive.com/
Indeed. Thank you for sharing today. My father was born in Germany in 1937 and immigrated to the US in1955. Not enough space here for the things we learned. Though I hope lessons are learned to prevent future atrocities. On that note, an impactful moment in this life, as a child, many years ago,:
I was a towhead, with bluish green eyes, and, because of my parents accents, had a bit of an accent myself. I was about 10 years old and in a healthcare facility visiting grandpa. There was a small public dining/vending machine area near the kitchen and not far from where the family was visiting. I was tasked to go and get some food.
As I waited for the elevator, I thought about what goodies I was going to get. The doors opened and there was a woman in the lift, and as I stepped toward the car, she cowered back into the corner and began shaking and crying. I'm 10, I don't know what is going on, so I go to her to ask if she's okay, or comfort her in some way. As I approached her, she shook harder and cried more loudly. I was big time scared, so I held the elevator door open and yelled for help. That made her cringe and she was trying to make herself smaller and hide in the corner.
Moments later, nurses arrived, both dark-haired and one led me away while the other calmed and eventually got the woman out of the elevator and to her room.
The nurse who led me away, had made sure I had seen the tattoo on the woman's arm, and when she took me back to my parents, told them what had happened. Between my grandparents and my parents, I got a rather indepth and personalized history lesson that day.
It still haunts me all these decades later. What that woman must have been through. To have such a visceral reaction to a mere child. Surely, lesson learned, indeed.
The kids are watching.............may they be given worthy memories.
A BEAUTIFUL TRUE TEST OF VALUES… AND WE NEVER KNOW WHO IS REALLY DEEPLY ABSORBING OUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS! MARK T.
Fabulous story that arrived just when my granddaughter is here staying for several days. An appropriate reminder that 'kids are listening' and watching. I pray that my legacy is just as powerful.
Thanks for sharing!
Dang, that's powerful. I remember a story about a 1950's research project on rats...how when they were placed in water, they quickly drowned, but when rescued quickly and put back they could survive hours, presumably because they had faith they would be rescued again. What hope, faith in the future, and in Dieter's case, core beliefs of right over wrong can do to make any hardship survivable. Thank you for a poignant story this morning.
Why do I feel that today is like 88 years ago - some times we don’t learn from the past and repeat it!
Thank you for sharing this.
This was a terrific post today. Yes, the kids are still watching and we are supposed to be examples of the behaviors we want them to adopt.
An incredible story of courage. A motivation to focusing on one's goals in life regardless of roadblocks.
What a lovely reminder, and the story captured by Werner Herzog is so worth the watch. One of my favorites.
Wow! What a powerful story Bill. I had to post it on Face Book as a reminder of what our children do take in when we adults least expect them to.
Yes, the movie "Rescue Dawn" was very intriguing, I stumble on it this Spring on Netflix. It is a very inspiring movie and portrays Dieters story very well.