scapegoating example #3

The Nazis believed that science could prove that the Jews were a lower race of people. When they first began labeling the Jews, they would take out measuring tape and see if people had large “hook” noses that they believed were Jewish noses. They had a color-coded poster to see if eyes or skin were too dark. They encouraged people with curly hair to shave it, because that looked too “Jewish.” Later, they used Jewish twins for scientific experiments. They also later made lamps out of Jewish skin and pillows out of Jewish hair.

1. How were the Nazis using science in scapegoating?
2. What did they blame the Jews for?
3. How would you argue against the Nazis if you lived back then?
4. List two other facts that stuck out in your mind

scapegoating example #4

The Nazis did not permit religious freedom in their country. Although Hitler was an atheist (did not believe in God), he used religion to arouse hatred toward the Jews. For example, in speeches, he would mention that “the Jews killed Jesus,” ignoring the fact that Jesus was Jewish and it was the Romans who had crucified him. He quoted Martin Luther (a famous former pastor) about burning Jewish houses. They wanted a pure “German Christian” nation and Hitler taught that if they did that, God would bless the Germans. German soldiers even wore patches on their uniforms that read, “God’s On Our Side.”
1. How were the Nazis using religion in scapegoating?
2. What did they blame the Jews for?
3. How would you argue against the Nazis if you lived back then?
4. List two other facts that stuck out in your mind

scapegoating example #5

The Nazis wanted to have one solid German culture that spoke the German language, ate German food and followed the German values. They called it the Volk myth, meaning the “People.” (In fact, Volkswagon means “People’s Car” and was created in Nazi Germany and named by Adolph Hitler) To them, the Jews were trying to destroy German cultural values when they spoke Hebrew or Yiddish, when they celebrated Jewish holidays and when they dressed in the traditional Hasidic Jewish clothing. Therefore, in order to “purify” the German culture, they believed they had to completely destroy the Jewish culture.

1. How were the Nazis using culture in scapegoating?
2. What did they blame the Jews for?
3. How would you argue against the Nazis if you lived back then?
4. List two other facts that stuck out in your mind.

scapegoating example #1

The Nazis blamed the Jews for the fact that Germany was so poor after World War I. Many Jews had been successful businessmen and bankers, so the Nazis labeled Jews as greedy, selfish and money-grubbers. They even created cartoons with Jewish people as the bad guys who wanted to steal poor people’s money. Once they were able to blame the Jews and the German people believed it, the German government started closing down Jewish stores and taking over Jewish businesses. They believed that if they did this, the German economy would improve.

1. How were the Nazis using economics (money) in scapegoating?
2. What did they blame the Jews for?
3. How would you argue against the Nazis if you lived back then?
4. List two other facts that stuck out in your mind.

scapegoating example #2

The Nazis believed that the Aryan race was naturally superior. They believed that they had scientific evidence that certain racial traits (blue eyes and blonde hair) made people stronger. To them, humans had evolved from monkeys and, in evolution; the least evolved were the Jews (who they believed looked like monkeys). They believed that by getting rid of the Jews, they could, through science, create the perfect race. Therefore, they blamed the Jews for getting in the way of their goal of creating the perfect race.
1. How were the Nazis using science in scapegoating?
2. What did they blame the Jews for?
3. How would you argue against the Nazis if you lived back then?
4. List two other facts that stuck out in your mind.

a few service reflections

The following are some service reflections students wrote. They wrote cards, painted pots for the nursing home, visited food banks and other activities that helped the community.

Donovon:
It felt good cause I am helping the community. Why wouldn't it feel good because you are helping? When I was volunteering, I was doing touch ups on the mural. Also we were doing Veterans Day cards. We are sending the cards to the veterans in the hospital that are hurt right now. So that is cool you know it feels good to do all that good stuff, even when the things seem small at first.

Isaac:
Well I have to adimit that I thought that this was boring and just another assginment.But apperantly I was wrong. It was actually more than that. The thought alone was prettty much a powerful message. But to know the way how I helped my community, that was reward enough. Who knows maybe later on I will volunteer on my own outside of school.

War Effort: Native Americans

Native Americans
Out of all of the minority groups, Native Americans had the largest percentage of people join the military. One of the most famous was the Navajo Code Talkers, who helped keep a military code using the Navajo language. Without them, the Japanese would have interpreted our codes and figured out when and where we planned to attack.

Questions:
How did they help out?
What are ways they had been mistreated in the past?
Would you have helped out if you had been treated that way in the past?