The Road from Home: The Story of an Armenian Girl by David Kherdian

The Road from Home: The Story of an Armenian Girl by David Kherdian

This is a really good bood Read it , and Love it!!!

Unique Names (LA Post one)

“I’m Uri,’ he said. ‘What's your name?’ I gave him my name. ‘Stop thief’ .” (Page 3)
“The Smoke Blower pressed my nose with the tip of his finger.(page 6)

The first quote from page three is the introduction of Uri and Misha. Unlike regular introductions these two met rather unusually. Misha bumped into Uri while he was on the run from a bread lady after stealing from her. For the first and last time Uri was absolutely friendly and nice to Mish. Which I think is because he immediately notices Misha’s potential and gift. As soon as Uri noticed Misha’s potential he knew he was definitely a part of their little family. The second quote was just the smoke blower showing his curiosity towards Misha but that's not why I chose these quotes.

I chose these quotes because it reminds me of something greater than fitting in. As soon as my eyes caught these quotes it reminded me of a typical unusual modern gang name . The whole introduction of Misha and the rest of the group reminds me of the same type of introduction I see in gang movies. It may not all be true but that is what came to my mind. Now a days you will not see a gang member called bob. Whether you have a regular game or not if you all of a sudden find yourself in a gang or some kind of group it’s only natural to get a befitting name.

 One mager group that stook out to me are the greasers and socs from the book "The Outsiders".

The ways of friendship and life!

(I tried to run to her, but the dog wouldn’t let me go, and then the dog was gone and a boot came swinging and i was kicked so hard i popped off the ground. When I landed, a club pounded my shoulders and I was kicked again and the Jackboot was dragging me by the hair and there was laughing and clacking of Jackboots teeth. The Jackboots flung me against a wall. I saw his hand go to his holster. I saw the gun come out and point between my eyes. “Die piglet!” The voice. I looked up. The red hair. The face. “Uri !” I cried, and the gun went off.) Uri and Misha, pg 186

MEMORABLE QUOTE

The reason I chose this is because it shows that even though a person looks and acts as if they have changed does not mean they have changed. Even though Uri is a Nazi he still helped Misha live, he did not kill him even though he had the chance. Also this quote means, Friends cannot be broken. Uri may of shot Misha in the ear but he still saved his life. Uri could of killed Misha if he really wanted to. I don't understand how Uri could've became a Nazi or had the guts to even pull a gun on Misha but what are friends for!

CONNECTION

In the story Jania was very annoying and liked to mess around. that is just how my sister is she likes to taunt you. She loves to mess you like if you are angry she will find a way to make you furious. If your sad she likes to hit you. She is only 2 but i think she is at the terrible 2 time in her life. Same with younger cousins they love to just mess with you until you can't take it anymore and you're pulling your hair out! That's why kid learn the hard and quick way!

Help and Rescue

Think about the terms “help” and rescue.” What is the difference between these two terms? In the context of the Holocaust, how do you understand the difference between these two terms? Can you think of a specific time when help was needed rather than rescue, and of times when Jews needed to be rescued? Would you characterize those individuals who helped Jews as heroes? Why or why not? Would you characterize those who rescued Jews as heroes? Why or why not?

Help is when you give someone a hand when they are in need. Rescue is when you save someone's life. Rescue is help, but help is not rescue! Someone hiding a Jewish person is helping because if they get caught then the Jewish person is dead. Now if someone helped a Jewish person leave the country then that is rescue. When a Jewish person needed food or clothes you would help them by giving them food! Yes because they put their life in danger to help and or rescue the Jewish person's life!

Dont do nothing do something is are country famous for that?

• Write about your feelings toward your country and its role in the Holocaust.  As you respond, consider what you see as the U.S.’s role in current world conflicts.  (Echoes and Reflections)

My feelings on what happened in the holocaust with the U.S was that they did what they could. When they bombed near the camp and on the track i thought that they chose that area for a reason. I think they thought that because Hitler would of took the anger out on the “Prisoners” ; “Prisoners” isn’t the word more like witnesses. Hitler knew that thats why i think he made the Final solution. if there were witnesses then people would know! The one thing that i don't agree on that the U.S. knew that the holocaust was happening and did nothing till they had to be involved. That called bystanding. I think that you do what you have to do, Even if it means your life if it wright.

is there a good in every one?

• In her diary, Anne Frank wrote that she believed “most people are good.”  Do you agree with Anne?  If so, why, and if not, why not?   (Echoes and Reflections)

you ask do i think some people are good my answer yes.

I just think that not all or not even most. People these days are full of hate,and greed.

What would you think? Are all these people good, For example the genocide of rwanda between hootos and tootsies. Was that good. Was that even human! I don't think so!  When you look at people mistreat others do you say they are good, and there doing that for a reason. if so what is there reason. There is None.

Be what you want to be: your self

(passage from 208 from book Milkweed; Thought by Misha and said by his granddaughter)

“I rock. I smile. I close my eyes. I think of all the voices that  have told me who i have been, the names I’ve had. Call me thief. Call me stupid. Call me Gypsy. Call me Jew. Call me one~ eared Jack. I don't car. Empty ~ handed victims once told me who i was. Then uri told me. Then an armband. Then an immigration officer. And now this little girl in my lap, this little girl whose call silence the trapping Jackboots. Her voice will be the last. I was. I am ….. Poppynoodle”  

I Picked this Quote because it reminded me of what he went through. Misha feels like people have called him names all of his life, And finally he gets called a name by his granddaughter. He acts like he doesn't really care anymore What anyone calls him. I think that Misha has had enough of people calling names that he isn’t, he’s not responding any more.  This tells me that when people call you names you don't always have to respond you can just ignore it, because you know what really goes; and you know who you are! In order to not allow your self to consume your being around what people call you. This Quote reminds me of what this is saying,

Ann Frank's Diary

In her diary, Anne Frank wrote that she believed “most people are good.”  Do you agree with Anne?  If so, why, and if not, why not?

I do agree because there are so many people who help with kids in Africa who need help. They are good people because they help those kids out of the kindness of their hearts they do it cause they want to. Also people help with animal shelter for free. They volunteer their time for the animals. The people who help with shelters can use their time to do anything but they use their time to help the animals. Another thing is people also donate money to St. Judes because they want to not because  they are told to. What do you think about this question?

The impressed and the disappointing

We enjoyed the whole experience of the blogging, and communicating. Because it was nice to blog because we have never done stuff like this because Facebook is not like this.But at the same place we were hanging, and wanting something else to happen, while questioning the book.

The story made me consider that in school it sounds bad, at the holocaust museum made it sound gruesome and horrible, and reading the book makes me feel horrible about the feelings of the people who were the victims. We felt the pain of them as we read like we were there. One disappointing thing was the ending of the book because it was too happy and perfect but the book was so upsetting and realistic! Some of the questions we asked were. We wonder if Uri lived?! He was a Nazi but when they saved the people from the camps all the Nazi’s were killed. So was he killed with them? Another thing was we were totally impressed with how Uri saved Misha from the trains. Why didn’t Uri save Janina? What type of camp did they go to? Did Janina she survive?

Meaning of Justice

Q:Many Holocaust survivors have said that justice after the Holocaust was never achieved.  Do you feel that the war crimes trials provided the survivors of the Holocaust with a sense of justice?  If not, what else do you believe could have been done?  Do you think it is possible that justice could ever be served with an event of such magnitude as the Holocaust?  What does the concept of “justice” mean to you?

A:Personally to me I think that in some type of way justice was served for the Holocaust victims. At the same time no one could ever erase the scar that has been scraped in the hearts of the survivors. I think the punishment of the Holocaust participants were decent  but could have been worse in some way. I think they were left A little bit of slack and treated with too much respect that they did not deserve. None of the participants of the conspiracy against the Jews did  not even give a splinter of slack to anyone. Therefore  I don’t think that they deserved any of the privileges that they received especially in the courtroom during the crime trials. As I stated earlier I think that justice could have been served to people of the world by having the trials and punishments more strictly done. However to the people who actually experienced and went through what feels like hell justice could never served. When I hear the word justice especially concerning the Holocaust I imagine everything that the victims have every lost including people will be given and replaced. That is not the case nothing can ever be replaced for thee victims of the Holocaust justice can never be done.

I AM NOBODY

“‘Do not look at anyone. Do not stop for anything. You are not a Jew. You are not a Gypsy. You are nobody.” He slapped my face. “Say it.”
“I am nobody.”

This quote caught my attention because of its hidden meaning. Uri is doing Misha a favor without him even knowing. By just soaking in these words. Although these are very harsh words they are extremely helpful for Misha later in the book. Misha’s new found big brother could not stand to see him be a passenger on any of the trains visiting the ghetto. So he took it as his responsibility to be Misha’s guider. To me it's obvious that Uri knows Misha very well he knows anywhere Misha goes he wouldn’t hesitate to introduce himself to the fullest extent. Uri being the smart responsible one though it wise to let him know that he is nobody. Even though it's not something that anyone would be delighted to hear. It would be a future life saver.

Immediately after reading this the first thing that popped in my head was “Fateless”. Yes they'll probably be questions about why. Well in the movie the main character Gyorgy went through much more hardship than Misha will ever imagine.(That's just in my opinion) He was unfortunate and fortunate to be sent to a working concentration camp instead of a death camp.  That did not stop him from witnessing and experiencing what he did. Also fortunately he was able to make through and come out alive. With all the stress and trauma that Gyorgy was put into he was forced by his own mind and self esteem to feel like nobody. Just like misha. Do you think even though the situation was different Misha and Gyorgy’s situations were equally tragic?

Irony and Sadness

CONNECTION!

This quote is like Milkweed the book because Misha has to go through a lot to get to where he is. Misha did not know what happiness was until he was taught happiness, by his “dad”. He never really understand life cause he was living out on the streets. Misha learns from his pain and sees what weakness really is. He basically learns from his mistakes. He also learns from others mistakes. The book is ironic also because I’m also connecting it to the quote of the week. “silence is Not Golden.” It's ironic because the Jude Star they were forced to wear was a golden color. So as the quote says be different and learn from your mistake.

MEMORABLE QUOTE!

(A minute later I found found her. She was near the street corner, standing still, not even trying to hide herself, her sack of food dumped on the ground besides her. I did not want to call out. I approached her quietly from behind. She did not move. She seemed to be looking at something. She was looking up. And then I saw. A body was hanging from the crossbar of a streetlight whose lamp had long since stopped shining. It was hanging by the neck.)

(So why was my heart hammering my chest? Because the body, I could see now as I stopped besides her, had one arm. It was a boy. It was Olek. A sign hanging across his chest. In the moonlight it was easy to see the words, but I could not read. Flat on the ground, his shadow was hanging too.) “I was a smuggler” said the sign! pg 146 seen by Misha and Janina.

This quote is memorable because it shows that in the ghetto the Jackboots were really hard on the rules. If you break the rules then you will be punished. Also they would mess with the towns people like throw bread to the people in the town treating them like chickens. Also the Jackboots would take pictures of the people and their girlfriends would make fun of them. I’m shocked that some of the Jewish people had no idea on what was going on. Also they treated them bad by when they got on to the cattle carts they had no idea on what was happening they thought they were being relocated!

“He removed his cap and mussed my hair. Lice eggs flew like baby snowflakes.”

(passage taken from Milkweed page 148)

This Quote stuck out to me because of the fact that ghettos were so filthy that you would have lice. Lice that laid eggs and they were visible? That's not only the gross and disgusting, but just wrong. Lice are bugs that bite your scalp and lay eggs but it takes years for them to built up. and for it to look like snow falling. He mustn't had taken a bath in a good 12 months.  what happens if you were in a enclosed area with NO water, No heat and No air conditioning. I found a picture on google of a ghetto and people in there.

Make The World A Better Place,For Us

• QUESTION:Reflect on the meaning of the statement from the Talmud. “He who saves one life, it is as though he has preserved the existence of the entire world.”

ANSWER:It took me some time but I eventually realized what this quote is all about. This quote basically means that it only takes one person to lead the world into a positive direction.The Holocaust is a great example.All the hearts that were touched through the Jews predicament.Rescuers decided to help and put everything they have at risk.All just so they could do everything within their powers to help a fellow human.I think this small act of kindness changed the world in a beautiful way.Because not only did it make people remember what being human is all about but it also opened doors for people to start doing little bits of kindness to make the world a better place.For you,me and the entire human race.

RESCUERS ARE RECONGNIZED

• QUESTION: Rescuers see themselves as “ordinary” people and yet they all did extraordinary things. How might this be explained? Why do you think some people became rescuers doing the Holocaust while most remained bystanders? What moral choices were made by rescuers during the Holocaust (Think about the rescue poster/rescuer you created on Tuesday. http://www.jfr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=sup_country_list has a list of ALL rescuers).

ANSWER: Well to me there is no other way in explaining it, if they are just people like you and I then that would just make them ordinary people doing extraordinary things.There is no way in further explaining it.The way I see it, many people became rescuers during the Holocaust for one simple reason.Their heart reached out to the Jews.They didn’t like how they were being mistreated,so they did their part.Most felt they had to do something to help because of their religious beliefs.On the other hand many of the rescuers were not religious at all they just did it because they felt they had to.That is also the reply of many rescuers I’ve heard of. The actions that the rescuers took by not only setting their lives but also the lives of their entire family shows what it means to be a human. For those who just couldn’t take the chances personally should not be blamed.They had nothing to do with the Jews tragedy and they shouldn’t have to put all they have on the line for it. This is how I think the bystanders felt.

The worry increases

Throughout this unit, you have probably considered two important questions regarding the Holocaust: How was the Holocaust possible? and Why did the Holocaust happen? How would you answer these questions? Another important question to consider is Why is it important to study the Holocaust? What argument would you make for the importance of studying the Holocaust? Why?

The Holocaust was possible because Hitler lied his way through power. He told people this “it was the Jews fault that the Germans were going through depression.”When really it was the treaty of Versailles. He was in power, infact “Adolf Hitler was appointed Reich Chancellor by President Hindenburg on 30 January 1933 as the head of a coalition government made up of the NSDAP (Nazis) and the conservative nationalist DNVP (German Nationalists).”The treaty of versailles is an agreement that the allies created so that Germany would be blamed for the destruction they did. This connects with Hitler because he wasn't very agreeing with that, He was upset and found people that agreed with that!

The Holocaust happened because anti semitism both in Germany and the countries it conquered, compounded by propaganda and the resources of a powerful state, and the encouragement and leadership of political leaders. I think that if Hitler wasn't born then the Holocaust probably would have happened. Millions of people wouldn't have died.

It's so important to learn about the holocaust because if you dont then its a possibility that it might happen again. In germany they teach it over, and over again. They take field trips to the camps and see all the destruction that Hitler and the Natiz did. If you don't teach then how will people learn. How can you teach a decade that want everything now! How do you teach them, i know by showing. I like what Germany is doing. Taking their children to the concentration camps.I would make that argument because i truly believe that it's important that the wise teach the naive.

The Holocaust Is Important

The Holocaust was possible through many reasons but the greatest that I found more considerable was the fact that Hitler lied his way through power. He even said it himself and Hitler quotes “How fortunate for leaders,that men do not think.Make the lie big,make it simple,keep saying it,and eventually they will believe it.” Hitler said to his inner circle.His greatest strength which people could not realize until death was lying his way through everything.Unfortunately he was great at what he did the citizens of earth could not catch up to his lies until after he has already accomplished murdering millions of innocent souls.  

The Holocaust happened because of one simple reason a very intelligent powerful prejudice man did not think most people should have the privilege to live around and walk among others just because he did not like them. With the help of his minions,the Nazis and many others who were in it if only bribed (which was not a problem for Hitler) the man on the hot seat (Hitler) did not have much trouble shedding over eleven million human blood.With finding creative new ways of execution each day (like the gassing) murdering children,senior citizens, and adults quickly turned into entertainment for the Nazis who did all the dirty work.

Studying the Holocaust is equally important as studying all twenty seven amendments of the U.S Constitution or The War of 1812. Just like it’s important to study and understand the difficult decision that our country had to make. By going into war with our now very close ally,Great Britain, in order to win our independence.Even though it’s history we Americans still today uses this event as a motivation to move forward.I am absolutely sure that if more people learn more about and understand the Holocaust they would also understand how much people were forced to give up and what tragic hardship they had to face in their everyday lives with no say from them at all.

“A single white flower flew out of the crowd. It bounced from the iron flankof a tank and broke into pedals. I threw my cheese.” (Misha, Milkweed, p. 20)

I Think that Misha is agreeing with the white flower even though he's oblivious to what's happening. The color white can be a hopeful, peaceful death upon the tanks.  Let me explain you can have hope in every moment that you have, but you can also be at peace while having hope; and then you can die by an army tank. maybe he throws it to give up yet agreeing with the fact that he's at peace, and yet hopeful. It kind of ironic that there's a flower being thrown up while a tank is coming threw the streets. I think that its the end of the tunnal for the freedom that people are use to is coming to a end.




In our english class when we were studying Edgar Allen Poe, he wrote a poem thats name was “The Masque of the Red Death”  in the story they have seven rooms the colors were, “blue stained glass windows. The second room was purple, the third was green, and the fourth was orang. The fifth was was all white, and the sixth was violet. The walls of the seventh were covered in black velvet tapestries that hung all over the ceiling and down the walls.” The color white symbolizes ring around the posie. The meaning of "Ring around the Rosie"--refers to a red mark, supposedly the first sign of the plague
"A pocketful of posies"refers to sachets of herbs carried to ward off infection
"Ashes, ashes" either a reference to the cremation of plague victims or to the words said in the funeral Mass..."Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Sometimes line three is rendered as "Atischoo, atischoo"sneezing, another sign of infection.
"We all fall down." The Plague was not selective in its victims; both rich and poor, young and old, succumbed. i think that the white could have meant death but thats red and so white stands for peace or hope.

Uncle Shepsel's Decision

“Mr. Milgrom told him,'You cannot stop being a Jew,' Uncle Shepsel said, 'I’ve already stopped. I’m a Lutheran.'  (Misha and Janina, Milkweed, p. 116).


To me this is a big disappointment.Not only the way he is trying to change who he is deep inside. Knowing that it’s not possible,but also thinking that reading a book about another religion is good enough to get out of the current situation at hand. It is also very disappointing that he did not show any sign of hope through his religion.He was ready to denounce any signs of him being a Jew. Unfortunate for him that's not how Hitler saw it, he thought being a Jew was a race not a religion.So it's too late for Uncle Shepsel to try and change his religion thinking he would be able to get out in a snap of a finger. On the other hand even though I was against him denouncing his religion.I think it was quite wise of him to have the thought that maybe if he changed his religion he could make it out of the ghetto and hopefully be able to smuggle out whats left of his family.


Reading that particular quote made me immediately think about the series Twilight.The Cullen family tries to blend in with the Forks civilization as typical humans and tries to change the fact that they are vampires.By being “vegetarians” this meens that they do not suck regular human blood but instead go out and prey on animals.This of course was not an easy task for them but they found the strength to survive.Even though they try their best to be typical humans deep down inside they are vampires and they’ll always have some type of craving for some fresh human blood.The way that Mr.Shepsel and the Cullens are alike is that they are both trying to change something very big about who they are.The Cullens are doing a great job with it but Uncle Shepsel just has it in his mind that if he slowly starts practicing Lutheran the Nazi’s or should I say Jackboots would let him go. What are your thoughts, do you think Uncle Shepsel would be set free if he entirely changes?

Need hope!

In the poem written by Pastor Martin Niemöller he was trying to say that all they needed was a little bit of hope. If one person would of stand up for others then they could of helped him. He did not think of the other people till he was in their position. But there were some people who stood up for people who were going to soon be put in a type of camp. I wonder why they did not try to help the young then help adults? They all needed to stand up for someone because if one stands up then more will stand up for others.  It is like the quote from the Hunger Games about hope. All you need is a little hope. “a little hope is effective but a lot of hope is dangerous.” When Hitler came to power if the Jewish people had hope they would have maybe gotten farther.

Group Post After Trip

The group just came back from the museum and we learned all sorts of interesting information. Do you know how to cool down a gun? The soldiers would urinate on it! Meagan saw a poster that had a Nazi sign on a Nazi's shoe and on the poster it was crushing New York City. Julia’s experience was a recap on everything that reminded her on how bad it can be when you give a person too much power - it can cause a big change and hurt many people in many different ways. Rachel saw/heard the many ways people tried to get their stories out and learned about innocent and brave heroes who were not going down easily. So all in all, we all went through a life changing experience that won't be forgotten easily.

Group Post Before Trip

We think the book is really interesting. The book is fascinating, especially the part when Misha found out that the people being punished were Jewish. Also, we found that it was soothing that Uri took in Misha as a little brother. It was gross when the kid peed on Misha and how Misha never had a bath it was sad, and gross. We are really anxious too see the museum. We cant wait to see the briefcase with the city inside it. Also, our group can't wait to see the night of glass area. We also cant wait to see the survivor and hear his/her story.

The young and the nieve

[Connection!]
(“You need a name.”
“I have one,” I said.
“A real one.”
“Why?” I doubted him.
“You should have one, that’s all. I want to know what to call you.”
“Call me stupid.”
He laughed.
“You don’t remember what your parents called you?”
“i don’t remember parents.”) Uri and Misha, pg 22 and 23

This is my connection because when I was younger my friend when she was left on my neighbor's doorstep. She never had true parents, she was never given a real name. It was a good thing my neighbors took her in as their own. She is now one of my best friends. She is younger then me by 4 years. She was 4 years old when she was dropped of and was known as baby. She said it was not her name but that’s what the people called her. When she was 3 and outside looking for food she heard a woman on the phone saying ok Brittney and after that she called herself brittney. When she was left at my neighbors house they asked her name she said i don’t have one the people called me baby i call myself brittney. They let her keep Brittney, but she is like “stopthief” in many ways.

Memorable Quote!

(In my mind I saw the man in black scrubbing the sidewalk with his beard. And the other man and the laughing soldiers with the scissors-snip snip-and the hair falling to the sidewalk, black hair falling...

My eyes popped open, though in the blackness there was nothing to see. “They’re Jews!” I blurted.) Uri and Misha, pg 24

The reason I chose this quote is that kids are young and have a lot to learn. Even though he is young its saying that kids had an idea on what was going on around this time. People were clueless but not totally. Not everyone thought it was right to do this. Around this time the kid says he wants to do some of the stuff the jews are being forced to do. But once he figured out they were jews and what's going on then he changed his mind. Why do you think he wanted to be painted or paint gypsy on the outside of the shop? I wonder why kids have to be taught when they can't just get the knowledge from living on the street? Don't you think they would mature faster then normal kids?

About Rachel

Bio:Hi I'm Rachel I live in Woodridge and my favorite color is pink I think I rock it pretty well.In the future I will be going to to DGS.My all time favorite band is a boys band group named Mindless Behavior I love them because they have their own sense of style and they're all very outgoing and focused in what they do.In the further future I would be called Dr.Rachel,not just rachel.
Previous Knowledge/Opinions Prior to the Project:I don't think the last project will have much to do with this one but the two characters learning how to deal with fear,pain,and shame.
Thoughts About the Project on Day 1:For this project I think that the characters would have to deal with fear and shame much more than a regular person or child would.

About Meagan

Student Name: Meagan

• Bio: I used to play football quarterback in Chicago.   I Love ice cream. and flan. I Also love hang-in with friends. I like baseball. I also love to wright and lean about social studies.
• Previous Knowledge/Opinions Prior to the Project:   I know that the Holocaust want just about the Jewish people but others that weren't perfect in the eyes of Hitler. I know that people were taken out of there houses and put into Getos. There belongings were taken away from them. they were ransacked.  
• Thoughts About the Project on Day 1:  I think its really exciting to be reading this book. It caught my attentions, cant wait to read!  

About Julia

Student Name: Julia 

• Bio: Hi I'm Julia I am in ballet and salsa classes. I'm weird because I love school. Also I'm in karate but don't like it. I live in Woodridge and will be going to DGN. I'm also afraid of spiders.
• Previous Knowledge/Opinions Prior to the Project: I know that Hitler had problems with people that were not perfect in his eyes. Also I'm ready for the notes on each page of the book. 
• Thoughts About the Project on Day 1: I'm ready for this also I don't think this is a hard project.