Very timely and yes, very heavy reading in these troubling times. The only thing I can think of that might be relevant is the famous saying by Martin Niemoller: "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." Thank you for the brillant review and analysis!!! Glenn
Thank you for posting this review - I’m absolutely going to try to see this play. As the child of German immigrants, and whose father was a soldier in the German military, I’ve always felt responsible to understand what happened in Germany, and I’ve thought about it my entire life. Two books that especially impacted me were “Every Man Dies Alone” (the fear that keeps people from acting, and the inspiring ways people do nonetheless) and “In the Garden of the Beast” (the way hate creeps in slowly and how easy it is to explain things away). I also liked the 2012 film “Hanna Arendt” and how it examined her attempts to make sense of it all.
Thoughts similar to Alexandra Silber‘s comment you shared, “ The potential for the actions displayed in Our Class exists, lying dormant, within us all. No one is immune. We are not to judge. Our job is to look within. Then — what do we do with that knowledge, and who we become? That’s up to us. Well. Until it isn’t. ” have always haunted me. Thankfully these works keep telling the stories that remind us to look within and to remain vigilant.
Very timely and yes, very heavy reading in these troubling times. The only thing I can think of that might be relevant is the famous saying by Martin Niemoller: "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." Thank you for the brillant review and analysis!!! Glenn
Thank you for posting this review - I’m absolutely going to try to see this play. As the child of German immigrants, and whose father was a soldier in the German military, I’ve always felt responsible to understand what happened in Germany, and I’ve thought about it my entire life. Two books that especially impacted me were “Every Man Dies Alone” (the fear that keeps people from acting, and the inspiring ways people do nonetheless) and “In the Garden of the Beast” (the way hate creeps in slowly and how easy it is to explain things away). I also liked the 2012 film “Hanna Arendt” and how it examined her attempts to make sense of it all.
Thoughts similar to Alexandra Silber‘s comment you shared, “ The potential for the actions displayed in Our Class exists, lying dormant, within us all. No one is immune. We are not to judge. Our job is to look within. Then — what do we do with that knowledge, and who we become? That’s up to us. Well. Until it isn’t. ” have always haunted me. Thankfully these works keep telling the stories that remind us to look within and to remain vigilant.
Stay loud, Mark! Keep writing.