WHY SHOULD I CARE? LESSONS FROM THE HOLOCAUST
AZG DAILY
22-12-2009
Holocaust and Genocide Studies
The Wordsmithy recently published a book titled "Why should I care?
Lessons from the Holocaust". The book uses a new approach to Holocaust
and Genocide Studies that engages students in their communities and
their future–using a frame of reference they understand to help them
build the "content of their character."
Using popular culture and the internet, and written in clear language
that engages teenagers, "Why Should I Care? Lessons from the Holocaust"
by Jeanette Friedman and David Gold provides information students can
use when confronting broader issues of life and suffering. This book
stresses the importance of character and virtues.
Among other points it makes, the authors respect Catholic contributions
to rescuing children during the Holocaust and clearly expresses,
in Pope Benedict XVI’s own words, the Catholic Church’s emphatic
rejection of Holocaust denial.
In addition to conventional Holocaust and Genocide
Studies resources listed on the book’s companion web site,
, there are clips from "Star Trek",
"The Twilight Zone," a song from the movie "Borat," Wu Tang Clan’svideo
by Remedy, Grammy Award Winner Miri Ben Ari and even one of Edward R.
Murrow interviewing Dr. Jonas Salk on CBS and much, much more.
The authors felt that young people couldn’t relate to the story
of the Holocaust. They believe that the purpose of Holocaust and
Genocide studies must focus on how people treat each other in their
own neighborhoods-and how they, as individuals, have a profound effect
on our global society.
Attached is a flyer with a list of chapter titles and book reviews.
Also attached is the first chapter of the book, Silence = Death, that
describes the murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964 and also talks about
Stephen Colbert’s invention of the word Truthiness, a word that aptly
describes what Hitler relied on when he differentiated segments of
society and turned them into targets of discrimination and destruction.
Why Should I Care? is an ideal solution to a programming/teaching
budget problem – time and money budgets. A teachers have just so
much time to include these studies in the class room. The book covers
everything quickly and in simple English. The website is free access
and can be projected into a classroom. Students can access it at home
and use it to find current events and do reports. Why Should I Care?
is inexpensive compared to other programming materials. It’s how you
solve two problems with one solution!
The book contains appendixes, a bibliography and an index. For
bulks inquiries, contact The Wordsmithy, 201-986-0647 or email
[email protected] also available from
and amazon.com.