Introduction

Introduction

            If you were to ask someone if they had seen the film, “The Grey Zone,” what are the odds that they would have seen it? What about “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?” “Amen!,” or “The Uprising?” Most likely, that person would not have seen these films before. I myself had never even heard of these films before taking the course, Facing History and Ourselves. Though, once I had entered into Mr. Gallagher’s classroom, I would soon find out that these were going to be some of the most meaningful films I would ever see. When signing up for this course, I knew that it would involve an in-depth look into the Holocaust. I had heard only good things about the course previously, and I had Mr. Gallagher as a teacher sophomore year so I knew I would not be disappointed. Being Jewish myself, I was interested to learn more about the Holocaust, considering I did not have too much knowledge on the topic other than the general facts I had learned in Hebrew school. This course though, is not solely about the Holocaust; it is much more than that. This course teaches you about your own self, about your morals, and about your identity. The films and lessons taught in this course will not be forgotten, and I can say that from experience. Taking this course will truly make you think about things in a different way, and will cause you to rethink the kind of person you wish to be. Facing History and Ourselves is not just a typical history course, but also a life lesson that I am glad to have learned.