A View Across the Rooftops

by Suzanne Kelman

I looked out of the open window, over a large area of Amsterdam, over all the roofs and on to the horizon, which was such a pale blue that it was hard to see the dividing line. As long as this exists, I thought, and I may live to see it, this sunshine, these cloudless skies, while this lasts I cannot be unhappy. —Anne Frank

What is life without art, music, or poetry? It helps us know how to feel, love, and live!”

In the nine months of occupation, the Third Reich had already proven itself an evil beast not to be trifled with, a bloodthirsty jackal, primed and alert, ready to take down and devour whatever stood between it and conquering for the Führer.

“You should

be careful. You know you’re not supposed to have books.” Michael puffed out his cheeks as he flicked through the pages. “Let them try and take it from me. They can take away my freedom, but they can’t suppress my thoughts or mind. I refuse to give them either of those.”

Professor Held observed his diminished classroom. So many empty desks. How was it that so many people were now unacceptable to the Nazis? He thought of some of the students who were now gone, good students, quiet, pensive souls who had only wanted to learn. What was so threatening to the Third Reich about someone wanting to understand the fundamentals of calculus? What terrible threat could a young person educated in adding and subtracting be to the world?

Education, one of the main enemy of didactorism

“We have been ordered to collect all wirelesses.”

No radios no news!

Hadn’t the Nazis already taken so much? Their town, their way of life, their hope. Why was one more thing so important? They were already stripped and surrendered. What was the point of taking even more?

The non material goods are the most important and so unique!

“Yes. There are many things that I need. I need to be free. I need this war to be over. I need to be able to walk on the street and be treated like a human being instead of the animal they call Jew.”

Again, the non material goods are those that people desire most

So many people were starving in Holland; eating tulip bulbs and even the wallpaper off the walls.

Many of the professors were still not back, including Professor Held, as the university was barely open due to lack of power. There was virtually no gas or electricity getting through, and they didn’t even have hot water.

“We can finally start to live again,” her old friend said, squeezing Hannah’s hand, “instead of just surviving.”

This is exactly the realotu of the war, people do not live just survive. How lucky we are!!! Free people!