"Once you have seen what I saw, you know that you cannot tolerate unjustice, people treating each other unfairly and with disrespect."
His soft voice and gentle expression contrasted so much to the horrors he told of finding. However, what an amazing story of hope in this midst of tragedy. To me, one of the most amazing stories I have heard or read of liberators is his story of the cigarette butt given to him by a survivor. Mr. Dorris's viewing of that gift, the only material possession that poor man had, as a sign from God that He was still in the world and had put him in that place, at that time, for a reason, is such an inspiration.
You all, much like my other classes, had an opportunity few students have and even fewer will have in the future. It really sobered me today on the drive back from Chattanooga when I realized that my own two girls will probably never hear a first-hand account of the Holocaust. By the time the my girls are old enough to hear, the survivors and liberators will be gone or unable to travel much of a distance. That's a sad thought.
I want you to consider the opportunity you had today. What parts of what Mr. Dorris told you spoke to you the most? What do you think his advice to you is? What fears does he have for the world today? Please comment on this posting.
15 comments:
First off, Mr. and Mrs. Dorris were PRECIOUS! :) I really enjoyed hearing his soft, gentle voice speak to us about such a "loud" and horrifying event in our past. I do realize how grateful we are to be able to live in the last days of the survivors, liberators, etc. who lived through the mid 1900's. It was very disturbing to hear about the man who got his head blown off with his little girl standing there. That in itself really depicts the depth of the occurances in the Holocaust. But, my favorite story would have to be the cigarette bud as well. That man showed true graciousness and thanksgiving by giving the ONE and ONLY thing he had, while in today's world, we would have tons and tons of things to give, but probably wouldn't. It's hard to understand fully what went on in this devastating time, but at least we were blessed with Mr. Dorris to help us understand a little bit better.
Payton Tipton
Mr. Dorris was interesting and taught me so much about experiences coming from the Holocaust. It was different hearing from a liberator instead of a survivor. I cannot imagine the hardships he must have faced while he was liberating camps. The fact that he witnessed the awful tragedies of the Holocaust says so much about his character and his moral values.
Esha Rock
It took so much for Mr. Dorris to come and speak to teenagers about his experience, and I'm so glad he did. I loved getting to hear from a liberator rather than a survivor because the story is completely different. Some of the things he brought up made me cringe, but that shows you how awful the Holocaust was. Mr. Dorris was so nice, and I'm glad we wrote letters of appreciation to him.
Brooke Miller
I am so glad I had the oppurtunity to hear Mr. Dorris speak. He had an amazing story that really touched my heart. He is an example of a true hero. It is truely amazing how humble he is after everything that he has done. I think it is very important that he shares his story with eveyone. That way there will be no question about whether the Holocaust actually happened. It was such a moving experiene to actually see him and hear his story. I cannot even fathom what he has seen or been through. He and his wife were so adorable, and I will never forget them.
Gabby Earby
I felt really lucky (or just plain privileged) just to hear someone who was a witness speak. There were so many things he spoke of that I could not possibly think of a favorite moment. I was hanging on every word he was saying. I think it is amazing how he can recall the atrocities of the concentration camps and yet stay so calm. Another thing is that not only is he one of the few living people that saw the concentration camps firsthand, he is also from our area. Just having an important heroic figure in the Cleveland-Chattanooga area is wild for me.
Jake Hartline
I also thought they were just adorable. I thought his story was very important, just because he didn't actually go through anything as bad as the jews had, he still had a look at the hell like place they lived in. My favorite part of the whole story was also the part of the man with the cigarette bud. I think that it was amazing to know that after all that poor man had to go through he was still greatful that he was living and was willing to give everything to the man making him free. I also think it is very important that his story, and the stories of the holocaust to never die down.
It is amazing to me that Mr. Dorris can talk about what he had to go through and witness while he was liberating the camps. He is a brave and couragous man and has a lot to be proud of. I could tell that he cared greatly about what he had done during the Holocaust and that it still means a lot to him today. He gave me a better view of what really happened in these concentration camps and the violence that was witnessed by so many people. I am gratful for people like Mr. and Mrs. Dorris.
Ben Kimball
Mr. Dorris definently made my day. I love old people so much and him and his wife were absolutely adorable. The thing that stuck out to me was the story about the little girl that her dad got shot.
This just goes to show how little they cared about people's feelings. PErsonally, i wouldnt be able to live with myself if i saw my dad get shot. I also liked the story about the cigarette. I really wish he couldve kept it. That would have been very interesting. Him and Mira Kimmelman both helped me understand the holocaust better.
Bethany McIntosh
I think that he was the best part of the unit. The rest was great, but nothing can compare to hearing someone talk about what they experienced in the Holocaust or any other catastrophe in the world. I don't think that I would have been able to talk to anyone about it if I had seen a dead body on the ground with his eye popped out. Thank you Mrs. Davis for letting Mr. Dorris pass his experience on to our class.
To me, the Holocaust just seemed so distant, like something that had happened in a book. I never really had something to connect with. I think what really moved me was that he riminded me so much of my grandfather, telling me stories about the war in such a small voice. It's kind of like they know the story speaks for itself. I also found myself taken aback that when he was asked about his worst memory, Mr. Dorris immediately remembered something that U.S. soldiers had done. I wouldn't have expected that. All in all, though, I really enjoyed it.
Madison Vaught
I'll just go ahead and agree with every other girl who commented on this post; Mr. Dorris was the most adorable person I have ever seen in my life. I was just looking at the picture we took with him and I almost cried, it was so precious. But about his acutual story, once again I am in awe that he has the strength to discuss his terrible experiences. I LOVE that he continues to speak, no matter how difficult it is for him to relive his hard times. I've never heard a liberator speak and it was a truly touching priviledge. He is a true hero. Not only for saving those inocent people, but also for sharing his story.
Emily Hill
The oppurtunity I had listening to Mr. Dorris was one that only a certain number of people can have. Our generation is the last that will be able to hear actual Holocaust survivors and liberators speak and I think that is something to be cherished. The one thing that spoke more than all his words to me were his genuine, sincere pauses after each think he said. Everything he said was followed by such a meaninful and structured pause. Those pauses to me spoke more than the words because when he would pause it was almost like he was reliving it as he told it. Also, I think one of his biggest fears is people not remembering what he experienced in that awful place and I personally cannot believe how arragont you would have to be to deny such great men
- Ted Lackey
mr.dorris coming to our class was one of the coolest most interesting things that we have done in our class this year. ive always been interested in the holocaust. i didn't have the chance to here the survivor last year so this was a phenomenal experience for me. his whole story from walking into the camp seeing the bodies on the train all the way to the part off the killing of the ss offier in front of his daughter. i honestly can't pick a certain part of his story it was all just so breath taking to actually believe something like that happened but is what is even more frightening is that it can happen again and alot of the world isn't even aware of it. this is what i took out mr. dorris coming and what i think he is worried about is that the world isn't prepared and doesn't understand how horrible is was and can be. i agree with him to the fullest and have learned more from him than i think anything else. hearing from someone who actully seen the doings of the holocaust is just unimaginable. mr. dorris will never know how much he help me to understand so much.
Dustin Shelton
You know, I always love hearing people talk about their past lives, and Mr. Dorris was no Exception. Hearing old war stories like that is one of the more interesting things that I can think of. The entire speech was just awesome and I'd love to hear more people talk like that in classes. It was really a cool experience.
Admittedly, I hadn't had a chance to study the Holocaust with this amount of emphasis before this unit; excluding a book my class read on the topic in elementary school, which was so long ago that I cannot recall the title of said book. [Perhaps I could recognize it if I hear the title again, but then again.] Perhaps I have more trouble visualizing the events Mr. Dorris depicted than I would normally have for other subjects, simply because I did not receive as much detail as I am used to, but the impact in them was still the same--or so I'd like to think. I'm rather delighted that I got to hear a first-hand account on the preceding events, however.
Priscilla Han
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