Freedom Writers 3/12/2025
Elders step up to teach the Holocaust and More postcards to WI!
Hello, Freedom Writers!
In Today’s Post:
MORE Postcards to WI to elect Susan Crawford
Elders Step Up to Teach the Holocaust
INFO SHEETS - For Your Information
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MORE Postcards to WI to elect Susan Crawford
If you can write more postcards to WI, and you can either pick them up in Longmeadow or have us mail them to you, order more packets here: WI Postcard Order Form.
Elders Step Up to Teach the Holocaust
If there was ever a time for American elders to FIND the courage to step up, it’s now. Our parents fought the Brownshirts. Our fathers and uncles died defeating the Nazis. We are the only ones left who remember. It’s time for us to talk to young people (and to each other) about the ugly truths of WW2 and Fascism.
We’ve debated far too long about ‘how’ to tell our children, our grandchildren, our high schoolers, our cherished offspring … We’ve clutched our pearls, we’ve wrung our hands! How can we possibly tell them?
Granted, the truth about WWII is ugly. It’s scary as hell. 75% of the Jewish people in Europe were slaughtered. BUT, the alternative to telling them the truth, is this: THEY WON’T KNOW. They will be blindsided. Because we didn’t tell them.
Lately, I’ve had several conversations with my German American friends that have gone something like this: “Germans embrace a fundamental principle that everyone should live their lives in such a way that their grandchildren will be proud of them.” This, obviously, is because, any German alive today is personally either proud of, or ashamed of, their grandparents … based on whether or not they complied with the Nazis.
For Americans, however … not so much. The question of, “How will my grandchildren remember me?” – it’s not as big a thing for Americans. Many American elders are more concerned with the question, “How can I enjoy my sunset years?” Ultimately, this is not such a good thing … especially for our grandchildren.
But some elders are FINDING ways to change that.
Yesterday, at our local JCC (Jewish Community Center) in Springfield, two of our state senators met with community members about bringing a Holocaust curriculum into our high school.
Our local Democratic Town Committee, the Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee, is organizing a public screening of “All the Light We Cannot See.”
The Holocaust Memorial Museum has a wealth of excellent curriculum materials designed to teach this difficult information in respectful ways.
This kind of action is not as easy as picking up a packet of postcards. It requires you to FIND the courage to speak up in your church, your synagogue, your neighborhood groups and local government … your extended family. We have an obligation to plant those seeds. Tell those stories. Lay those foundations that will enable them to someday fight their way out of Fascism … after we’re gone, if need be.
“The road to Fascism is lined with people telling you to stop overreacting.”
We’re not overreacting. We’re simply recognizing that our grandchildren’s grandchildren are depending on us.
EBFreed
INFO SHEETS - For Your Information
If you’re new to the Freedom Writers, WELCOME! Check out these INFO SHEETS with lots of great background information:
INFO SHEET: Get Started - Taking Action with Indivisible - Get the most up-to-date information about what is happening in your area through a local Indivisible group!
INFO SHEET: Keeping Your Cool Under the Trump Regime - Access reliable, free news when it counts the most!
INFO SHEET: How to Contact Your Elected Officials - Find out why we act the way we act.
Three AOC Videos About the Importance of Phone Calls Now - Don’t let the MAGAts win the calling our elected officials game.
5 Calls App - Set Up Instructions - This beautiful instruction sheet was written by 3 people who are all over 70 years old. If they can do it, you can do it.