So I'm Going to the Holocaust Museum in D.C.

[TikiShades]

As part of a production of "And Then They Came For Me," my cast will be driving up to D.C. (from the Triangle in NC) to help our understanding of the suffering our characters went through. If you're familiar with the play, I'm playing Pappy (aka Eric Geiringer, the father of Eva Schloss, friend of Anne Frank).

I don't know anything about the museum, but I'll be there for a good three hours. I imagine I'll see everything there in that time, but just in case, are there any bases that I *need* to cover? Anything that I, playing a father who had to send his wife and daughter away to hide separately, should make sure I see? Is there a... video/audio exhibit that I need to see/hear?

Or perhaps you know of some good literature that would help me? Maybe a tip or two? If you suggest a video, please don't give me anything TOO depressing. I just watched God on Trial yesterday, and I'm still feeling a bit dead inside.

 

[emeraldrafael]

You wont see everything in hree hours.

Well, I mean, you can. But you wont enjoy it in three hours. definitely go in the basement (if its still there) thats a fun place to be.

 

[mrdude2010]

it's intense. i forget what floor it was on, but there's this tunnel where you're on a bridge raised up above the floor, the floor is covered in shoes recovered from the concentration camps, and a picture of nearly everyone killed is on the walls and ceilings. powerful.

 

[TikiShades]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought at that point, they weren't aware of exactly what was happening in the Holocaust and the concentration camps, just that they needed to hide.

They didn't when they were hiding, but I'm eventually being sent there. The last time I'm seen is on a truck to the camp. But there are others who are seen while they're at the camp.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

It was... difficult for me to walk through. I'm not Jewish,but things still hit me. The diorama of the gas chambers especially.

 

[DefunctTheory]

You wont see everything in hree hours.

Well, I mean, you can. But you wont enjoy it in three hours. definitely go in the basement (if its still there) that's a fun place to be.

Enjoy may be the wrong word.

I went through in about 4 hours. I went about a decade ago, so its probably changed a bit, but be warned: the place is designed to make you depressed. And oh God does it do the job.

The place is sobering. Don't make any plans for afterwards.

 

[emeraldrafael]

You wont see everything in hree hours.

Well, I mean, you can. But you wont enjoy it in three hours. definitely go in the basement (if its still there) that's a fun place to be.

Enjoy may be the wrong word.

I went through in about 4 hours. I went about a decade ago, so its probably changed a bit, but be warned: the place is designed to make you depressed. And oh God does it do the job.

The place is sobering. Don't make any plans for afterwards.

It probably depends on your values and personality then. But yeah, I dont know anyone that actually ENJOYS a holocaust museum, and if you do, Im just gonna hazard a judgement and say you probably shouldnt be there.

 

[Nibblitman]

Mostly dont spend as much time on the top floors as most people end up doing. The more, ummmm intense and different parts are on the lower floors other than that just spend you time and you will end up with a good idea and new perspective

 

[fulano]

The Holocaust is one of those things that keeps reaching to people even today. Take for example one Norman Finkelstein--whom the Zionist Lobby detests by the way--the son of two holocaust survivors, and you'll see how someone like that shapes up. The guy has developed into a lonely man who decries what he sees as the minimization of the tragedy by the constant invocation of it to justify what he identifies to be either atrocious acts or racketeering acts.

He's been termed a self-hating jew, an antisemite, and a hateful person (I agree with none of it, though) but he still has been touched by it and continues to be touched by it. Just watch the guy give a lecture (I can give you a link if you are interested, bit I warn you that it, along with the following Q & A are long as fuck but nevertheless very ellucidating). He starts amiably enough but when things shift towards the Holocaust near the end, and towards the subject of a book of his (The Holocaust Industry), dude starts to lose his cool.

If you are interested in teh sychology of someone like that I'd recommend to give that one a go.

 

[KeyMaster45]

He's been termed a self-hating jew, an antisemite, and a hateful person (I agree with none of it, though) but he still has been touched by it and continues to be touched by it. Just watch the guy give a lecture (I can give you a link if you are interested, bit I warn you that it, along with the following Q & A are long as fuck but nevertheless very ellucidating). He starts amiably enough but when things shift towards the Holocaust near the end, and towards the subject of a book of his (The Holocaust Industry), dude starts to lose his cool.

If you are interested in teh sychology of someone like that I'd recommend to give that one a go.

I'd be very interested in that link, I love a good passionate lecture.

OT: The DC holocaust museum is interesting. I visited it in 7th grade with my history class on our big DC trip. Even though I still didn't really grasp the gravity of it back then there was this definite feeling of dread and sorrow that permeated the whole building. It was more like the inside of a tomb than it was the halls of a museum. The most gut wrenchingly creepy part is the outside of it is built to resemble the smoke stack on a concentration camp crematorium. You don't really notice it up close, but if you take a look at it from the top of the Washington monument it's a very unsettling piece of architecture to be jutting up from the DC cityscape.

 

[DustyDrB]

Go by yourself. I've been twice, but both times I felt rushed by the people I was with (I love them. They are some of my best friends. But I really wanted to take as much in as I could). If that's not an option, then...do what you can. I realize if most of the people in your group are ready to move in, you're sort of obligated to do likewise. But there is so much to see.

 

[fulano]

He's been termed a self-hating jew, an antisemite, and a hateful person (I agree with none of it, though) but he still has been touched by it and continues to be touched by it. Just watch the guy give a lecture (I can give you a link if you are interested, bit I warn you that it, along with the following Q & A are long as fuck but nevertheless very ellucidating). He starts amiably enough but when things shift towards the Holocaust near the end, and towards the subject of a book of his (The Holocaust Industry), dude starts to lose his cool.

If you are interested in teh sychology of someone like that I'd recommend to give that one a go.

I'd be very interested in that link, I love a good passionate lecture.

OT: The DC holocaust museum is interesting. I visited it in 7th grade with my history class on our big DC trip. Even though I still didn't really grasp the gravity of it back then there was this definite feeling of dread and sorrow that permeated the whole building. It was more like the inside of a tomb than it was the halls of a museum. The most gut wrenchingly creepy part is the outside of it is built to resemble the smoke stack on a concentration camp crematorium. You don't really notice it up close, but if you take a look at it from the top of the Washington monument it's a very unsettling piece of architecture to be jutting up from the DC cityscape.

There ya go:


And here's the Q & A:


What he says is really interesting but also kind of sad if you think about it. Have a good viewing.