The Jews will survive.

[Q]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 12:20pm

A friend posted this on another site, and I was curious what some people here might think. On a recent trip to Europe, a family of three generations (a Holocaust survivor, his daughter and his grandchildren) dance to Gloria Gaynor's pop song - 'I Will Survive' at concentration camps and memorials throughout Europe. I’m not Jewish, so I can’t even attempt to place myself in that place mentally - my thoughts are truly from an outside perspective.

My first impression was one of triumph, and then that feeling deepened in response to some of the comments left after the video. Some of those ideas presented included (paraphrased):

It should have been done on the SS graves.
This seems against the intent, to me. This isn’t about “I’m alive, and you’re dead.” I think it’s more “I’m alive in spite of the fact you wanted me dead.” It makes more sense to do it in the place of attempted genocide.

And in regards to the place –
It’s disrespectful to those who died there.
I saw it as a triumphant statement of survival – a Phoenix-like ‘rising from the ashes’ statement that those lives weren’t the end. It honors their existence, and shows them that they are not forgotten.

The survivor himself could get away with it, but including the grandchildren was disrespectful.
Again, I think it shows the survival – not only for the individual, but for the continuation of the culture through further generations.


Link to video. Updated On: 7/12/10 at 12:20 PM

[sabrelady]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 2:40pm

Link is not working,
Re the comments I won't judge.

But yes, the Jews will survive- we ARE a stubborn people!

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 2:43pm

The link didn't work for me either, but I from your description I see nothing disrespectful in this. I'm Jewish, and as such the message of "survival" is ingrained. I can understand the sentiment for sure. I don't see it as being disrespectful to those who died at all.

[Q]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 2:44pm

Hmmm - I double-checked it when I posted. I wonder if it's been taken off the site.

Edit - should work now. Updated On: 7/12/10 at 02:44 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 2:58pm

Oy vey.

[Q]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 3:05pm

For the record, it's a little impossible for me to approach the idea of disrespect objectively, because I've never really wrapped my head around setting aside land to keep the dead - or even memorializing sites of mayhem or destruction of any kind.

The thing with the dead bodies has always seemed a waste of space - taken to its ultimate (if unrealistic) conclusion, we'll run out of space for the living because we give it over to the dead. The whole thing strikes me as unnatural, anyway.

And the memorial site thing seems to dwelll too much on the past - and the negative parts, at that. I don't need to see Omaha Beach to know what happened, or to not want it to happen again. And I've always felt that if all sites of mishap, horror, or negativity were 'set aside', we would again run into the limited space issue.
Updated On: 7/12/10 at 03:05 PM

[nmartin]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 3:06pm

They need a mirror ball.
Updated On: 7/12/10 at 03:06 PM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 3:14pm

I, like Q, find it to be a celebration of life and survival.

I think that message is reinforced by having three generations of survivors dancing together.

But, that is just me.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 3:29pm

If anyone is still offended by making light of the Holocaust I myself am shocked. This has been going on for decades. Mel Brooks career is built on it.

Bravo Jews! We love you and your dark humor.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 3:51pm

I don't think anyone was making light of the Holocaust. I did not get that at all from the clip. This was a big FU to those who carried it out. There is a difference (at least to me).

[Q]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 4:10pm

^^^^^ditto.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 4:14pm

It made me smile to see the old man having a good time!What a beautiful family. A big F-U indeed!

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 7/12/10 at 4:15pm

I don't think that was disrespectful to those who died during the Holocaust. I think it was more along the lines of "you can't keep us down."

[Luscious]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 7:04am

Better I WILL SURVIVE than J. Lo's FRESH OUT THE OVEN.


FOTO

Updated On: 7/13/10 at 07:04 AM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 4:43pm

Dear J-Lo,

Stick a fork in it!

Love,
SNAFU

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 10:06pm

It made me cry. To see these places, created to destroy life and to destroy souls, turned on their head was very powerful; the obvious joy in places that have seen such sorrow was very moving.

"As long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive."

[Q]

Posted: 7/13/10 at 10:28pm

"As long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive."

The thing the haters never understood - and the reason there are survivors.