Dr. Fisch will be talking about the same subject Wednesday at 10. That presentation is for area high school students, but I think you would be welcome to attend that presentation if you can't be there Wednesday evening.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Remaining Human (extra credit)
Dr. Fisch will be talking about the same subject Wednesday at 10. That presentation is for area high school students, but I think you would be welcome to attend that presentation if you can't be there Wednesday evening.
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I think that the most memorable and most important thing he mentioned was to always remain humane to one another regardless of who they are or what there differences would be. It's different listening to Dr. Fisch in person rather than reading it out of a book because you can hear the passion he has for life in his voice after living through such a horrific situation.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found the most interesting was his quote, "I have an obligation to show my life is more than survival." I need to "show my life is of value." He took the inhumane atrocities that he witnessed and underwent and, instead of crying for justice, he put forth compassion and equal treatment. He stated that "I was a victim, I cannot be a judge." It is so interesting to watch and listen to someone providing their first-hand account of an event such as the Holocaust. To imagine all that he lived through, the horrible ways he was treated and discriminated against, the Holocaust and Hungarian/Russian revolution, and to see that it didn't leave him a bitter, vengeful human is utterly amazing! What a testament to the human spirit! Nicole Christiansen
ReplyDeleteThis was such a great experience. The part in his speech where he said "Numbers don't matter" was really touching....its so true.....It doesn't matter if one person dies, or 4,000 people die. One is still to many. I was also surprised that Dr. Robert Fisch had a sense of humor. If I would of been put though something like this is my life, I don't think I would be able to ever laugh again. My favorite part that he said was at the very end "God love's stupid people too, that's why he made so many of them."
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alissa, his "Numbers don't matter" thing was very touching. Even if just one person dies, that one person was loved by somebody. However, I think the thing that he said that stood out most to me was that he understood that the Germans who were so awful to him in the camps didn't really want to do it, they were just afraid to go against their leaders. When he mentioned that after he got out he came across one of his enemies from the camps who was starving, and he gave the guy food. I don't know if I would have been a big enough person to do that.
ReplyDeleteI found everything that Dr.Fisch said to be very full of meaning. What I found the most interesting was the fact that he was able to give a former nazi some food when he was he saw the nazi hungery on the street. If everyone had that ability to be so forgiving the world would be a much better place. Bethany Craker
ReplyDeleteDr. Fisch brought a different prespective to my eyes. I completley understand that no matter the number a life is a life. Every person wants to live just as bad as the next so the number of deaths means nothing.I found him extremely strong to have made the accomplishments he has made in life after experiencing something so dark and terrible. His humor brought light to my heart especially because i am huge on humor, you have to laugh through life. Kayla Bossly
ReplyDeleteDr. Fisch was the cutest little guy ever! I'm so glad he came to speak and he was quite humorous! The most memorable part of his speech was just the fact that he had no hatred for the German soldiers. Also, when we explained the number of deaths...it really opened my eyes. I will probably never think a huge number is just a statistic anymore! It was better than watching a movie because it was a personal story, of one man. He talked about a more optimistic view and usually documentaries or movies dwell on the number of deaths and ways in which the people suffered. Thanks again Dr. Fisch!
ReplyDeleteBrittany Madrigal
The big thing that I got out of his presentation was how down to earth he was. He has a sense of humor, he has compassion for others, and a very smart man. And this is all after what he has gone through with the Holocaust. I am so impressed by this that I really can't put it in words. Everything he said tonight was true; from telling people they need to be humane to others to talking about how numbers don't matter. It really was a privilege to be able to sit there and listen to him talk about his experience and his lessons learned.
ReplyDeleteAmanda Fair
Listening to Dr.Fisch was very interesting. It takes someone with a large amount of perserverance to continue living as he did. The most inspiring comment he made the one about not judging others. That's a lesson we could all learn from. I'm very glad he shared his story with us.
ReplyDeleteDr. Fisch's talk left a memorable impression on me. The way he was able to talk about something so horrible so openly with so many people was incredible. Not only did he tell us what he experienced during that tragedy, but he left us with a reminder that everyone is human and should remain humane to each other. Another thing that was very interesting to listen to were his 6 values to live life by. It was an honor to listen to someone who is still alive from the Holocaust and be able to hear his story and how hard it really was from the inside.
ReplyDeleteChris Malsam
Dr. Fisch's presentation was very interesting to listen to. To sit in front of a person that was a part of such a tragic time in history made a huge impact. For someone to go through what he did and survive and still have such a positive outlook on life really makes you think about your own life. For him to overcome that and turn his life around to be so successful makes you think twice. The way he talked about how the number of deaths didn't matter because one was enough was inspiring. To put into perspective what each life costs makes you think about your own and the lives of the ones you love. He made me appreciate what I have a lot more. I am thankful he took the time to speak about such a horrible experience to help other realize how precious life really is. It was a joy to hear what he had to say.
ReplyDeleteLyndee Gienger
The presentation give by Dr. Fisch was very interesting. I was very suprised by the sense of humor he had. I think this made everyone in the crowd realize that even though it had a long time ago, that someone people were there and lived though it. He never judged anyone about what they did, and I think that everyone can learn for that. It takes a great man with great character to accept what happened and realize that bad things happen to good people. It was very good presention and I'm glad I got to hear him speak.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Armstrong
Dr.Fisch's presentation wasn't something I totally expected, but made me glad I attended. I was expecting him to talk more about what it was like inside the concentration camp, but what came to talk about was his perspective of the experience itself. Although he was apart of something horrible, his outlook on life is something we should all take away from his talk. That we should always remain humane to one another and to keep a good sense of humor throughout life.
ReplyDeleteEllen Thomsen
Dr. Fisch's presentation was very interesting. He said one thing that I will never forget. It doesn't matter how many died, because if one of those people were your mother, father, sister or brother it would impact you. Don't look at the number. Also, it was very moving that even after the Nazi's had treated him so bad he didn't blam them or treat them bad when he had the chance. Finally, another one of the things he said that I thought was interesting. God loves stupid people, why do you think he made so many of them.
ReplyDeleteDr. Fich is an amazing individual and it was great to hear what he had to say. The most important thing I took away from the night was Dr. Fich's will to not give up and this helped him not only survive, but also succeed in life. The most memorable thing that I heard was how he kept his hope in the fact that the Americans and Russians were coming to help. I also thought it was intersting about what he had to say about the number of people that died. When we hear the news we don't think much if 100 people died or if 110 people died, but it is a big deal. So many people died during the Holocaust and the entire world was affected by it. I took away more listening to someone speak in person than I could have reading a book or watching a video because I was in the room with him and could take in all his body language as he spoke.
ReplyDeleteAlex Droog
Dr. Fisch's presentation was very interesting and motivational. my favorite part and what i believe i learned the most from is when someone asked the question "after going through what you did how can you love anyone or anything again?" and he answered with "well its very tough at first but eventually you will find yourself again" and that meant a lot to me because it just proves with a good attitude time can really heal everything.
ReplyDeleteDr. Fich had an amazing life story. His presentation was very interesting, i really like when he say "i need to show my life is value and the deaths number means nothing, but what about if they are your loves one." Dr. Fich had a very painful life story. He chooses to move forward with his life. He is hero. I really like when he say " God love stupid people" in the end of his presentation. After all he is very nice and friendly man, he answer all the question with happy and laugh.
ReplyDeleteTha Paw
Dr. Fisch was a very interesting and intelligent man. I enjoyed his presentation and found his life story and message inspirational. I believe the most important thing that he stated was to remain humane in inhuman situations, and also to have hope. He stated that he survived because he had hope. Dr. Fisch chose to move on with his life and chose not to hate the people who changed his life for the worse. Listening to a survivor of the Holocaust in person rather than watching a person in a show or reading about one in a book is a much greater experience. It allows for instant feedback and helps listeners relate on a more personal level. Overall, I enjoyed listening to Dr. Fisch.
ReplyDeleteTy Brown
I thought Dr. Fisch's presentation was very good. His life story was amazing to listen to about all the hard things he had to overcome. It is amazing to me that he was able to push through all these hard things and now today, not hate the people that put him through this. It was nice to actually see and hear someone talk about it in person, it gives a whole new look and feel on what people went through during the Holocaust. Overall, I liked Dr. Fisch's presentation and the advice he gave us to live by.
ReplyDeleteKarly Dickinson
It was an honor to listen to Dr. Fisch. Even though it was very tough to understand what he was saying at times Dr. Fisch reminded that it is important that everyone is human and should remain humane to each other. Dr. Fisch had some great stories and told all of his experiences that he had during the concentration camps and how horrible that period was. One of the more interesting things that he had to say was his six values to live life by. Dr. Fisch’s is an amazing man and it was an honor to listen to someone who is still alive and willing to share the horrible experiences that he encountered during the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteWil Carlson
I was honored to go and listen to Dr.Fisch. I thought we were going to hear all the negative things, and the horrible people that did this to him. Instead he never bashed the people and he said a lot of the time there were people that were trying to help them, weather it was giving them extra food or water. He also said that, he didn’t know why he was able to stay alive and why he was so lucky. He said he has always tried to make something of himself because of what happened. He is one of the strongest and intelligent people I have ever met. I couldn’t imagine losing my family, and he lost everything and had to start all over. He is so positive, and looks at the good things in life rather than the negative, he is very inspirational. I also enjoyed his 6 values that he goes by.
ReplyDeleteBrianna Stangl
I really enjoyed the speaker. He was nice and outgoing before the program started. I thought he was interesting and had a lot to say, but I do wish he would have talked more on what happened while he was living in the concentration camps. He had a very eventful life and its good to see that he is still a happy man after all what he has been through. I learned a lot from what he had to say and I am glad he came to speak to us.
ReplyDeleteI have been to Auchwitz near Munchen, or Munich as us Americans say. I have been to the National Holocaust Museum in DC. And, I have been to Boston to see their Holocaust Memorial. Heck, I lived on an Army base built by Hitler and have original pictures and letter correspondence from the time period, where the postmarks have swastikas and the stamps have Hitler's picture!! This doesn't qualify me as an expert but a guy with an intrigue.
ReplyDeleteI say this just to say that I am impressed or should I say honored to see him speak in person. The bonus of the speech was his positive attitude, totally amazing. It would be Soooo easy to be bitter, cold and hold a life long resentment. But, he has elevated himself to a higher plane of thought and existence. I have only met a few people that I would say have live on this higher plane. The title or main theme of Dr. Fisch's speech was “Maintaining your humanity even in inhumane conditions.” There is no man on earth who has more excuse to be cold and heartless yet he has taken the exact opposite approach and chosen to embrace his fellow man under any and all circumstances. The stories he told of giving a staving German Soldier some food shortly after he was liberated from the Nazi Death Camps or treating Russian Soldiers who where minutes ago mowing down the Hungarian Anticommunist Movement. The American rules of war are the same today so I understand but I wasn't just liberated from a death camp! That might change my perspective on humanity a little, but not Dr. Fisch, it actually reenforced and/or increased his faith in humanity. My 3 tours in Iraq have allowed me to see the face of war and it is ugly. Americans do not know what poverty is! My entire outlook on life has been change because of my time at war but I can not show the kind of compassion that this man has shown. I am blown away.
From a Sociologist perspective, this man has broken down rules for society to be successful. His 6 values to hold true for a better society are: Show compassion for your fellow man, give everyone equal treatment, nurture children, have a sense of humor, suffer (experience loss for the perspective), and of course maintain your humanity even in inhumane conditions. After all the Suffering that Dr. Fisch endured he seen his life from a different perspective. He felt he had a duty to just more than survive, his life had to have value and be worthwhile. Dr. Fisch used Art and Medicine as his chosen mediums and in his words both mediums seek the same end, to sustain life. Art he uses to help cope, process and explain the horror of this time. He used medicine to help heal freedom fighters in his own country of Hungary and the children of the next generation from his practice in Minnesota upon arriving in 1958.
Another compelling force I found in his speech was his honest brutal assessment of the world today, the lack of actual change in 65+ years. Again his positive attitude drives him to give back as much as he can, affect as many people as he can, to change the world around him. Regardless that wars still take place today in Iraq and Afghanistan, the genocides of Dufar, Rwanda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo.
I was late to class the other day because one of my favorite acoustic bands Dispatch was covering Bob Marley’s “War” and I had never heard this version. The lyrics always profoundly speak to me: Until the philosophy that holds one race superior and another inferior/ is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned/ Everywhere is war/