In a comment on the blog a few weeks ago, there was discussion about how difficult it is to stand up to the powerful. I could not help but think of the resistance group that I most admire: the White Rose Society. This was a group of German youths–young men and women- who actively stood up to Nazi totalitarianism. They wrote leaflets and distributed them; they wrote graffiti in public places. They were passionately opposed to Naziism, and they were determined not to remain silent. They were well aware that if they were caught, they would be killed. They were active for less than a year. They were captured in 1943, tried, found guilty, and most were beheaded. Their cause was hopeless, and they knew it. But they also believed that in time, the scourge of fascism and totalitarianism would be defeated. History has vindicated them. Few will have the strength to do what they did. But they must not be forgotten. Their example should live as an inspiration, reminding us that resistance can wear down the worst of regimes.
You can read more about them here.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thanks for posting this, Diane.
Yes. Also (and regrettably) timely.
Diane, thank-you for remembering these incredibly brave young students in The White Rose Society. Sophie Scholl was a leader in the group and a fearless young woman who knew death would be swift if she was caught. In spite of that, she carried on with the resistance and refused to confess after the gestapo arrested her.
If anyone wants to spend their holiday in front of the TV watch the excellent movie about her final days. It’s in German with subtitles: “Sophie Scholl: The Final Days” (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426578/
The arc really does bend toward justice.
12 million young American soldiers did their bit against totalitarianism, 1941-1945, too.
Will
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And over 20,000, 000 Soviets lost their lives fighting the Fascists.
Praise the lord and pass the ammunition!
A surviving sister, Inge Scholl, wrote a detailed account of the White Rose.
“The White Rose, Munich 1942-1943”
You will not be able to put this book down.
Thanks for the book suggestion…and thanks Diane for this post. This part of the history of WW2 has been removed from many text books both in the US and world wide.
Agreed. I have learned how few will speak out even when the stakes are much less.
I am not allowed to attend my 4th grade daughter’s chorus concert in two weeks simply because I asked about student privacy during a PTA meeting. I am allowed to visit every other school in my district and even was invited onstage at a nearby elementary school for their Veterans Day celebration (former submarine officer).
When my daughter asked why her dad can’t come watch and listen to her performing arts show, I simply show her the letter from the principal.
We may be calling for different goals, Diane, but nobody should be afraid to speak out in public for fear of retribution.
I wonder what kind of education enabled these young people to stand up to the Nazis. I notice from the Wikipedia page that they were mostly religious in one way or another (several devout Catholics, some devout Lutherans, a Buddhist, an anthroposophist, an Orthodox Christian). Common Core does not prescribe learning about major ethical traditions. Is it, therefore, hindering the development of White Rose types? I’m rereading Thoreau’s Walden right now (what a deep and refreshing thinker –and excellent writer — he is!). Thoreau was well-versed in the Christian tradition, but also Hinduism and Confucianism. Could a Thoreau have emerged from a Common Core education? Certainly his education bore zero resemblance to the Common Core education. This is the problem with the skills-focused approach to education –it is agnostic about content. Analyzing texts about iPhones is equivalent to analyzing texts about Confucius. Be we are what we “eat” –the content we ingest forms us. Current education orthodoxy says content doesn’t matter, only skills do. France public schools mandate studying philosophy. While some gravitate to hate-mongers in the wake of the Paris attacks, I’ve heard interviews with Parisians on the street that reveal a kind of subtle thinking about the attacks that I’d be surprised to hear from many Americans. I credit their education.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Dr. Ravitch and all your loved ones.
Happy Thanksgiving to all conscientious bloggers in this forum.
I am thankful to be alive after twice in the ocean and survived from a mild stroke.
Most of all, I am thankful to be cultivated from Dr. Ravitch’s and all veteran educators’ wisdom in humanity, civility and transparent democracy.
If the truth is that earth is a school to train people to detach three poisonous sources of GREED, EGO, ans LUST, then all sentient beings need to go through all challenges of these poisonous sources. There is no shortcut.
There is the absolute truth in the quote as follows:
[start quote]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rose
White Rose survivor Jürgen Wittenstein described what it was like to live in Hitler’s Germany: “The government – or rather, the party –
CONTROLLED EVERYTHING: the news media, arms, police, the armed forces, the judiciary system, communications, travel, all levels of education from kindergarten to universities, all cultural and religious institutions.
Political indoctrination started at a very early age, and continued by means of the Hitler Youth with the ultimate goal of COMPLETE MIND CONTROL
Children were exhorted in school to DENOUNCE EVEN THEIR OWN PARENTS for derogatory remarks about Hitler or Nazi ideology.”[2]
[end quote]
Here is my contribution to this forum. The below link will confirm the above quote as the absolute truth
https://corporatewatch.org/company-profiles/unilever-who-where-how-much
I understand that I was like the frog in the bottom of the well when I was at the age of 20. Thankfully for things that happen for a reason. I am now in the early of 60 and have gone through 40 years of mishap, but heavenly cultivated by this forum, I must admit that my life is worth to go through all ups and downs.
May God and all seen and unseen angels always be with you, Dr. Ravitch, your loved ones, and all of conscientious educators in this forum, and globally.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, all.
Very respectfully yours,
May King
“In a comment on the blog a few weeks ago, there was discussion about how difficult it is to stand up to the powerful.”
Can somebody point me to this? I missed it. It’s true.