What blessings were showered on those who attended the VE Day Remembrance at The Learning Experience in Second Life May 9! Blessings also tinged with pain and accompanied by horror -- but blessings nevertheless.
The blessings came via the harsh and bitter picture painted of the Holocaust by one of its survivors, Fanny Starr. This kind and gracious woman shared her words and photos of the most horrible era in her life -- and one of the worst in modern history -- so those of us who've never experienced anything even close to it can better understand and resolve to never let it happen again.
If you were unable to attend the TLE VE Day Event in SL, you can still listen to Mrs. Starr's first-hand account and view photos of the Nazi atrocities and her years in Hitler's concentration camps -- by watching the video taken while she answered questions from her audience at the event, held at the TLE War Memorial Wall in Second Life.
There are two versions of the video:
- If you have only five minutes now, watch the short version, which is available on YouTube. It's a wonderfully produced machinima that captures the essence and highlights of the VE Day commemoration. In fact, everyone should watch this version, too!
- And now or later, carve out 45 minutes from your schedule and watch the unedited footage of Mrs. Starr's conversation with the audience, which is available on Vimeo.
Both videos are also available right here, on The Learning Experience blog's sidebar (top right) though in slightly smaller viewing windows. The videos are beautifully done by the Second Life film production firm, PookyMedia Films.
Toward the end of the longer video, Fanny Starr (shown as her SL avatar in the photo above) makes a statement that sends chills down my back. When someone asks what she would advise if something like the Nazi movement arises again, she says:
"Speak up and fight back. . . . Just don't go, like we went, to the slaughterhouse."
Powerful, bone-chilling words.
And words that are also echoed by the talented Second Life poets who participated in the TLE VE Day poetry contest held as part of the commemoration.
Update on the VE Day Poetry Contest
I have seen all the entries now and am just amazed at: 1) the number of entries received in the short timespan of the contest; and 2) how powerful and moving they are.
As the daughter of a World War II veteran who served in the European Theater, I grew up in the shadow of that dreadful time. My father told story after story and inspired me to learn even more about that war. So when I read these poems, I am transported back to my father's side, hearing his stories reflected in the poetry and sensing again the powerful emotions he brought back from Europe and which remained with him the rest of his life.
I don't know how three "winners" will be picked from this group of winning poems -- the judges will have a difficult time. But I'm grateful that all of the poems will be published in a TLE book in SL, because they all deserve to be read and honored.
As soon as the judging is finished, I'll report back on the results and how and when the poems will become available for you to read.
But for now, go ahead -- click to view those videos. And blessings!
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