Esther Chong

When I read the first half of All But My Life, I was horrified by the fact how the non-Jews of Gerda's town, Bielitz was treating all the Jews as strangers. After all they all knew each other before Germany took over and were friendly to each other. I am sure that Gerda felt hurt when her friend Trudy greeted the German soldiers with happiness instead of fear. I hope nothing like that will happen to me, just because I believe in a different religion. In the book she was also horrified by the fact that her neighbors were turning their Polish flags into German flags. It sickens me that those neighbors changed their flags just because Germany took over, do they have no pride? It sadden me that Gerda thought the only way to be free was to kill herself, but I was glad that her father made her promise not to kill herself. Gerda was also very brave taking those English lessons, even when the Germans were giving public beatings to the Jews. The policeman that turned her in, showed the many changes the Germans had taught. The way the policeman spared her, showed that there were still people who treated the Jews for what they were, human beings.