The Treaty of Versailles

Was the treaty fair?

The treaty was unfair. True, a treaty should have and was rightly made, and Germany should have payed all of their debts for what they had done but, as Mrs. Whiting had said, maybe if the price for their destruction had not been to harsh, Germany may not have felt shamed and had felt the great need to gain dignity back, and gain back a lot what they had to give up.

The Treaty of Versailles was a treaty made after Germany surrendered from the first great war, (World War I) that started in 1917. This treaty was written and made by the allied powers (England, U.S, France, Italy and Japan) to require Germany to pay their debts and other restrictions and promises Germany had to agree to.

President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, declared that a league of nations should be made, a point made out of his 14, said to create lasting peace. This league, stated that differences would not be settled on a battlefield but around the table, negotiating and debating. This idea also stated that there should be equality between countries, but this rule only seemed to apply to those in Europe. In the end the treaty was made with these points.

80. Germany will respect the independence of Austria.

81. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Czechoslovakia.

87. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Poland.

119. Germany surrenders all her rights and titles over her overseas

countries.

159. The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not

to exceed 100,000 men.

181. The German navy must not exceed 6 battleships, 6 light cruisers,

12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included.

198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or

naval air forces.

231. Germany and her Allies accept the responsibility for causing all

the loss and damage to the Allied Powers.

233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population

and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at

$33 billion].

428. To guarantee the execution of the Treaty, the German territory

situated to the west of the Rhine River will be occupied by Allied

troops for fifteen years.

431. The occupation forces will be withdrawn as soon as Germany

complies with the Treaty.

Germany then agreed thinking it to be fair in balance of their destruction. But the treaty seemed to go past what it stated, the allied powers pushed the rules, wanting to punish Germany more then settle the agreement. Shaming Germany for their loss and striping them of their dignity. They lost forces, money, land and other important foundations to support a country. Feeling tricked, and embarrassed Germans started to rebel and the media started to tell the nation more about the unfair restrictions and payments. With no stable government and the last chancellor run out of the country because he agreed to Germany's surrender. Germany was desperate for a way to gain back their lost power and more, also for someone other then themselves to blame for their depression and loss. And thus World War II started, with Germany more hungry for total power than ever.

The treaty was unfair. True, a treaty should have and was rightly made, and Germany should have payed all of their debts for what they had done but, as Mrs. Whiting had said, maybe if the price for their destruction had not been to harsh, Germany may not have felt shamed and had felt the great need to gain dignity back, and gain back a lot what they had to give up.

No Man is an Island

How do these texts explore similar themes?

These texts all explore the idea that we, as human beings live in a society amougsnt other people with feelings and a heart. We are therefore not different islands but all apart of countries or cities put together to make continents, (mankind) and thus, the world. (as it says in John Donnes text). Because of this we must learn to take care of each other because ultimately, we depend on each other for survival. This is seen clearly in the short video, giving one of the many examples, homeless people, the type of people we as a society tend to turn our backs to and look away, when really these are the types of people who need our help the most. Like said before, it is important we help each other because we "are in this together". Society will always be better when everyone in it is benefiting in a positive way, " any man's death diminishes me". In Donnes text it also talks about how we must all help each other because one never knows when you will require the help of others so we must treat the needs of others as we would if they were the needs of friends or family, as we would see at others as we see family and friends, the 'same'.

How do the texts provide insights into prejudice and "otherness"?

The author of all the texts are clearly trying to portray a message out to the world, saying that mankind as a whole, needs to cooperate with each other and live peacefully. Opposed to living in a world where people misjudge others for the wrong reasons. (Color, appearence, language, beliefs, gender, race etc.) The book the island uses a single vulnerable and fragile man as a metaphor for all the people in our world that are left aside from society due to prejudices. And the villagers, big, bold, strong, and in a group, represent those who shut away all the ways that people could join hands and connect despite differences. Throughout the book many themes are shown behind the literal. For example when the man is forced to live in a goat pen, he is automatically de-humanized, and seen as an animal, put away and sacrified for the benefit of the group. All villagers look down upon him in disgust, disgusted by his difference all except for one man whose voice is not strong enough to save the stranger from this segregation and the mob's ignorance. All these concepts and more relate to real day problems in mankind and I feel the island is a great way to illustrate these complications.

Why do people make distinctions between "us" and "them"?

People make distinctions between "us" and "them" because it is much easier to judge someone and keep them away than to help them and try to understand their dissimilarity and accept it. What these people are failing to see is that helping others that are 'different' would benefit them, especially knowing that one day you might need their help in return. But instead people looking away not wanting to see, shutting their eyes away from a relationship that could be great and instead name 'them' and 'us'

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

What allows some individuals to take a stand against prejudice while others choose to participate in it? Consider Bruno’s grandmother, Kotler’s father, Bruno’s father, mother and sister?

All around the world, people react to situations differently because of the different circumstances they are in, thus making them see things with a different perspective and state of mind depending on how they have lived their lives and how they have been raised. In this book, Brunos father participates in the prejudice going on because it benefits him well under his circumstances. By doing so, he is given power and a higher position in the German army therefore socially as well, gaining respect from supporters of the Nazi party.

On the other hand, Kotler's father and Bruno's grandmother are in disagreement with the prejudice though their fight for this cause is looked down upon and hidden from others. Although we do not know much about them through the book, we can suspect their fight agaisnt the war is because of the way they were brought up and the knowledge they've gained from years of experience.

Bruno's mother does not really participate in the bias movement but she also does not take much of a stand other than her reaction to Bruno's father when she discovers the truth behind the concentration camps. Because of her position as the commandants wife it would not benefit her to speak out of line because all she really worries about is her childrens safety, to raise them in a good environment and good education.

Finally, Bruno's sister participates in the prejudice because of the things she says to Bruno when explaining to him whats going on. She does this because shes young and that is the only thing she has been taught, she is still not old enough to make up her mind for herself, especially since she has been brainwashed from all the propaganda.