Month: September 2025

I really enjoyed the Holocaust museum visit, I think it’s the most put together museum I’ve ever seen. I love how it’s told chronologically, you can see the events unfold. The museum made me feel all kinds of emotions.. The fear as the Nazi party came to power and the devastating horror of the concentration camps, as well as the relief when the concentration camps were liberated. I tried to see myself in the shoes of the Jewish, but it was incredibly painful and saddening. It’s hard to believe that someone is capable of such genocide.. How does it reach this point? And how can we stop this from repeating? I feel like right now, people are overlooking similar events in different nations, just because it’s not exactly like the Nazi regime doesn’t mean it’s not important. Nations should be more involved so history doesn’t repeat itself, we should feel obligated to do something so we don’t have to go through another world war. So many people are suffering and the public just turns a blind eye. I know it’s easier to ignore since it doesn’t affect us, but what if one day it does. What would we do then? That reminds me of a quote I saw at the museum:

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out– because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out– because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the jews, and I did not speak out– because I was not a jew. Then they came for me– and there was no one left to speak for me.” 

– Martin Niemoeller

I think we as people are too comfortable in our lives, that we don’t really see what’s happening outside of us. Other people’s sufferings do not concern us because they feel too far away. But anyways I digress, the museum was really powerful. I almost cried reading some of the survivors’ quotes.

“Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed….Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.”

– Elie Wiesel, Night

I remember reading Night in high school, it was very moving and the museum helped me relive the book. I’m grateful that our school gave us the opportunity to understand victims of the Holocaust, I know that in history class, we really gloss it over. We mainly focused on the rise of the Nazi regime and World war 2, not exactly the Holocaust and its effect on millions of Jews and their families. Although I can’t relate to the horrific events that happened in the Holocausts, I can try to understand how they felt. The pain, the hopelessness, the suffering.. It’s all that we can do so we don’t forget the suffering they endured. 

In 1889 Austria, Adolf Hitler was born as the 4th son of his father’s 3rd wife. During his early childhood (although this may be a lie or an over exaggeration) his father was a very violent and abusive man, and he served the Habsburg Empire. Hitler grew up to hate his father, and in turn to hate the Habsburgs. During his time in school Hitler received low marks and his teachers reported that he was talented, but he was lazy. Furthermore, many believe that his history professor, Dr. Potsch, an extreme German nationalist, first influenced Hitler’s views.

When his father died at 13, Hitler’s mother began to spoil him and allowed him to do whatever he liked (in their financial range of course). Hitler began creating artwork and at 17, he moved to Vienna and hoped to pursue art. He was then rejected from the art academy, and a year later his mother passed away. Although he inherited her wealth, he quickly burned through it and was forced to live on the streets. In 1909, he began selling his artwork under a Jewish art dealer. During this time 3 parties from the Vienna part press had caught his attention.

The Social Democratic party; The Violent pro German, Anti Habsburg, Anti Semitic German National party led by Georg Von Schoenerer; The Catholic Christian Social party led by Dr. Karl Lueger

In 1913 Hitler moved to Munich and registered as stateless so he didn’t have to do his war obligations. He had escape obligations for 3 years but was finally enlisted in 1914. He served his country for 4 years and returned to Germany in 1918. When he returned home, Captain Mayr asked for his assistance in propaganda and used him as a political agent. Later, in 1919, he attended a meeting of the infant Nazi party, which was led by Honz Harrer. By may 1920, he established himself as the head of propaganda and became the most successful orator. 

Mein Kampf timeline

1923 – Started writing Mein Kampf while he was imprisoned after his failed coup in Munich (Sentenced to 5 years in fortress confinement for treason)

1925 – First volume was published (A reckoning) 

1926 – Second volume was published (The Nazi movement)

1928 – Unpublished manuscript of the second volume

1933 – After years of slow sales.. The book became the bestseller in Germany (of course finally his rise to power)

1939 – It sold over 5 million copies in 11 languages

I think it’s kind of funny that Hitler makes so many allegations but never attempts to prove any. He only uses facts to fit his personal views and needs. I got lost frequently in his writing, he rambles very often. Lots of metaphors… sometimes I can’t tell who or what he’s referring to.

Chapter 7: The Revolution

In this chapter, Hitler recalls his time serving in WW1 and his injury that led him to return to Germany. Throughout this chapter, Hitler expresses his rage towards the Jewish and Allies. He’s humiliated and disappointed in Germany’s defeat. Every German counter action ended up being a complete failure and “enemy” propaganda spread. Hitler believed that to boost German moral, “it had to come from home.” During his time Hitler felt malice towards destiny, which kept him from the front lines and leading his people.

In 1915 “enemy” propaganda consisted of this: “The suffering was growing greater and greater in Germany; that the war was going to last forever and the hope of winning was gradually vanishing; that the people at home were longing for peace but the kaiser did not allow it; and that when the war ended, the libertarian and democratic nations would take the German people into their “league of eternal world peace.” These were sent from planes to the soldier in the trenches, and then beginning to spread into their home front.
In 1916 during the Battle of Somme, Hitler was wounded, which forced him to return home. Where upon returning he noticed that Jews held higher positions (clerks), and believed that they controlled all finances and “robbed the whole nation.” Hitler also believed that the Jews were organising a revolution to crush the Germans.

Chapter 8: The Beginning of my Political Activities

In 1919, after Germany’s defeat, Hitler returns to Munich. Where he believes that the current German government is going to fall. Hitler searches for like minded comrades and begins the “Social Revolutionary Party”. During this time Hitler was greatly influenced by the lectures of the German civil engineer, Gottfried Feder. Where it then led Hitler to believe that current politicians only care for present gains, instead of the posterity of Germany. He was also very influenced by the Dutch news article People and Fatherland, which stated:  “What we must fight for is to safeguard the either and reproduction if our race and our people, the sustenance of our children and the purity of our blood, the freedom and independence of the father land, so that our people may mature for the fulfilment of the mission called it by the creator of the universe.”

After debating with many fellow comrades, he was offered an opportunity to be an Educational officer in Munich — his first actual opportunity where he could speak in front of a crowd. This marked Hitler’s gateway to greater influence and higher ranks, where he then met even more people, thus beginning the new movement.

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion was first published in 1903 in a Russian newspaper. Where the publisher claimed to have discovered real documents that proved there was a Jewish organisation that controlled the world, which facilitated the popular Jewish world conspiracy theory at the time. Although Antisemitism was already a thing, It became wide spread in the 19th century and the Protocols only brought them closer together. It amplified the already growing hatred for the Jewish community and political leaders would use it to their advantage.

After the Bolshevik revolution in 1917, where the Party seized power in Russia in a coup, later becoming the Communist party. Fear spread across Europe, and with no one else to blame they turned towards the Jews, and blamed them for plotting the communism revolution.

In the following years, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion was translated and published all around the world, where a German edition appeared in Germany 1919. Where the Nazi Party used the book to encourage antisemitic beliefs and to justify their horrific crimes against the Jewish population. Hitler claimed that the Protocols “revealed the nature and activity of Jewish people.”

But in 1920 London, the newspaper declared that the Protocols were a forgery, a fake copied from a 1864 French political satire: Maurice Joly’s Dialogue in Hell Between Machiavelli and Montesquieu.

Example:

Now I understand the figure of the god Vishnu; you have a hundred arms like the Indian idol, and each of your fingers touches a spring.

— Montesquieu, Dialogues, p. 207

Our Government will resemble the Hindu god Vishnu. Each of our hundred hands will hold one spring of the social machinery of State.

— Protocols, p. 65

Despite the fact the book had been exposed as a fake, it still held tremendous power. The Nazi party would still use the Protocols as propaganda to defend itself from “Jewish aggressors.” They picked out and used specific ideas included in the Protocols as well as continued to circulate Nazi editions of the book throughout Europe. And even today, the Protocols still holds great influence and continues to fuel antisemitic beliefs.

Isn’t that terrifying?

After finishing the book I was unsure if this was satire, it seemed like it was made to sound egotistical or to villainise a certain group of people, in this case the Jewish. The narrator was certainly not one themself because they constantly mentioned “We the Jews” as if to convince the public that this was written by Jews. The entire book seems to try and instill fear into the public and convince them that the Jewish are trying to take over the world, which fed the conspiracy theory at the time. The theory that Jews were behind every global event, meaning that all wars were planned by them. Although over exaggerated and frankly impossible, this fear and hostility turned the Jewish population into easy Scapegoats, where organizations and political leaders then could blame them for everything.

The book is set up to appear like professional meeting notes from this “council of Zion”, the structure of the text is very similar to A Modest Proposal, where it actually sounds logical. The book’s protocols are divided to cover every part of society: economy, financial markets, media, education, etc. The Narrator attempts to make themselves look like they’re doing a favour for the world by weeding out all the Non Jews (Mainly Christians).
Anyone could see that the book is trying to pin the blame on Jews, yet if I was a middle or working class citizen in the early 20th century, where fear and uncertainty filled the streets… I would easily believe this text was legit. It would feed my perception, that my suffering is caused by someone else.

It’s true that in the book, they say the public is easy to sway. As long as they believe that their suffering is caused by someone or something else, they’ll hold onto it because who would want to believe you or your nation caused your own problems? Then they’ll reach towards a saviour who will get rid of their problems. Which is exactly what happened during Nazi Germany. (Corrupt) Political leaders will use anything to their advantage the manipulate the public to point their fingers at someone else, which further supports their fascist agenda.

Childhood and Youth
Throughout his life The Marquis de Sade was in and out of the police authority’s hands. Sade was born into an old French aristocratic family and lived with the Prince of Conde. During this time, French society was dominated by a rigid class structure, where nobles and royalty lived at the top. His parents had hoped the two boys would get along, which would set up Sade for life. What they did not anticipate was that Sade was incontrollable and spoiled. Since his parents left him alone at a young age, he was used to getting the way he wanted, he was used to being served. So when the Prince of Conde entered the picture, Sade’s power felt threatened and he beat up the young prince. His life seems to only get worse from there. Sade’s mother and father divorce years after, and she becomes a nun (which may have influenced Sade’s religious views). In 1750, 10 year old Sade was sent to a prestigious school, although his father was heavily in debt at the time, where he continued to misbehave and was punished for it, might have influenced his sexual development. At 15 he joined the 7 years war but once it was over he was quickly discharged from his position. At this time his father had arranged an arranged marriage between Sade and the eldest daughter of another noble family, in hopes that the marriage could relieve financial stress. Sade reluctantly agrees.

Imprisonment

4 months after his marriage, Sade hired a prostitute and was accused of blasphemy, which was a capital offense at the time. He is then imprisoned for a few weeks until his family released him. This continues for the next few years. Every time he commits acts of depravity and blasphemy, and lands himself in prison, his family tries their best to hide the scandals and lessen his sentence. Which really goes to show the privilege of the aristocracy. Sade is only sentenced for years at a time and every single time he’s free, he goes straight to indulging in his fantasies again. Finally his family had enough of him tarnishing their name. In 1777 he was finally caught again and put into prison. In Vincennes 1782 he began writing the 120 days, 2 years later he was transferred to Bastille. Where he wrote the novel on a long piece of paper he could roll up and fit into a crack the wall. In 1789 he escaped from the Bastille, 10 days before it was stormed. During this time the French revolution was already underway and the lower class demanded a new government.

Note: His life is really summarised so I’ve missed a lot of details

In summary
There are a lot of factours that contributed to Marquis de Sade’s life and to the writing of 120 days. His childhood and privileged background set him up to believe that he was above the law. The enlightenment that was happening at the time influenced him to start writing his thoughts into novels. Till this day, although infamous, his writings have contributed and influenced many writers and scientists. I still don’t fully believe that his work was satirical, but it would be on par with the works that were released during his time. Nevertheless 120 Days can be seen as a satirical attack on the elite classes of French society.

First of all the name of the book is inaccurate… it should be 120 days of torture… Although I only read the introduction and then a summary of the books contents, it was too disturbing to continue reading. I was not expecting such a twisted novel, Sade was truly a messed up and disgusting man. The way his novel only gets worse the longer it progresses and that’s what he wanted.. baffles me. Sexual assault and r*pe was already bad enough, add human torture to the mix? Now you’ve got a scum soup cooking. And it wasn’t even “light” torture (if torture can even be light..) it was like full on limb chopping and human roasting type of torture. The 4 characters (I refuse to call them heroes) were the embodiment of how nobles or the elite of society had the freedom to doing anything and not be punished for it.

My anger for the novel exceeds its contents, how could some parts of society react positively to his novel? Anyone supporting his work, like thinking of it as research or a moral novel is so wrong. Horrid and disgusting barely begins to describe it, it’s straight up dehumanizing. Young boys and girls are the main 4 characters play things. After the first 90 days, the characters become more and more are sadistic, for example one of them would cut up children and another would burn them alive. This novel is a self indulgence of Sade’s own twisted fantasies where from his childhood and all the way till adulthood he’s always had an entitled notion of other people should “serve me”. I’ve always believed that people could change, but even after transferring through multiple prisons, almost being killed, and being divorced from his wife, Sade still acts the way he’s always acted. It’s disgusting.

Extra: I want to burn this book, I no longer want to have possession of it

I’m not sure what I was expecting but I know it was not this at all. At first I thought Swift was talking about repurposing the poor, like putting them to work, but the more I read the more I realised that was not the case. If you remove the moral aspect, his idea is reasonable. (If that term can even be used) I know this writing is a satirical critique towards the (insensitive) wealthy upper class, but his proposal would solve a lot of issues. It would provide financial relief to the poor and their children would not need to suffer famine and disease. If you’re looking from an objective point of view and you have no regards for human life, uneducated and sick children do not contribute to society, instead they drain resources and food. Less “useless mouths” to feed, as Swift puts it as in his proposal, meaning more food and money for useful and capable people in society. Of course this proposal is wrong in every moral way and I hope that society never becomes desperate enough to resort to this.

A Modest Proposal is a satirical stance on the cruelty of the wealthy and state of poverty during 18th century Ireland. Where the starving poor are not considered an issue for the wealthy. They’re seen as animals and property, exploited for profit. Hence why Swift suggests selling babies like how they do with animals. Nevertheless his proposal writes a perfect critique that is still accurate today. In every era no matter where you are, enough and power makes you lose your sense of humanity. It makes you incapable of sympathising with those beneath you.

I wish there was a better solution to this issue but there will always be selfish and corrupt people in this world. Perhaps my thoughts are too simple minded but as long as famine and poverty does not affect them, they do not care.

(Note: I always write with the word “you” it’s not targeted to anyone, it just makes me feel like I’m talking to the subject of the text, in this case the rich)

Mary Magdala
When I first started reading I didn’t realise that Disciples could be women, it was really nice to see that Mary was well respected by the Savior and some of the other male disciples. Although she still faced opposition in her text from Peter and Andrew (section 10), her gospel reveals the importance of women involvement in religion, yet it also highlights how women are not treated with the same respect as men. Peter and Andrew do not trust her words and believe that their Savior only favours her because she is a woman, “Are we to turn around and listen to her? Did he choose her over us?”(section 10, line 4) The disciples are offended by her words, believing that she’s incapable and that she must be lying, instead of perhaps thinking they made an error in their own ways. They don’t question their own actions and instead blame her. Mary was chosen because she understood the Savior’s teachings better than any of the other disciples and proved herself trustworthy and honest.

In The Savior’s Farewell Jesus confirms this distrust in his disciples, he says to them “[Do] not lay down any rule beyond what I determined for you, nor promulgate law like the lawgiver, or else you might be dominated by it.” (section 4, line 10-11) Where in which Jesus warns his disciples that they are prone to power corruption.

Judas Iscariot
I’ve always seen Judas being painted as the bad guy in Christianity, but his gospel tells a different story. I’ve always had a curiosity for Judas, I questioned why he gave up Jesus to the Romans, and for so little too. How I see it is that Judas fulfilled the prophecy, someone needed to be the villain. It’s curious because he was Jesus’ most trusted apostle, he was the only one on the right path, he was even shared the secret of the cosmos. I don’t believe Judas was inherently a bad guy, he just happened to play the part so Jesus could be elevated.

Looping back to Jesus, he seems to be distrustful of both his disciples and apostles, only choosing a few honest ones. This is seen in The Disciples See The Temple and Discuss It, where the Disciples have this vision about 12 priests that commit evil deeds. Jesus then tells them that those are their future selves, consumed by greed and corruption.

Summary/ Final notes

I really enjoyed reading these gospels and I can certainly understand why they’re so controversial. They basically go against everything Christians believed were true. “There is no such thing as sin”? (Mary, section 3) Of course there’s sin! That’s preposterous!! How could there not be? What can I blame my own misdeeds on besides temptation!
Okay enough with the sarcasm, there are a lot of lost gospels and religious texts I’m sure would have given us a clearer picture. If 85% are lost.. that means we have 15%, but the 15% has been mistranslated and altered through out the years.. so that would mean only 1% or even less is pure text. I hope that in the future more texts will be discovered and we’ll be able to paint a fuller picture.