Two summers ago I bought Haley age appropriate books on different historical figures for her summer reading. This list included John F. Kennedy, Michelle Obama, Franklin Roosevelt and Anne Frank. I thought these individuals would help her gain a better understanding of leadership, courage, dedication and compassion.
One book I read to her was the one on Anne Frank. As a little child I remember watching the Anne Frank movie on television with my father and brother. I remember thinking how horrible it had to be to have to live in fear and realize that you were being hunted just because of your religion. As I read this biography on Anne Frank to Haley we ended up having many of the same conversations I had with my father. I struggled to explain to such an innocent soul such as Haley how man has used institutions such as government and the church to spread fear and loathing of others. So many people have died in the name of religion that it is actually the reason for so much division in our world.
At the end of reading and discussing the book, I expressed to Haley that when we go to Europe I will make sure we go to see the Anne Frank house for ourselves. So as we began to plan our trip I was pulled to flying into Amsterdam so we could all experience Anne and her family's story.
So after getting some catch up sleep from our first day of travel, we decided to get up early and make the trek to the Anne Frank house and museum. We were warned that if we did not get to the museum by 8:30am we would end up waiting in line for a very long time. Luckily we found our way there (after feeling lost so many times) and were about 15th in line.
As we waited for the museum to open, we were able to talk with the other people in line. The line reflected the diversity of Earth. Everyone from everywhere seemed to be waiting in line with the hope to try and better understand the struggles of the Frank family and how the world could let one nation under the rule of a horrible person kill so many innocent people.
Right next to us in line was a couple from Maryland. They were seasoned travelers but were making their first visit to Amsterdam and the Anne Frank house/museum. The small talk ranged from airline flights, weather, why we left California for Texas and sharing information on the children's university model school they attend. Throughout this pleasant conversation you could sense the underlying tensions of what awaited all of us. Beyond those doors we would have the opportunity to explore the worst of humanity while seeing the beauty of the human spirit.
As the doors opened, I was not sure what to expect as we entered. Please note that you have to be careful how big a purse/backpack you bring. Plus you have to wear any backpacks on your chest with straps over your back. After we purchased our tickets we entered the first part of the museum. It is very simple layout that uses Anne's words to immerse you in her experience. Quotes from her diary line the wall and set the stage for your journey into their secret hiding place.
After a few minutes of exploring background information on the time period and reading about the Frank family and those who hid with them you finally reach the secret bookcase. It is amazing to see such a little bookcase and door that kept the forces of evil and tyranny away for over two years. As you crouch down to go through the doorway, you realize immediately how depressing and isolating the "secret annex" was for Anne and her family. You are immediately met with the darkness brought on by "blackout" curtains. One small light fixture with a single bulb lit the room. It was barely enough to generate a person's shadow.
At the same time you see many of the original items the family had posted on the walls. I was particularly taken by the growth measurements of Anne and her sister. Those lines in pencil meant to capture a family's effort to measure time were now there for eternity to share that they were human and yet were treated so inhumane. As a parent you can only imagine that those lines on the wall could have easily been your own children.
Not far from these lines was a small map of northern France that Otto Frank had posted. There were little pins on the map that represented the movements of Allied troops as they rolled back the Third Reich and approached Amsterdam. You imagine how those pins were placed on the map with such hope. How could Otto not imagine that those pins moving east towards Amsterdam would bring validation and freedom for his family. He had to have dreamed that one day he would be able to place a pin on Amsterdam and then take his family outside their small sanctuary for the first time in two years. So close those little pins looked yet they were an illusion for the Frank family. A sense of hope that only Otto would live to see.
After this we moved up the steep stairs to the view the other rooms. You see the original bathroom and small rooms and you have to think could you do it? Could you live in the dark for two years with the constant fear that people are out to hunt you and your family down for the purpose of killing you? I am not sure any of us have the ability to endure what the Franks and so many millions more did during Hitler's tyranny.
The children were amazed how small the living space was. Myiesha and I talked to them about the restraint Anne and her sister had to have to be quiet everyday for two years. Ian seemed to be unable to move beyond the thoughts that they were forced into hiding just because of their religion. He asked me many times why did the good people let Hitler do this? He even made the connection to the Kony 2012 campaign. He looked perplexed that we as a world continue to allow bad people (mainly men..when have women ever done anything like this?) to hurt and kill innocent families? Unfortunately that is one of those questions no parent can truly answer.
Haley was focused on who would have told the Nazis where the Frank family was hiding after such a long time. Haley was irritated that someone would "tell on them" and for what reason? She wanted to know what did they get for doing this? Another great series of questions but we have no answers.
There is so much I could say about this visit but at some point our words can truly never capture the emotions we all feel when faced with such a horrible part of man's history. At the same time these children are quick to understand that what was once history can still be seen today in our world. How many more people must die because of religion? Why do we allow these conflicts to continue when we know they lead to atrocities such as these. As Haley said to me..."Have we learned nothing?"
I hope that anyone who reads this will take the time in their lifetime to come visit a place like the Anne Frank house and museum. It is definitely worth the time and travel to ensure that we all remember that not long ago we let one person lead a nation down a path of hate and destruction that touched us all.
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