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Holocaust
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2008-2009 Essay Contest Overview
Students are asked to write about an individual or group that shows moral courage.
Moral courage is the ability to take a
strong stance on a specific issue and
to defend it based on one’s personal
beliefs or convictions regardless of
danger or threats to personal safety.
Follow the steps below to approach, research, develop and write your Tribute to the Rescuers essay.
Step 1 - Follow the directions on the Educational Overview page to learn about the Nazi occupation of various countries in Europe, a basic history of the Holocaust, rescuers and non-Jewish resistance and the incredible personal stories of some rescuers of the Holocaust.
Step 2 - Complete the Reflection sheet
Step 3 - Choose and research an historical or current event that demonstrates moral courage. Be sure to discuss your topic with your teacher. Your essay may cover historical events such as:
- Rescuers of the Holocaust (See Holocaust Resources)
- Civil Rights
- Literary subject dealing with moral courage. (See Literary Resources)
- A historical topic covered in your classroom.
- the Rwandan, Bosnian and Cambodian genocide
- Genocide: the threats in Darfur, Sudan, Kenya, the Congo, Zimbabwe and Chechnya
For more information on these past genocides and continuing conflicts refer to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s web links at www.ushmm.org/research/library/weblinks/?content=genocide and the Museum’s Committee on Conscience at www.ushmm.org/conscience/
Ensure the event demonstrates moral courage versus courage. Moral courage typically involves a choice and decision to confront a threatening situation due to one’s moral convictions. For examples of essays on moral courage, please refer to previous winning essays.
Step 4 - Write a personal reflective essay including:
- how the historical or current event or person you researched demonstrates moral courage
- how this act has impacted the world, and
- most importantly, share a personal experience or describe how this act of moral courage influences your actions today.
Refer to the Eligibility, Rules and Regulations section to ensure your essay conforms to submission guidelines. |
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