Österreichische Holocaust-Überlebende zum Projekt "A Letter To The Stars 38/08"

Wien (OTS) - "A Letter To The Stars" nimmt zur Kritik wie folgt
Stellung:

"Im Projekt 38/08 werden österreichische Holocaust-Überlebende aus
aller Welt von engagierten Schulen aus ganz Österreich eingeladen.
Wir arbeiten für die Begegnungen von Überlebenden mit Schülerinnen
und fühlen uns im Projekt ausschließlich den Bedürfnissen der
eingeladenen Überlebenden sowie der teilnehmenden SchülerInnen und
LehrerInnen verpflichtet."

Erste Stellungnahmen von eingeladenen Überlebenden zur Kritik:

Dorit P. Whiteman, 83, USA

"This organization has done more than I can describe towards
reconciliation."

I have been in Vienna many times for various reasons, as a
visitor, as a lecturer in connection with my book "The Uprooted - A
Hitler Legacy," with my study of the improving attitude of Austrian
Holocoaust victims towards Austria and to show my grandson where I
was born. I have met many marvelous people at universities, at the
Dorotheum, at the Literaturhaus and so forth. All those encounters
have helped me to rebuild an emotional connection back to Austrians.

But the biggest step of being able to loosen a deep-seated hatred
and resentment towards those who caused me infinite losses in my
life, came with my acquaintance of the members of "The Letter to the
Stars.

This was an entirely new experience.

These youngsters were already three generations removed and were
truly a new beginning. It was literally a thrill to observe their
dedication, their purity, their idealism. One could begin to imagine
that a better world is possible. A bridge was being built between the
old and the new.

Now these youngsters are being accused of being publicity hungry,
indifferent or ignorant in their dealings with survivors. In fact,
the past events - such as the placing of roses in front of the doors
where previously survivors had lived, had touched me to tears.

I told everyone in New York who would listen of their activities
and the reaction was one, first of disbelief and then delighted
amazement.

This organization has done more than I can describe towards
reconciliation.

Dorit B. Whiteman, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist

Gerda Lederer, 81, White Plains

"Es scheint mir als entmündigend für die Betroffenen"

Es scheint mir als entmündigend für die Betroffenen, ihnen die
Entscheidung, ob sie die Einladung annehmen möchten, nicht
zuzutrauen.

Für mich persönlich ist es unglaublich, dass man an einem
wohlgemeinten Projekt so massive Kritik einbringt und über die
betroffenen Eingeladenen urteilt, als wären sie nicht bei vollem
Verstand und in jeder Weise ansprechbar.

Dr. Gerda Lederer
New School University, New York

Hedi Pope, 87, Alexandria, USA

"Bin sehr enttäuscht über die Reaktionen von Mitgliedern des
Unterstützer-Komitees, des Österreichischen Widerstandes und
verschiedener namhafter Historiker"

Da ich eine Emigrantin von 1938 (Anschluss) bin, geehrt mit der
Einladung nach Wien zu kommen, bin ich natürlich sehr enttäuscht über
die Reaktionen von Mitgliedern des Unterstützer-Komitees, des
Österreichischen Widerstandes und verschiedener namhafter Historiker.

Ich finde es sehr wichtig die junge Generation über die Geschichte
von 1938 - 1945 zu informieren. Die Idee von "Letter to the Stars"
uns Augenzeugen einzuladen und Schulen zu besuchen ist positiv und
originell.

Ihre Beobachtungen wie "betagte Überlebende ohne Betreuung in ihre
alte Heimat zu lotsen", "Situationen ... die alte Wunden aufreißen
können", "emotionale Situation der Menschen zu berücksichtigen" u.a.
sind verkehrt und falsch, und zeigen ein Missverständnis der Ziele
des "Letter to the Stars" Projekt.

Das Unternehmen ist mit dem Welcome Service nicht zu vergleichen.
Beide Projekte sind der Mühe wert und können und sollen nebeneinander
existieren.

Ich hoffe vom ganzen Herzen, dass die Probleme auf friedliche
Weise gelöst werden, und dass das Programm für Mai 2008, wie
ursprünglich geplant stattfinden wird.

Mit respektvollen Grüssen verbleibe ich
Hedi Pope

Bianca Gross, 83, New York

"A letter to the Stars is an educational endeavor"

As to "competition of the work by the Jewish Welcome service" -
which was a "mea culpa" project - A letter to the Stars is an
educational endeavor, the service is given by the participants (the
Stars) and not by the benevolence of the austrian government or
agencies - it is to give a first hand view by actual victims of that
period of austrian history which should leave an indellible mark on
the minds and conscience of the students.

As for myself, I never considered this proposed trip as a
pleasure or reconciliation trip to the country of my birth. I have
and can do this on my own and spend the time the way I wish if I do
it.With the Letters to the stars trip, I consider giving Service - an
educational experience to students which they cannot glean from
history books.

Best regards, Bianca Gross

Gerald Watkins, 79, Pacific Palisades

"I am capable of confronting the past "ohne Betreuung"

The invitation from the Letters to the Stars organization to visit
Austria and talk to students touched me deeply because I consider
this a very important element in the process of remembering. The
youth of today must see the holocaust as an example of the fact that
hate and brutality destroy not only the victims but also the
perpretators.

For me this is an opportunity for frank exchanges with students
without imposing guilt and to give the past a more personal flavor.

I am capable of confronting the past "ohne Betreuung" and if the
Shoa is regarded as a business, then that is belittling its victims
and refuting the lessons it seeks to teach.

Sincerely, Gerald Watkins

Maximilian Lerner, 83, New York

"Ich bin empört, dass andere für mich sprechen wollen"

Ich bin empört, dass andere für mich sprechen wollen. Ich bin ein
früherer Österreicher, dem es gelungen ist, nach Amerika zu entkommen
und der dann als Soldat in der Amerikanischen Armee die Befreiung
Europas mitgemacht hat. Ich bin jetzt Dozent im Museum of Jewish
Heritage in New York.

Trotz meiner 83 Jahre bin ich gesundheitlich und seelisch gern
dabei meine Geschichte und die Geschichte der Shoah an amerikanische
Schüler, die das Museum besuchen, zu erzählen. Um so mehr würde ich
es begrüßen, meine Geschichte in meiner alten Schule, dem
Akademischen Gymnasium, weiter zu geben.

Wir, die die Shoah überlebt haben, brauchen keine Pfleger, um
wieder Wien zu besuchen.

Maximilian Lerner, New York

Gerald A.Pollack, 78, Old Greenwich, USA

"I know very well what happened during the Holocaust, and can
think of nothing that would upset me so much during the scheduled
visit as to require any intervention by the organizers"

I know very well what happened during the Holocaust, and can think
of nothing that would upset me so much during the scheduled visit as
to require any intervention by the organizers.

I strongly believe that personal contacts between people are
extremely useful in conveying understanding and information.
Information, alone, can readily be obtained from published sources.
But personal contacts can enrich this information by endowing it with
a human face and personality. Now, 62 years since the war, most
Austrians will have been born after its end. For today’s 16-year old
young people, it was their grandparents, even great-grandparents, who
lived through the traumatic years of the Hitler period. I think it
is good for these young people to meet and talk with those of us who
survived the camps or, more fortunately, were driven out while the
gates were still open.

I accepted participation in this project not only because the
expenses would be paid, but because I believe that the more people
understand about the Holocaust, the less likely it will be that they
could ever be persuaded to take part in such a tragedy, as surely
some of their grandparents did. It is not "Arbeit Macht Frei", but
Wahrheit Macht Frei.

I accepted also because I want to honor my maternal grandparents,
who perished. They remained in Vienna when my mother, my father, and
I emigrated. They could not imagine that their country would send
them to their death. If you "Google" the name of my grandmother,
Helene Herschel, the first entry to come up will show her picture and
identify her as a student of Arnold Schoeberg in harmony and
composition from 1918 - 1920. She and my grandfather, Viktor, an
accountant, were deported to Theresienstadt in 1942, and from there
to Malo Trostinec. They were never heard of again.

Sincerely, Gerald A. Pollack

Kurt Goldberger, 82, President Kindertransport Association North
America, Hicksville

"I personally fully support this endeavor"

I am Kurt Goldberger, and one of the individuals invited to
participate in next May's "Letter to the Stars" event.

Last April I had the pleasure of meeting with the thirty students
who came to New York under the auspices of Letters to the Stars, and
this has resulted in a continuing relationship of myself and many of
the participants with the students who visited.

I am currently the president of the Kindertransport Association of
North America whose members consist of former Austrian, German, and
Czechoslovak refugee children.

I believe that the project by Letters to the Stars scheduled for
next May will bring our history to the public throughout Austria.
Although the articles in your paper mention that this would be an
unnerving experience for the participants, in my organizational
experience throughout the years, I have found that fortunately most
of the survivors can overcome their emotional memories when sharing
their history.

Therefore, I believe this to be a positive undertaking and
personally fully
support this endeavor.

Sincerely, Kurt Goldberger, President Kindertransport Assoc. of
North America

Gerda Albert, 72, USA

"It was probably written by someone who has/had little or no
contact with any of the remaining survivors "

Those of us who were fortunate to survive the atrocities of this
horrendous time remain connected to our birthplace.

I, personally, would not feel this way were it not for my
connection the the project ‘A Letter to the Stars’.

The young people who give their time and efforts to this project
have shown a genuine interest in the lives and personalities of those
survivors they have contacted. I have no doubt in my mind that my
life, and thousands of them would have been very different if the
Shoah Business never happened.

Some of us have been invited to come (BACK!) to Vienna in May of
2008. We will be thinking about what might have been and pay respect
to all those who will never return.

In considering the cost of this project, I hope the reporter or
editor of this article is able to realize that it does not come close
to the monetary losses of the Viennese Jewish population.

Think!

Gerda Albert

Edith K. Friedlander, 85, USA

"Die Überlebenden reichen eine Hand der neuen Generationen und
danken für die Bemühungen der jungen Leute"

'a Letter to the Stars' hat mich eingeladen im Mai nach Wien zu
kommen.

Ich bin beleidigt dass Herr Perz meint wir werden "in die Heimat
gelotst." Ich treffe meine Entscheidung selbst und wurde sicher unter
keinen Druck gestellt.

Ich bin erfreut mit der Jugend in Kontakt zu kommen, da ich glaube
das ist der einzige Weg eine Brücke zu einer besseren Zukunft zu
bauen.

Was das Bedenken betrifft, dass die psychische Gesundheit der
"betagten Überlebenden" gefährdet ist, habe ich großes Vertrauen,
dass wir das bewältigen können. In vielen Fällen ist das ja nicht
der erste Besuch und der traumatische Druck ist schon verarbeitet.

Ich würde es begrüßen, wenn die Gegner des Projektes sich auf die
positive Seite konzentrieren würden, nämlich: Die Überlebenden
reichen eine Hand der neuen Generationen und danken für die
Bemühungen der jungen Leute.

Edith K. Friedlander, Forest Hills, N.Y.

Rückfragehinweis:
A Letter To The Stars
Tel.: 01-7983955-0
Mobil: 0676-5394995 (Andreas Kuba)

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