Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 2011)
r aced<8>clackamas. edu Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011 The Clackamas Print Audience moved by story of Holocaust Alter W iener shares his experience during W W II By John William Howard Sports Editor Its n ot often that one man can change the lives of everyone he speaks to in just a few short minutes. That was the case last Thursday when Alter Wiener, a Holocaust survivor, author and speaker, came to sharediis story with a packed and silent McLoughlin Auditorium. Wiener sat in the furthest corner o f the stage, nearly hidden by the podium, as the crowd filed in; There was an expectant hush, not the usual drone of voices that typically precedes the many speakers that Clackamas. Community College brings in. Something was different about this one and everybody knew it. As Wiener stood, a picture flashed on the screen behind him. Gaunt, black-eyed and nearly lifeless, the image bòro no resemblance to the man standing next to it. The image was taken of Wiener the day he was liberated from a Nazi labor camp by the Russians in May o f 1945 after nearly three years of incarceration. From that first moment and for the next 9Q' minutes, Wiener held the audi ence in the palm of his hand. He wove his horrifying story froth one end to the other, stopping every so' often to point out the terrifying effects of prejudice on a people and how he found it “completely abslird.” Using a string oft experiences, Wiener not only told his tale but also illustrated some incredible moments o f hatred, com-, passion and sickeningly close brushes with death, Wiener told of how, when starv ing while working, in a textile factory, a German woman took pity on him. Against the rules, the woman made eye contact with him and motioned to where she had hidden a sandwich of white bread and cheese. The woman continued to feed Wiener for another 30 days, despite the incredible risk to herself. Also told was the story o f the day the Russians freed the prisoners: Thé Russian tanks rolled up to where the prisoners were waiting to be taken to. tjie work site and an officer shouted to them that they had been liberated to do as they pleased. “W hen they saw our bodies', they broke down,” said Wiener. “They cried with us.” By the time Wiener was finished with his présentation, the audience was also in tears. Moved by the incredible tale o f unthinkable brutality, tearful admirers crowded around the stage as others filed quietly put o f the auditorium. “It’s emotional because how do you. live through’ that? I just can’t believe that people have had to survive such awful things,” . said Loretta Mills, one of the many onlookers; “He’s on a mission,.. he was touching peoples lives and I think he’s ' doing a great job.” At Wiener’s ripe age of 85 and w ith a stoty like his to share, he has plenty oft wisdom to give out everywhere he goes. He speaks in fronpof all ranges of audi ences from elementary school children to college students to book clubs and always seems to stress that people should appre ciate what they have because “you never know w hatis going to be tomorrow.” Another o f Wiener’s points was how important it was to hear about the past sP that it could be avoided in the future, and that we should never despise those around ùs just because they’re different. “[To keep it from happening again] number one' is to not gravitate towards hatred,” said Harry Wise, another mem ber of the audience who met Wiener personally. “Whatever you go about, go A lter W iener shared stories fro m his past w ith Clackamas C om m unity College about by love.” ; students a n d faculty last Thursday in M cLoughlin A uditorium . NASA: Former GCC student speaks about career after school STANDUP FOR MENTAL HEALTH COMEDY SHOW Where: Clackamas Community College McLoughlin Theater 19600 Molalla Ave. Oregon City When: Monday^ Nov. 7th @ 2 :30 pm Tuesday, Nov. 8th @ 7 :00 pm Cost: Free to the Public General seating is limited. Light refreshments served. Produced by: David Granirer, Founder . Stand Up far M ental Health ftQpÆM.tfh rKtaaaSaSa Health, Housing ▲ &Hwnar^>ervfces<^ _ _ _ _ _ _ .i For more information contact kathyf57@yahoo.cbm. an hour with a PowerPoint o f the presentation and presentation full o f visuals' enjoyed what she learned. After the production, “I’d recommend takirig that caught everyone’s eye a lot o f different classes at such as the visits oft Bill many of the students said least to get. a flavor for it.. Nye and the staff o f “Robot that they would definitely I hated chemistry in h ig h Chicken” to Burton’s lab in go to another event similar to Burton’s NASA presen school. It’s only by giving Maryland. ’ “I like that he was tation. C C C had a great things a chance and coming across it later in life that you relaxed. Normally presenta opportunity to learn and find our you really dike it,” tions about intense sound hear from one of the nation’s ing stuff have the guys in' best scientists. Students and said Burton. Throughout his educa suits and are all stuffy. He .staff would be smart to take tion for his Career, Burton was really relaxed and made the chance io learn if the has had many people he it fun,” said Emma Wilson, opportunity comes around counts as idols. Burton talk who stayed the entire hour again. ed about some o f his biggest influences throughput his journey. “The biggest influence^] on my way to NASA were Nick Hamel and also my adviser at PSU that I did my graduate research with. O ur research there was also founded by NASA on the origins on life,” said Burton, “just having these science mentors that you really build close relationships with really keep you going.” The presentation caught the interest o f many, as there The Z -4 8 B is Used by N A S A a n d the A ir Force to study were: more than 20 students the structural aerodynamic a n d operational advantages o f and staff members in the the Blended W ing Body. audience. Burton spoke for C Continued from Page 1
