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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eva Lassman Memorial art and essay contests: Arach Thang takes third place in art for middle school

From staff reports

The Spokane Community Observance of the Holocaust has announced the top three middle school selections in its 13th annual Eva Lassman Memorial Writing and Art Contests. The contest theme is “Speaking Up for ‘the Other’.”

The contest asked participants to learn about the Holocaust and read about or listen to some of the many stories of survivors who were labeled “the other” by the Nazis, and address these questions:

1. What are the lessons you learned from their stories that had a major impact on you? Why is it important to speak up for those who are considered “the other”?

2. Who are “the other” today? Based on the lessons you learned, what are you motivated to do to speak up for them?

Arach Thang of Salk Middle School earned third place place for her artwork. Thang explains:

“Candles of Hope”

By Arach Thang

Eighth Grade

Salk Middle School

The meaning behind this piece is providing hope by standing strong together. The hands in this piece symbolizes that each of us are different in our own ways, the candle represents the hope and dreams we hold onto like how the hands are holding onto the candles, the light symbolizes different dreams and hopes that each of us have. This picture portrays how the Jews held onto even the flickers of hope during the devastating time. When each of us individually tries to stand up for their dreams or what they believe is right it is harder to be heard and easier to be ignored, like a single hand holding a candle the candlelight can be easily extinguished when by itself, but when a group of people stand together we can stand stronger and make a lasting impact. Like so if a group of people had stood strong for the Jews, this little hope of light, would it have been enough to make an impact? The group of hands represent this picture of standing together to make an impact, when different group of people come together like the different hands holding the candles, we can become a light to someone else such as how the different candles create a brighter room than one.