A Teen’S View Of Hate Everyone Could Learn A Valuable History Lesson

If it were possible for every teen and adult in Spokane to visit the Anne Frank exhibit at Gonzaga University, I would tell them to go.

But everyone won’t go, even though this look at a young girl’s perspective of World War II was the most interesting history lesson I have ever received.

Although this is called the Anne Frank Exhibit, the display provides much more. You are able to read portions from Frank’s diary, learn about events leading up to and after the War, and read other stories of survival.

It is presented in tall panels that are set up in several rooms. As you begin reading on panel 1, you are introduced to Frank’s thoughts on why she writes in her diary that was given to her as a birthday present. The following panels in the room describe Adolf Hitler’s political rise in Germany and introduces us to the Frank family.

This is a very serious topic, one that takes more than 40 panels to read about it. While children would benefit from learning of Frank’s story, I do not believe they would have the patience to walk through and read each panel. Also, some of the captions on pictures were very small and you had to strain your eyes to read them if you weren’t directly in front of them. And if you were in front of the panel, you were probably blocking someone’s view.

Unless they are coming with a special group with a designated speaker to read the panels to everyone, it probably wouldn’t be the best idea to bring a young child who can’t read or won’t understand the account. But it’s a must for teens and adults.

I walked through rooms at the Schoenberg Center filled with stories from Frank recounts of events during the Holocaust, and quotes from survivors.

As I walked, it felt like there was nothing going on in the world. Only these stories of hatred based on religious beliefs.

Even after I read about the last moments of the war, the final panels are filled with quotations from people today who are still experiencing prejudice. Reading these statements and going outside brought me back to the present.

I was relieved that World War II and the Holocaust of the Jewish people had ended, but also sad to think about the ethnic cleansing that is still occurring in our world.

The intention of this exhibit is to inform, inspire, mourn, and rejoice.

Everyone who goes to this display will feel each of these emotions before they leave.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Exhibit hours

The Anne Frank Exhibit: A History for Today, is open to the public from 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the weekends. It will be at the Schoenberg Center on the Gonzaga University campus through June 2.