Anne Marie Frank

 Anne Marie Frank

 

“I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death! And that’s why I’m so grateful to God for having given me this gift, which I can use to develop myself and to express all that’s inside me!” – Anne Marie Frank

 

Anne Marie Frank was a young girl born in Germany that lived in the Netherlands during the occupation of the German forces. Her family lived some of the worst times in history as they were persecuted for their Jewish ancestry. With intelligence and bravery, the Frank Family was able to hide from the German soldiers for as long as they could. For about two years, they survived by living in a hiding place behind bookshelves in Anne’s father’s workplace.

 

“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.” – Anne Marie Frank

 

To think of the horrors that any individual had to endure simply for the fact of being Jewish is beyond terrifying. Worse was the fact that innocent children were attacked as well. Anne Frank was an example of individuals who were not allowed to continue during the bloodthirsty reign of the German Nazis. Such examples should serve as a form of truth to the deceitful nature of ideologies. Anne Frank did the best she could by writing in her journal everything she saw. From the interactions of her family members up to the sounds and noises that caused pain for the fear of discovery.

 

“I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness; I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too. I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more.” – Anne Marie Frank

Anne Frank wanted to be someone great. She did, in fact, manage to become great. She opened our eyes to the destructive nature of mankind, but also to the gentleness and divine nature of those that carry goodness in their lives. Anne Frank described in her writings that she thought that even after all the evil that the German Nazis had decided to partake, she believed in the goodness of the human spirit. She also wanted to be a great journalist and wanted to be great. She accomplished that and much more.

 

“The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” – Anne Marie Frank

 

Anne Frank’s story should serve as a reminder to what happens when we dehumanize our adversaries or perceived adversaries. We should always think that even in the worst of disagreements, we should respect each other and care about each other. Even if words offend, actions should never lead us to perdition. Anne Frank’s story is very dear since I watched a play when I was in eight grade and I remember the sadness of every moment when the Frank family saw or heard German footsteps in their hiding place. No one should have to live like that. No one should be treated as less than human and yet it happens in the current world we live in. We need to take lessons from Anne Frank, the fourteen year old girl, that was able to teach the world that no matter how much evil in the world exists, the goodness of people is much greater.

 

“In the long run, the sharpest weapon of all is a kind and gentle spirit.” – Anne Marie Frank