I attended an event where a holocaust survivor came to speak in McDaniel Lounge. This experience was very unique and evoked a lot of emotions for me. The survivor told his story and gave a firsthand account of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime during WWII. One of the most interesting things to me was his loss of faith in God. Someone asked him if he was still a religious man after the holocaust, and his answer surprised me. He said that he had lost all faith in a higher when he saw the horrors that men were capable of committing. This lecture was special for me because in just a few short years, all of the remaining holocaust survivors will have passed away. I feel very lucky to have heard a firsthand account of a holocaust survivor.

 

I believe that this lecture can also be applied to The Hunger Games. The atrocities committed by the Nazis can be equated to those being performed by President Snow and The Capitol. President Snow rose to power much like Adolf Hitler did, through the events of a devastating war. They used the war to fuel their political campaign and gain followers. Once they had their power, they used fear and intimidation tactics to keep opposition to a minimum. Both Hitler and Snow also commit crimes against humanity. Hitler started the mass genocide known as the holocaust and Snow destroyed an entire district that showed opposition to him. Not only did he destroy a district, but he also uses the hunger games a tool to keep the remaining districts in check.