Breakfast: Addie and I headed from our campground in Arlington to a crepe restaurant in Dallas to meet my friend and colleague, Laura, for breakfast. So good to catch up on life, family, and work!
Grassy Knoll: I crossed the river and parked by the Reunion Tower so I could see the Grassy Knoll, where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, by Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald shot Kennedy from the sixth floor window of the nearby Texas School Book Depository. Although I wanted to tour The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, it is closed on Tuesdays.
Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum: Over dinner last night when Susan and Len suggested I visit this museum, I nodded politely and thought to myself, “No way am I going to another Holocaust museum!” Wow, I am so glad I went! This museum pulled together all of the elements I’ve been ruminating on during this road trip adventure. I’ve seen Native American locations, considered Americans’ treatment of slaves and African-Americans, experienced sites focused on immigrants, … all leading me to reflect on how we “otherize” people so we can dehumanize them and treat them poorly. This museum not only shared the history of Anti-semitism and the resulting Holocaust, but moved the conversation forward to human rights violations in general and genocide in particular. The final gallery presented stations allowing participants to select their own personal Call to Action. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! What can I do??? The Call for Action kiosks provided direction and inspiration. The only bummer is the information is only available at the museum – not on their website or in any of their printed materials. Regardless, I feel – surprisingly! – optimistic that I will be able to find something that I can DO to help make this world a better place.
With Laura
Dealey Plaza
The window from which Oswald shot Pres. Kennedy.
No comment
My mother’s mother and father’s father were both from Łódź, Poland, leaving before the Holocaust. Out of the 164,000 Jews in Łódź at the start of WWII, only 877 survived.
Powerful exhibit with explanations of each phase highlighted by examples from around the world, such as Armenia, Rwanda, Cambodia, and so many more.
Throughout the museum, voices of Dallas survivors made the unreal real. This wall showcased the murdered family members of those survivors.
I only took one photo of my Call to Action suggestions.
I rode the Reunion Tower to the top. Just like in Nashville, they take free digital photos of guests.
View from the top of Reunion Tower. These freeways and Dallas drivers? YECH!
