Introduction

     Facing History and Ourselves can be described as a monumental course that takes you through many of the hard times and uprisings all over the world that have occurred throughout history.  Over the course of a semester, you encounter all different types of media, from articles, movies, and documentaries to public speakers, that depict the hardships and sufferings of people involved in the Armenian genocide, the Civil Rights Movement and the Jim Crow era, and World War II and the Holocaust.  This course works to show you not only the horrible lives of the victims of these eras, but also how the people leading the oppressive forces came to be in power and why they were able to remain in power for so long.  With Facing History, you always get both sides of the story, both of which are unbiased.  I chose this course because I enjoy history, I wanted to learn more about the Holocaust, and because there are no tests and quizzes and very little homework.  What I got out of the class was exactly what I expected, but also so much more.  This course has taught me to think more about other peoples’ actions, as well as my own, and to be a better leader instead of a follower.  This course also makes you aware of your own surroundings and makes you at least try to imagine what you would have done under the extreme conditions of many of the victims and leaders involved in these tough time periods.  I know that I am a more self-aware and grateful person because of this course and I highly recommend that you decide to take it as well.