Understanding obedience and conformity

UNDERSTANDING OBEDIENCE AND CONFORMITY

Speaking

This section explores the value of thinking and acting for the benefit of others, and how that can sometimes mean going along with everyone else, and other times not.

What is peer pressure? Have you been in situations in which you felt compelled to go along with a group?

Grandmother disagrees with the views of the Nazis: How does she stand up for her beliefs?

What is propaganda? How is propaganda used to “sell” people on a viewpoint?

When Mother learns that Jews are being exterminated at the camp, she questions her husband. “How can you?” she asks. He responds: “Because I’m a soldier.” Contrast these two perspectives.

Father tries to use guilt to get Mother to change her opposition to his involvement in the exterminations. Does it work? Why or why not?

Gretel believes the viewpoints of Lieutenant Kotler, the tutor Liszt, and Father about Jews. Although Bruno is younger than his siter, he questions their viewpoints. Why?

Writing

Using Bruno and Shmuel’s story as inspiration, give your opinion in http://aboutabookreaders.blogspot.com/ about this topic: understanding obedience and conformity. Use these questions to help you to write your essay.

How is obedience constructive and how can it be destructive?

What are ways of advancing peace and harmony in life through constructive disobedience?

List examples in history where civil disobedience has been constructive.