Passage to Freedom
The story of Chiune Sugihara contains elements of an ethical, or moral, dilemma. A moral dilemma is defined as:
NOUN
- a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two courses of action, either of which entails transgressing a moral principle.
1. What two courses of action was he able to take and why do you think whatever choice he was going to make would be difficult?
2. Reflecting on this situation, do you agree or disagree with the choice he made? Explain your reasoning.
Write your response to this assignment in Google Docs first. Then copy and paste it into Blogger. Be sure to include your class number at the end of your post. Submit your response as "Anonymous."
1: I think that either decision he made was difficult because he did not get permission from his government so if he did it he could possibly put his family in danger. Also if he said no he could be letting all of the people outside his house die instead of possibly saving their lives. He chose to put his family in danger to help tons of other people be safe but he also got his family to safety.
ReplyDelete2: I agree with his situation because if he said no, all the people outside his house would probably die. He said yes which I agree with because he let all those people get a visa to travel to a safe place to stay which saved their lives. By saying yes he put his family in danger which sacrificed their lives to save a lot of other people’s lives. #25
10/10
Delete
ReplyDeleteThere were two courses of action Mr. Sugihara was able to take.The first, was being able to have that discussion with 5 of the refugees. The other action was issuing hundreds of visas. These things were very difficult to do, as the Japanese government did not approve of helping the refugees.
Reflecting on this situation, I disagree with the choice he made. It was against the order of his country, and he was helping the enemy. From an American perspective, he did save many lives. However, the situation he was in forbade him from doing that. #27
9/10 - The response was sufficient, answered the questions. However, the responses were not separated by number as instructed in class.
Delete1. The 2 choices he had were either to help the refugees or to ignore them. He sent a message to the Japanese government asking if he could issue hundreds of visas to the refugees multiple times but all the times he asked they said no. He could help them which would cause he and his family to be in possible danger or he could ignore them and stay safe. If he chose to ignore them he could be causing their lives to be lost.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with the decision Chiune Sugihara made. I agree because, while putting he and his family in possible danger he would be saving hundreds, maybe thousands of lives. If he didn’t the refugees would almost definitely be found and sent to the ghetto’s in Poland. He and his family had a slightly better chance of escaping danger from the germans. My number is 6.
10/10
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. His first course of action would have been to not save the hundreds of Jewish refugees at his door. This would keep his family safe but it was very likely that all of the Jewish refugees at his door would be dead in German concentration camps or Soviet gulags. The second option was to save the Jewish refugees from being taken away by German/Soviet soldiers. This would risk his and his family’s life as he would be helping the enemy and the Japanese would probably kill him because of his dishonor. Whatever choice he made was going to be difficult because it was a choice between saving hundreds of stranger’s lives (He didn’t even know them) or saving his family’s life and letting all the people die in death camps.
ReplyDelete2. Reflecting on the situation, I believe he made the right choice because he saved lots of lives from being tortured in the hideous concentration camps. He may have risked one life (His own) but could have stopped another of Nazi Germany’s massacres and he thought about others, not just himself and his family.
#8
10/10 - Excellent, thoughtful response to the first question!
DeleteChinue Sighuara took two courses of action, the first was asking the Japenese government if he could issue the visas and the answer was no and the second was writing down many visas for as many people as he could no matter what the government said he still issued the visas. These choices were difficult because he knew if he helped these people he would be putting his family’s life in danger along with his too, yet he still persevered and helped the people get to safety.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with Mr. Sugihara’s choice because he did the right thing to do even if that meant he had to risk his life just to help millions of strangers that needed safety and freedom and pushed through the hard task .
-#26
9/10 - The second response lacks fully developed thought and there is an absence of useful detail to fully contextualize your thoughts.
Deletefor question 1
ReplyDeleteThe options had were one he could help people but put his family in danger or he could just ignore the giant group of people outside and keep his family safe ,the choice was obviously going to be very difficult because he could put his family in danger or he could have the death of thousands of people he didn't help on his conscious
for question 2
I agree with the decision he made because it would be horrible to have the death of all those people on your conscious
#14
8/10 - Response number two is one sentence. The instructions clearly stated not to write only one sentence to answer the question.
Delete1, The two courses of action that he would have been able to take was, if he would have not written the visas and all of those permissions for the jews, those thousands of lives could not have been saved, or he could have saved those lives of the jews, but the only thing is, his family would be in danger. It would be difficult saving the lives of people, but disobeying the government and possibly having the cost of his own life, and his family being put in danger because of his decision.
ReplyDelete2, Reflecting on the situation, I would have made the same decision. Even though it might put your family in danger, you could be saving thousands of lives, with only a chance that something could happen to him and his family. Most of them could have fled and become free, living a happy life and having more generations after.
#3
10/10 - Well written response.
Delete1. Chiune Sugihara was a man that did many great things in his life, the first big decision he had to make in his story was when he decided to let the group of 5 Russian men into his home. He had no clue of their intentions or what they would do to him or his family. After they pleaded their case he had to make his second decision to help them or not. For this he asked his family, the answer was obvious. They had to help these people, even though he disobeyed his government which may put him and his family in danger their family always said ¨That I must think as if I were in someone else's place¨ so he put his own life in danger to save the lives of all these innocent people.
ReplyDelete2. I definitely agree with Mr. Sugihara´s choice. He did the honest and right thing to save many people. He risked his own life to save them and spent many hours every day for months for people he didn't even know. He didn't care that the Japanese government was being a giant meany, he wanted the best for these people, and was truly kind about it.
#4
10/10 - Thoughtful response. Well developed sentences. Nice Work.
DeleteQuestion 1 . A difficult choice was to disobey his government or disobey God and he did disobey the government and wrote over 300 visas so the immigrants that were in trouble could go to japan. And now he got his head chopped off for disobeying his government
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2. I agree because even if they made the immigrants safe and not them .Their family is only 6 people but there are like 300 or more immigrants outside trying to escape death. Think about what's worse. 6 people or 300 and more people getting killed. I think it was right to get him and his family in danger but it would be a very sad and hard thing to do. That's why he was brave .
# 20
9/10 - Capitalize proper nouns: Japan. Thorough response to the questions.
Delete1.
ReplyDeleteThe two courses he could take was either he didn’t help the Jewish refugees and they probably die or he helps them but, in doing so, puts him and his family at risk. Him choosing to help them, was going to put his family at risk and in danger, especially himself. Also, helping them risked his job as a diplomat. But, because of his choice, he saved hundreds in the process.
2.
I agree with what he ended up deciding on. He gave families hope and may have even gave them safety because of what he did. He saved those 100’s of people and future generations of those families. He risked so much for people he didn’t even know. But, if he hadn’t chosen to help them, I would’ve been a little shaky about it, but in the end, if he chose not to help the refugees, then his family would be safer, and he could more safely secure the future generations for HIS family. So, I might still agree either way he would’ve gone, but I more so agree with the way he ended up going; helping 100’s of people and their families' future generations.
(#7) :)
10/10 - Well done. Do try to avoid the use of all caps in your response. That is less formal writing.
DeleteI think that the choice of Mr. Sugihara was difficult to make because if he made the visas without permission he would put his family in danger, but if he didn’t make the visas thousands of people would die.
ReplyDeleteI think the choice he made was the right choice because even though he put his family at stake, he saved thousands of lives. He put thousands of people before him and his family.
#5
8/10 - The responses to these two questions are sparse and lack evidence of thoughtful analysis.
Delete1. Two courses of action that Chiune Sugihara was to take was for him to help the Jewish people of Poland by issuing visas but also disobeying his government, or obey his government and not help the Jewish people of Poland otherwise they may be killed or taken away.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with the choice that Sugihara made which was to help the Jewish people of Poland by issuing visas. I agree because hundreds of innocent people would be losing their lives and I think that it would be better if you lose only one to a few rather than hundreds to thousands. #22
9/10 - Part of your first response was garbled: "...wat to take was for him..." The gist of your responses was accurate and reflected your attempt to answer the questions meaningfully.
Delete1. Chiune Sugihara was a diplomat that had to make a very difficult decision. Polish refugees were asking Chiune sugihara for help because he was the only one that could help them escape from the Nazi soldiers. The Polish refugees asked him to sign visas. So the diplomat wrote a telegraph to his government asking if he could write hundreds or thousands of visas, without the government's approval he could only write a few. When the telegraph got to his government the answer was no, but Chiune sugihara again sent another telegraph but the answer was still no. The diplomat had to make a decision if he wrote the visas anyway he would be disobeying his government but if didn’t he would be disobeying god and thousands of people could die. If he wrote them he could also be putting his whole family in danger. Even though that could happen he still wrote the visas because he and his family felt it was the right thing to do.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with the decision that Chiune Sugihara made because even though if the Nazis found out that he was helping these people escape from them it would put his family in a lot of danger. But he went through with it and saved thousands of lives. Even his family said “We must think of the people outside before we thought about ourselves.” and they had to think about if they were one of the children or adults out there.
#1
10/10 - Excellent responses.
Delete1. One of the choices Chiune Sugihara made was that he decided to help the Jews people to get their visas so that they would now have permission to enter and travel in another country to Jewish refugees from Poland. The problem with this was that he had tons of lines outside of his home with people hoping for freedom, but it wasn’t that easy he had to write all the the visas by hand which he had to do for over a month with his eyes so red, and with his sore arm which his wife massaged but also putting his family in danger. Another choice that he made was to put his family in danger. How he did that was that in order to let all the Jews have their visas he had to put his family at high risk. But he did that so that hopefully the Jews could be in a better place and go to Japan.
ReplyDelete2. Yes I do agree with the choices he made even though he put his family in danger. I agree with Chiune Sugihara because I would love to help people even though they're in danger because you are saving thousands of lives that could be so great. Even though you are risking your family at least you are helping thousands more. #19
10/10 - Thorough, thoughtful response to both questions.
Delete1. It would be difficult either way because if he did not help them they would die, but if he helped them he would put his family at risk. I know this because of this quote “I have to do something. I may have to disobey my government, but if I don’t, I will be disobeying God.”
ReplyDelete2. I agree with the choice he made. I agree because he saved thousands of lives with his actions, I know because of this quote “Let’s issue some more visas and save as many lives as we can.”
#18
8/10 - You did respond to the questions but this is minimalist and lacks evidence of meticulous consideration.
Delete1. One course of action would be to help the Jewish refugees crowded around their gate. The refugees have come to ask for the Japanese diplomat’s help with getting to Japan and being able to cross through the island, and for that they need visas(official permission to travel through a country). Mr. Sugihara could hand out a few visas, but to issue thousands of visas for every refugee, he would need to talk to the Japanese government. The problem is, Japan is friendly with Germany, so that would make Poland their enemy too, which is where the refugees come from. So the government doesn’t let Mr. Sugihara give out the visas. One pathway would be to help the refugees and disobey his government, or leave them to be killed. Obviously, if he sends out the visas, his family might die along with him if Japan finds out. But, if he doesn’t help these people, they will all die and he will be responsible.
ReplyDelete2. Chiune Sugihara decides to help the Jews. I agree with this action because if he had done the opposite, all those refugees would have died. Choosing this path had a greater impact on the world. Here, his family might die. But the Jewish have a chance of living. Countless people now have a chance to live their lives, even if a few people are in danger because of it. If Mr. Sugihara had chosen the other course of action, his family, who he cares about, would be safe, while all these strangers would certainly die. And maybe these refugees had people they cared about too. Thousands of people are free, with only a few people in danger.
- #11
10/10 - Well done. Very thorough and thoughtful analysis of the two questions posed.
Delete1. The two different choices Mr. Sugihara had to choose between were 1, disobeying his government and endangering his family by helping the Jewish refugees or 2, turning the refugees away. In his words he said “ I may have to disobey my government, but if I don't I'd be disobeying god.” If he chooses option 1 he’d be putting his family in danger. If he chooses option 2 he’d be sending the refugees to their death.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with the choice he made because he saved countless lives. Even though he risked his family's life he saved around 6000 refugees. Even when he was kicked out of his Lithuanian home he stayed as long as he could to continue writing visas for these people. On one of the last pages of the passage says “My father still handed out permission papers out the window.” This proves how much he cared about these people and their futures.
#10
10/10 - Good overall responses. Effective inclusion of a quote from the passage directly.
Delete1. I think the decision was hard because his government said he can't give them visas, he had a talk with five of the people to see what they needed and see what happened and he gave hundreds of visas. If he helps them he could have put his family in danger. If he doesn't help them then all these people could die.
ReplyDelete2. I think that Chiune Sugihara made the right decision because he saved hundreds of lives. It all worked out because his family made it out of Lithuania and into Berlin. But it was a gamble because his family could have been in danger.
#2
9/10 - Reasonably well developed responses. It would have been more effective if you added a bit more detail as to how his family would have been placed in danger.
DeleteWhat two courses of action was he able to take and why do you think whatever choice he was going to make would be difficult? Mr. Setsuko could help them or not save them from the German and Nazis soldiers . He could help them and write 300 and more visas for them to go to other countries and stay safe , or he could not help them and keep their family out of danger. But if he helps the refugees his family can get into a bunch of trouble , or he could keep his family out of trouble but not save a bunch of people life. So he helps the people out and writes a bunch of visas for them, but they have to move out of their house and go to Berlin but he saved a bunch of people. But he had to.
ReplyDeleteReflecting on his situation , do you agree or disagree with the choice he made? I think Mr.Setsuko made the right decision to help the refugees out and not his family but they did have to move to Berlin, but it could have been worse. I agree with the choice he made because he stepped out to help others and not himself , and that was a very good decision to make, but he did get an order to stop but he kept writing them and writing them on the train about to leave, because he made a promise to make them and he did. He also had a bunch of family helping him out like , the mom telling him how many people were in line , the kids helping stamped for a little. The mom also offered to help but Mr. Setsuko wrote them but he wanted to write them all, but she did help him out after. #24
What two courses of action was he able to take and why do you think whatever choice he was going to make would be difficult? Mr.Setsuko could help them or not save them from the German and Nazis soldiers . He could help them and write 300 and more visas for them to go to other countries and stay safe , or he could not help them and keep their family out of danger. But if he helps the refugees his family can get into a bunch of trouble , or he could keep his family out of trouble but not save a bunch of people lifes. So he helps the people out and writes a bunch of visas for them, but they have to move out of their house and go to Berlin but he saved a bunch of people. But he had to.
Reflecting on his situation , do you agree or disagree with the choice he made? I think Mr.Setsuko made the right decision to help the refugees out and not his family but they did have to move to Berlin, but it could have been worse. I agree with the choice he made because he stepped out to help others and not himself , and that was a very good decision to make, but he did get an order to stop but he kept writing them and writing them on the train about to leave, because he made a promise to make them and he did. He also had a bunch of family helping him out like , the mom telling him how many people were in line , the kids helping stamped for a little. The mom also offered to help but Mr. Setsuko wrote them but he wanted to write them all, but she did help him out after.
10/10 - Nicely written. Complete and thorough evaluation of this complex moral dilemma with detailed analysis of the consequences to Mr. Sugihara as well as his selflessness in acting on the behalf of the refugees.
DeleteHiroki Sugihara heard people yelling from outside and when Hiroki Sugihara walked outside there were hundreds of people outside who ran from the German army. Hiroki sugihara had five men come inside. Then Hiroki Sugihara said he will help them. But then he said if he does that he will be disobeying god. Hiroki sugihara asked the government for visas and they said “no” then he tried again and they said “no.” Hiroki Sugihara said to his son, “I will help these people.” Then he started to write the visas. Then everyone started to cheer. Writing the visas took hours to do and then Hiroki Sugihara began to get very tired then his wife started to cheer him on. He wrote down a lot of visas and he did them for as long as he got kicked out of the hotel. Then when he got on the train he threw visas out of the window and people started following him and then he was done. He started to talk but his dad was already asleep.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the choice he made was good because if the people were just left there they would be torchered and killed. He would be tired of the yelling. Hiroki Sugihara made a good choice but he did put his family in danger. His family was scared at first but then they grew tired and anxious of being inside. Haruki's little brother started to cry because he was running out of milk.
#17
At the beginning of the story there was a little boy who didn’t have enough money to buy something that he wanted. That was the first decision that Chiune Sugihara made to help the people, to help the little boy or not help the little boy. The second decision that he made was when Chiune Sugihara was helping the jewish people by writing visas. He was making an important decision. The decision was to help the jews and possibly get into trouble by the government or not help them and they might die.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how Mr. Sugihara and his family dealt with the situation. I would have helped them too. When he decided to help the jews I would have been so happy and relieved if I was one of the jewish people. If Chiune Sugihara hadn’t helped the people they would have gone to concentration camps and most likely been killed. That would be really bad because there were hundreds of people that asked Chiune Sugihara for help. So I'm very glad that Chiune Sugihara helped the jewish people.
#14
I think that the choice of Mr. Sugihara was difficult to make. Because he did not get permission from the Japanese government to make the visas and he put his family in grave danger, but if he didn’t make the visas thousands of people would die. So he made the illegal visas to save thousands, maybe millions of lives. That's why I think that Mr. Sugihara made the right choice to save others.
ReplyDeleteI think the choice he made was the right choice because even though he put his family at stake, he saved thousands of lives. He put thousands of people before him and his family.
#5
1: The two choices that Sugihara could have made were. To disobey his government or let hundreds of people die. To disobey your government was like disobeying god. In Japan they believed in honer. If you did not honor your government you would be executed and you family would be in great danger. But if he obeyed and did not issue visas hundreds of people would die to the Germans.
ReplyDelete2: Personally I think that I would have issued the visas because you never know, maybe the Japanese will see the visas and not question it and he will be fine. And putting your family at risk to get hundreds of family's in the clear, easy decision.
1. He had the option to help the Jewish people with their visa passports and save their lives or to put his family in danger. The choice he made was difficult because his family would be in a challenging position and he would likely not be able to see his family again.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with the choice he made because it helped a lot of people. It helped them to go to a different country so they would have their freedom back. They also would not be in a dangerous situation anymore and their lives would be saved.
#13
1. The choice Mr. Sugihara was going to let the people pick 5 strangers. That he will let into his house to tell him there stories and how the nazi were taking over and how They were getting pinched. The soviet union was coming from one direction and the nazi were coming from the other. He decided to ask his government if he could issue hundreds of visas. The japanese government said no he asked again and they still said no. The book quotes ¨ I maybe disobeying my government but if I don´t I will be disobeying god ¨ so he opens his garage and starts handing out visas. This decision was tough for him because he did not want to disobey his government but he did not want to disobey god.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with his decision because I wouldn't want to be like that getting chased by Nazis and the Soviets. They would just run until they died until the Nazis caught up and they would all die and I definitely wouldn't want that to happen to them. I would do the exact same thing he did. #12
1.Chiune Sugihara had to take two courses of action. One was he wanted to help people so they would not get put in jail or even worse kill them. So he gave them visas so they could travel to a different place so they could stay alive. If he didn't help them then everybody could have been killed.
ReplyDelete2. He also had to leave the country because he also could have been killed so when he was going to leave he still handed out visas when he was on the train to berlin.
#9