Category Archives: Letter Essay

For WWII letter writing essay assignment.

Final Project on Letter Writing

FYS183, Letter Essay, ,

“Letter to Blueberry” : a Story’s Conclusion

Love, heartbreak, and growth: experiences that come with the package of life. Singer-songwriter Brye Sebring, professionally known simply as Brye, understands this all too well. Her first official album, Dream Girl, was released on June 17, 2022. Songs in general can be observed as letters. Whether they’re directed to a specific person, subject, or even to the songwriter themself, someone or something is being addressed. The contents of Brye’s album are no exception. Her last song is explicitly presented as a letter addressed to a past partner. “Letter to Blueberry” acts as the conclusion to her story of romantic relationships and deteriorating mental health told through her album, Dream Girl. It effectively utilizes the epistolary format in showing emotional growth as well as providing mental closure, both for herself and Blueberry.

As mentioned, the two main aspects of Brye’s album involve romantic relationships and mental health. Opening the album is “Dream Girl,” which expresses her subtle desire to be the dream girl, someone more dateable and manageable than she actually is. It’s implied that she was either in a relationship or wished to be during the time period this song takes place. She addresses this song to whomever she was romantically involved with asking, “Would you like me more if I lived spontaneously?” (Sebring, 2022). By directing her lyrics to a person, she opens her album using epistolary tactics. “Black and White,” the next song, describes her mental state as always being amazing or awful, never in between, or “gray” (Sebring, 2022). Next is a song that covers her continued attachment to an individual from a past, toxic relationship. It is her obsession with a person who had consistently mistreated her that causes her to feel so much anger and frustration. This experience makes her feel “Everything at Once,” the title of this song. The next, “Rebuilding,” then goes on to tell of Brye’s infatuation with a new individual. She sees this person as someone who can help rebuild her after the previous toxic relationship. A question Brye asks this individual reads, “Would [your lovers] write you a million songs?” which references her first released song, “Million Songs.” Though it is not a part of the album, this was a true love song about the same person mentioned in “Rebuilding.” However, the abundance of questions within “Rebuilding” makes uncertainty apparent. It’s hinted that this person is in no way meant to save her in the way she wishes and that this relationship will not be her ideal one. The next song, “Shapeshifter,” further proves this with darker musical tones and lyrics. This is a continuation of the story described in “Rebuilding,” as its pre-chorus states, “I build you up, you tear me down” (Sebring, 2022). Finally, the album’s sixth song, “I’d Rather Be Alone,” expresses Brye’s desire to end this relationship. The song presents a somewhat carefree tone, one that contrasts with the previous, “Shapeshifter.” Despite its carefree musicality, the lyrics describe a spiraling relationship with constant fighting and miscommunication. This shows that Brye is now beginning to emotionally shut down. She wishes to no longer be in any romantic relationship, or rather, that she’d “rather be alone.” Next is “Apocalypse.” Here, her mental health is at its absolute lowest. She even goes as far as to describe having suicidal thoughts, “I’m able to push through for one night more / But suicide is creeping up on my back door” (Sebring, 2022). Both the burden of her past relationships and the effects of COVID-19 quarantining are contributors to the state, as “the virus” is referenced multiple times throughout the song (Sebring, 2022). 

Now, we are finally brought to “Letter to Blueberry,” Brye’s last song in her album. It was the first song from the album to be released as a single, in October 2020. Overall, the song reflects back on what is implied to be her first true relationship. In the last line she sings, “Thank you for being my first everything” (Sebring, 2020). Since it is at the end of the album, the letter shows that she is now speaking from a grown point of view, one that has gained emotional maturity and is able to properly reflect on her past relationships. In this case, she is specifically reflecting on her mistakes in a relationship with a good partner. Letters and journaling act as an outlet for emotional healing. Brye reveals that she is writing this letter in “the journal [she] wrote when [they’d] date” (Sebring, 2020). By revisiting this record of her past, she is healing through reflection. Physically writing a letter in this journal shows her striving for acceptance of the past. Halfway through the album, she had been attempting to emotionally recover by dating other people, as mentioned earlier with “Rebuilding.” However, the website QueeringPsychology, created by a professional psychotherapist and mental health counselor, explains, “[T]hat would be an example of avoidance. And avoidance almost always makes things worse.” The page continues, “The feelings you try to push away will always come back in some way, usually stronger. Unhandled emotions and psychological unfinished business can come out in your body so you might start to feel achy, sick or drained all the time” (Pierre, 2019). As it was previously covered, Brye had encountered just this especially during “I’d Rather Be Alone,” when she’d become emotionally drained from her experiences. In “Letter to Blueberry,” despite romantic feelings still subtly existing, there is no intention of pursuing a romantic relationship. This symbolizes her wanting to properly communicate her regrets and feelings. A Psychology Today page titled “After the break-up: Embracing the lessons” says to ask yourself these questions in order to healthily reflect upon an ended relationship: “What red flags did you ignore? What drama did you create? What dysfunction did you feed into?” (Davis, 2015). Brye does just this within her song lyrics saying, “I get that I’ve created somе scars / With the words I spoke and with my guitar,” and, “I don’t fully know why we fell out / But I think it had to do with my mouth / I couldn’t keep it shut and shut down / You had every right leave me.” She fully accepts her faults within the relationship. By formatting this piece as a letter, Brye was able to explicitly address Blueberry. As well, she was able to provide more genuine closure. Toward the end of the song, the lyrics read, “I hope this song can bring you some peace / Cause my other ones were not quite so sweet” (Sebring, 2020).

After years of struggle, heartache, and depression, Brye finally found a satisfying conclusion to one part of her story. It did not end with a happy relationship, but with contentment and maturity. Brye accepts that not being in romantic relationships is a time to truly heal and grow. Instead of searching for a savior in others, she will embrace independence, which begins by accepting past experiences. This story ends with her found way of closure in the form of a letter, “Letter to Blueberry.”

Works Cited

Sebring, B. (2022). Dream Girl. Retrieved from https://open.spotify.com/album/1d3os2x0L52pyezqlC0lpj?si=wFaU5z7PTh6k_2zG3yVmjA 

Sebring, B. (2020). Letter to Blueberry. Dream Girl. Retrieved from https://open.spotify.com/track/6zZ7VZFvZS9655byEp4L16?si=c90055f0ec404d0d 

Sebring, B. (2019). Million Songs. Retrieved from https://open.spotify.com/track/1BRNaNLX4ghJSAw0OpC73v?si=c429fcda55e141ab 

Dohse, L. (2022). Brye Sebring. Franklin Lifestyle, 46–47. Retrieved from https://citylifestyle.com/franklin/issues/2022-02 

Pierre. (2019). Reflecting after the end of a romantic relationship. QueeringPsychology. Retrieved from https://queeringpsychology.com/2019/01/27/reflecting-after-the-end-of-a-romantic-relationship/ 

Davis, D. L. (2015, May 26). After the break-up: Embracing the lessons. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/laugh-cry-live/201505/after-the-break-embracing-the-lessons

Letters of Note Essay

FYS183, Letter Essay, ,

“Why I am An Atheist” : The Freedom to Atheism

Charles Chilton Moore, a notable American atheist, founded the newspaper Blue Grass Blade in Lexington, Kentucky, 1884. The paper was known to promote forms of atheist activism, including criticisms of religion, mainly Christianity. Naturally, this was not popular subject matter, especially in Southern United States. They were dubbed as a “radical thinking” paper. Blue Grass Blade faced many financial and legality issues because of its unpopular covering of topics such as, of course, atheism, agnosticism, women’s suffrage, and many more controversial topics of the time. Moore, the founder and editor, eventually even spent time in prison for blasphemy. Despite the prejudice and silencing, the newspaper knew the importance in advocating for individuals’ first amendment rights. In 1903, they requested their readers submit personal letters expressing how and why they became atheist. Blue Grass Blade’s title of “Why I am An Atheist” provided the space for both community and freedom of expression to atheists across the nation. 

The atheist activism movement is centered around the support for equality, and freedom of thought and expression. Paul Fidalgo from the Center for Inquiry perfectly explains the movement saying “[it] is about lessening the power of religion, superstition, and credulous thinking because we want to live in a world that maximizes human happiness, morality, freedom of thought and expression, and equality. [Atheism and skepticism] are not, in and of themselves, worthy of a movement. But we pursue these goals because we know they will bring about a society in which we are more free and equal, and in turn we will be more fulfilled and enriched as a result,” (Roth, 2012). Especially in 1903, revealing that you explicitly did not believe in God in a community built upon that faith would be faced with countless amounts of harassment. If it weren’t for this opportunity to write and share their beliefs, they would have continued to sit in silence. One example of the many letters was one written by Minerva Ola “Minnie” Parrish, 23 year old recently divorced mother of four children. She was known to be one of the first female practicing doctors in Northern Texas. Her letter of note, “Why I am An Atheist,” presents common atheistic ideologies of belief in science over faith and liberalism. Parrish explicitly writes, “It is ignorance of the scientific working of their own natures and mind that keep so much ‘mystery’ in the air,” claiming that faith is simply a lack of scientific understanding (Usher, 2017). Most of what religious folk dub as “divine” or “supernatural” are, in reality, naturally occuring in our world and can be explained through scientific fact. Her letter earlier explains, “Everything that so many people think transpires from the supernatural, and many things that would really perplex the average mind, have natural and material foundation in the workings of the human mind,” (Usher, 2017). This belief in supporting claims with scientific explanations rather than ones from scripture very much represents atheistic approaches to daily life. 

Branching off the lack of reliance on religious explanations, Parrish describes her undependability in the Bible’s teachings, “I am an Atheist because I know the Bible will not do to depend upon. I have tried it, and found it wanting,” (Usher, 2017). To her and other atheists, following the Bible isn’t a plausible thing to do. Earlier in the piece, Minnie Parrish explains, “I cannot accept a salvation that is based wholly upon the dreams of an ancient and superstitious people,” emphasis on “ancient,” (Usher, 2017). Seeing the Bible to be made up of old ideologies that go against more current strives for progres, her following of liberalism is presented. She later says, “I found in the scriptures the origin of women’s slayer,” claiming that the oppression of women is embedded in the religion and is a reason for its existence in society today and throughout history. The line, “I am in the ranks of Liberalism because of its elevating principles, it’s broad road to freedom of thought, speech, and investigation,” as well, adds to both her personal ideologies and those at the core of atheism: feminism and freedom of speech and expression. To reiterate an earlier point, the difficulty in 1903 was the common prejudice against the idea of rejecting religion, specifically rejection of the belief in God. Many submitters of Blue Grass Blade’s title “Why I am An Atheist” even wrote under pseudonyms in order to protect themselves against harassment and disapproval from family and colleagues (Lawson, 2011). Through this, they were able to speak their truths, despite being under aliases.

Not only did Blue Grass Blade’s act of asking for reader submitted letters provide the space to freely express their atheistic beliefs, but it created a sense of community and unification amongst American atheists. Living in hyper religious communities and likeliness of judgment, opportunities like this were difficult to come by. One of Blue Grass Blade’s central goals was advocacy for first amendment rights. As stressed before, this opportunity provided a space for freedom of speech, expression, and thought.

References

Usher, S. (2017). More letters of note. Canongate Books. 

Lawson, T. (2011). Letters from an atheist nation: Godless voices of america in 1903. Thomas Lawson. 

Sparks, J. (2009). Kentucky’s most hated man: Charles Chilton Moore and the Blue Grass Blade. Wind Publications.

Lee, A. Why I am an atheist activist. Big Think. (2021, September 30). https://bigthink.com/articles/why-i-am-an-atheist-activist/ 

Activism. American Atheists. (2022, August 12). https://www.atheists.org/activism/ 

Roth, A. from Twitter (2012, August 15). Speaking out against hate directed at women: Paul Fidalgo. Skepchick. https://skepchick.org/2012/08/speaking-out-against-hate-directed-at-women-paul-fidalgo/ 

World War II Letter Writing Essay

FYS183, Letter Essay, , ,

The International Red Cross : A WWII Messenger

From 1939 to 1945, the Second World War devastated families across the globe. As prejudice against Jewish folk grew within Germany, in years leading up to the war, many managed to leave the country. Once war broke out, however, their family members left in Germany were trapped with no way of contact. Post was not permitted to be sent to or received from territories fighting against Germany in the war, most notably the United States and Great Britain. There was one option, however: The International Red Cross. They were responsible for delivering about 24 million messages throughout the duration of World War II, many of which went in and out of Germany, and to and from Jewish family members. After following a list of tedious instructions, Jewish individuals were able to write and send updates regarding their wellbeing to family members nations away. Telegrams sent in and out of Germany through the International Red Cross were one of the most important connections between separated Jewish families. Though their writing restrictions were plentiful, sending these messages was necessary for emigrated families as they provided hope and kept them from truly being isolated from one another, despite Nazi Germany’s efforts in alienating its people.

In 1936, messaging services operated by the International Red Cross were established. During the war, the Red Cross most notably, under Article 79 of the 1929 Geneva Convention, was permitted to deliver telegrams to and from prisoners of war (Treaties, States parties, and Commentaries – Geneva Convention, ART. 79). Additionally, they were allowed to deliver food packages sent by their families (A. Breitbart, Wiesenthal Center Senior Researcher, personal communication, October 2, 2022). A large number of their messages, however, were between Jewish families living in opposing territories. Through this system, Jewish emigrants were enabled to stay in contact with their families still in Germany. In a letter from Tadek Becker addressed to his mother, Zelda Brecker, on January 18, 1940, he says, “Write to [Father, Lolek, and I] about all of that via the Red Cross (this is the simplest way),” (JFCS Holocaust Center, page 5). At this time, Tadek was stuck in Berlin while his mother and brother, Martin Becker, were living in the United States. His family living in allied territory, German enemy territory, meant he was not allowed to send post to them. Yet, the situation was not hopeless. He states “the simplest way” of contact is through the Red Cross. They are the most accessible option.

In no way were these Red Cross messages extensive letters. These were brief telegrams whose mainly served purpose was letting family members know the sender was alive. In a Red Cross “Instructions for Reply” document preserved by the German Jewish Family Archives, it’s stated that the message is not to exceed 25 words, in order to make the censoring more efficient (Red Cross Letter: Instructions for Reply). Additionally, delivery of a single telegram would take months upon months. The replier is to discuss family related subject matter only. They are not to mention any news relating to the war, the receiving of messages (letters, radio, cards, etc.), any town names, enemy actions, or suggestions of contact through systems other than the Red Cross. Any text that falls under these categories would be censored. To avoid censorship, individuals attempted writing in code. For example, ‘deported’ would be written as ‘emigrated,’ such as in a Red Cross message anonymously sent to Marianne Simion(a Jewish woman living in London at the time), regarding her mother. It reads, “Unfortunately, your beloved mother emigrated to Theresienstadt in late June,” (Red Cross Letters: Proof of Life in 25 Words or Less). Censorship is an obstacle in and of itself. The word limit, however, adds another thick layer. A telegram from Eric Federmann, who was living in New York City at the time, to his brother Paul in Berlin reads, “Hope you are well, no news of you in long time. Alice and I are well, working. Gerds and all relatives send greetings. Love. / Erich,” (Letter from Eric Federmann to Paul). This was the entire message. It would take months upon months for this telegram to reach Paul, only for him to read less than 25 words. Still, these less than 25 words were more than nothing.

Instructions for Reply

The apparent frustrations that come about from these restricting requirements can be observed. Yet they still serve their purpose in updating individuals on their family’s well being. They still provide connections that would have been alternatively cut off. The Eric Federmann telegram tells his brother, Paul, everything he needs to know. It tells him that he and his wife are well enough to write and it tells him they have money, courtesy of the “Alice and I are well, working.” In 1943, Erna and Arnold Korn(a married couple) wrote in a telegram to their son Walter-Eliyahu, “Sincere thanks for your words. Hope you are happy parents. We are both fine. No news of our dearest ones. [Happy that Gerda is well]. Kisses. / Mother, Father,” (Last Letters from the Holocaust: 1943). Again, this is the entire message. One can infer that these parents, who have not been able to see their son for years, who know very well that this may be the last he hears of them, wish so very much to say a thousand words. But alas, they’re not allowed. Though it’s heartbreaking, again, what’s the alternative? Nothing. Since before the start of the war, Walter-Eliyahu had been living in Israel while his parents were stuck in Berlin. For the years leading up to the war, Walter-Eliyahu and his parents sent letters back and forth weekly. However, once the outbreak of the war hit, Walter stopped regularly receiving posts. Instead, he began receiving telegrams delivered through the International Red Cross. Letters addressed to enemy territory were not allowed out of Germany, Israel and New York City included. Without these restricted messages, they would not have been able to keep contact. The Korn and Becker families’ options were 25 words or nothing.

Erna & Arnold Korn Letter

On top of connection, these telegrams provided sources of hope, especially for those taken to Nazi concentration camps. The Ghelbert family, up until the war, lived in a Northern Romanian village. They unfortunately, in 1941, were deported and forced to the Katsmazov concentration camp. After nearly two full years, they received a Red Cross telegram from an extended family member living in Israel. A Yad Vashem page, in regards to this message, states, “The telegram was a source of great happiness among the inmates in the camp since this was their first and almost only connection with the outside world; it signified that their existence was known to people in the free world,” (“We are Healthy in the Katsmazov Ghetto”). The Ghelbert family addressed telegram reads, “We are healthy. Awaiting your reply. How are father, mother, our brother, our sister, Rifca, Haim, Moisale? / Alter, Etti, Melech,” (“We are Healthy in the Katsmazov Ghetto”). These words, though simple and brief, sparked hope among the camp prisoners. Logically speaking, that message is meaningless. To them, however, it meant everything.

Ghelbert Family Telegram

It is saddening how little words could be sent, even more so considering the gaping period of time these families had to wait for each message. Yet, what’s most saddening is the Nazi jurisdiction of complete cutoff from loved ones living in outside territories. This Red Cross connection, despite the heavy restrictions, was necessary for these Jewish families and individuals. It is thanks to these messages that Jewish families within German territory could keep contact with their emigrated family members. It is thanks to these messages that camp prisoners could feel even the littlest amount of joy. 

References

Treaties, States parties, and Commentaries. Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War, 1929. https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ihl/INTRO/305 

Treaties, States parties, and Commentaries. Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War, 1929 – PART VI : BUREAUX OF RELIEF AND INFORMATION CONCERNING PRISONERS OF WAR – ART. 79. https://ihldatabases.icrc.org/applic/ihl/ihl.nsf/Article.xspaction=openDocument&documentId=A1DAA9CE7432A838C12563CD00519260

(2017) History.com. Geneva Convention. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/geneva-convention#section_3 

Letters: 1938-1946. JFCS Holocaust Center of SF. https://holocaustcenter.jfcs.org/library-archives/exhibits/letters-1938-1946/ 

Last Letters from the Holocaust: 1941. Yad Vashem. https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/last-letters/1941/index.asp#/overview 

Last Letters from the Holocaust: 1943. Yad Vashem. https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/last-letters/1943/korn.asp 

Yad Vashem Documents Archive. Yad Vashem Documents Archive. https://documents.yadvashem.org/index.html?language=en&search=advance&re_value=O.75&re_type=literal&mt_value=Red%20Cross%20letter&mt_type=exact 

(2015). The Red Cross and World War Two. History Learning Site. https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-two/the-red-cross-and-world-war-two/#:~:text=These%20’letters’%20were%20restricted%20to,million%20messages%20had%20been%20exchanged. 

JFCS Holocaust Center – Northern California’s Primary Resource. JFCS Holocaust Center of SF. https://holocaustcenter.jfcs.org/app/uploads/2015/06/letters-catalogue.pdf 

Red Cross Letters: Proof of Life in 25 Words or Less. Jewish Museum Berlin. https://www.jmberlin.de/en/red-cross-letters-proof-life-25-words-or-less 

Letters Home. HI Stories. https://histories.hoover.org/letters-home/ 

Red Cross Letter. German Jewish Family Archives. http://www.sussex.ac.uk/affiliates/gjfa/collections/1939-1945-world-war-ii/red-cross-letter/ 

Red Cross Letter: Instructions for Reply. German Jewish Family Archives. http://www.sussex.ac.uk/affiliates/gjfa/red-cross-letter-instructions-for-reply/

Letter from Eric Federmann to Paul (1944). German Jewish Family Archives. http://www.sussex.ac.uk/affiliates/gjfa/red-cross-letter-from-eric-to-paul/ 

Notes on Communicating with Occupied Territory. German Jewish Family Archives. http://www.sussex.ac.uk/affiliates/gjfa/notes-on-communicating-with-occupied-territory/ 

“We are Healthy in the Katsmazov Ghetto.” Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center. https://www.yadvashem.org/gathering-fragments/stories/correspondence/ghetto-katzmazov.html