FOCUS 2
2.3 “We Are The People”—Peaceful Revolution in 1989
FOCUS 2 – History
EXTENSION (OPTIONAL) TASK Consider the following quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.: “An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.”2 Do students agree or disagree with this statement? Debate this topic with as a class, and discuss how it might apply to the actions of East German citizens in 1989.
TAKING INFORMED ACTION UNDERSTAND Consider what East Germans risked by joining the demonstrations against their government, which was illegal. ASSESS Write a list of possible consequences you anticipate they might have faced. Compare those with the lived experiences of someone in your community who has protested against an issue or marched in support of a cause in a democracy where freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are guaranteed. ACT Interview that person. What were the actions that person took, and which actions did they consider but not carry out? Ask whether the person had prepared backup plans in case of violence or arrest. Find out whether that person believes that their participation made a difference, and if so, how. Request permission to share that person’s story with the class (perhaps anonymously). If the person you interviewed agrees that you may share their story, be ready to retell their story to a small group of classmates. (If you need help finding someone to interview, ask your teacher.)
This inquiry has been adapted from lessons by TOP Fellows Barbara Hairfield (2005) and Sigrid Ann Olsen (2007).
2
“Civil Disobedience.” Official website of the Bill of Rights Institute, 2019, https://billofrightsinstitute.org/educate/educator-resources/civil-disobedience/.
GERMANY IN FOCUS
A Transatlantic Outreach Program Instructional text for secondary educators
85