Simon Maroko - February 19 & 26, 1986
Talking About Experiences
Have you told your children about um, your experiences in the 1940s?
I have told my children some. I remember on one occasion that my oldest daughter Monique, she interviewed me similar to what you are doing here. But in, in a different way. I don't remember if she was a senior in high school or a college student at the time. But all my three children they are U of M graduates.
So they know about...
They know...
what you went through.
they, I would say significantly. Maybe not all the details. Maybe some of the details I mentioned on this tape if they hear it, it might fill in some of the things. Because whatever's on the tape is probably all that I can remember. There may be some not that important details that might sooner or later remember. But nothing significant has been left out.
Just one or two more things. Um, what was your reaction to the exhibit, the Anne Frank exhibit that's here now?
Come to think of it uh, first thing uh, guard up. Move the guard up. In other words, to have your guard, to have your guard down means that, you are, you are vulnerable, right?
Mm-hm.
I made myself invulnerable. Don't let this get too, too close to you because it might be psychologically uh, im...unpleasant or even unbearable. And anything that has to do with this, I have to uh, screen my feelings from this, otherwise I would be in tears twenty-four hours around the clock for indefinitely. And uh, I would not be surprised if many other Holocaust survivors feel just like I do.
But you're participating in it?
Yes.
You're part of the...
But you know that uh, uh, first I said yes and then I said no. Because one day I was uh, during our daily walk with my wife I was thinking about something and while walking and suddenly there was, tears came to my eyes. And I said, oh no, I don't want that. The answer was no at that time. And then I thought, like at the beginning I said, I don't care. Let the chips fall where they may. This must be done.
Why do you think it must be done?
If it were only for the reason that there are some people that try to influence others into believing that it never happened. By the way, this was also the reason why after quite a number of years after World War II that Leisha Rose, that she upon her, I think one of her children's requested that she put her memories down in a book, The Tulips are Red.
Anything else you want to add to this?
I guess that's it. Oh I could go on and who knows how ???.
Well, maybe we'll do some more. Okay, we can stop for today anyway. Thank you very much Mr. Maroko.
You're welcome.
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