Krish's ILA PBA

We can use this theme statement to justify how unfairly Josef and his family and his family are being treated for being Jews. We can use the evidence “Two of the Nazis yanked Josef’s father to his feet and dragged him towards the door” This is an example of unfairness to the Jewish community in Germany at the time supporting our theme statement that is never justified. "Josef's mother and father were there too, lying on the floor at the feet of the Brownshirts. "Josef! Ruth!" Mama cried when she saw them. She lunged for her children, but one of the Nazis grabbed her nightgown and pulled her back. "Aaron landau," one of the Brownshirts said to Josef's father, "you have continued to practice law despite the fact that Jews are forbidden to do so under the Civil Service Restoration Act of 1933. For this crime against Gernman people, you will be taken into protevtive custody." Josef looked at his father, paniked. "This is all a misunderstanding," Papa said. "If you'd just give a chance to explain-" The Brownshirt ignored Pape and nodded at the other men. Twp of the Nazis yanked Josef's father to his feet and dragged him toward the door." (Gratz 3)

War

War is never justified

We can use this theme statement because Isabel sacrificed her beloved trumpet to help her family obtain gasoline, which allowed them to escape Cuba with the Castillos. Isabel's willingness to give up her cherished trumpet highlights her commitment to her family's survival. "I don't have any money Isabel said. "But I have this." She held out the trumpet. Isabel regretted that its brass was a little tarnished, but it was the most valuable thing she owned. The fisherman had to take it in trade. "What am I going to do with that" he asked. "Sell it," Isabel told him. "It's French, and old, and plays like a dream." "The fisherman sighed. "And why do you need gasoline so badly?" "To leave Cuba before my father is arrested." The fisherman wiped his plis on the back of his hand. Isabel stood for what seemed like horse, her insides churning like a watersout. At last, he reached out and took the trumpet

Scarfice

Scarfices have to be made to keep you and your family alive

Mahmoud's father hired a taxi driver who promised to take them across the Hungarian border into Austria. However, the taxi driver aimed a pistol at them and demanded three hundred euros. "He was asleep almost as soon as he'd closed his eyes, and he only woke again when he realized the car wasn't moving. Had it really been two hours already? He felt like he'd just gone to sleep Mahmoud's eyelids fluttered and he looked to the window. He expected to see the lights of a Serbian border town. Another tent city. Instead, they were stopped in the middle of a lonely stretch of highway surrounded by dark, empty fields. And the taxi driver was leaning over the backseat with a pistol aimed straight at them...Mahmoud stared at the gun pointed at him. Was this real, or was he still asleep and having a nightmare? The Serbian taxi driver waved the pistol at Mahmoud's family. "You pay three hundred euros!" he demanded. This wasn't a dream. it was real." (Gratz 234-235 & 247)

RIsks

Risks are what are needed to start a new life

People are willing to anything for their Family

Family

We can use this theme statement because Isabel's grandfather jumped into the ocean to delay the coast guard boat, allowing Isabel and the Castillos to reach the American beach shore before being caught. "I’m not going tomake the same mistake twice. Take care of your mother and baby brother for me.” “Lito, what are you—?” “Don’t stop rowing for shore!” Isabel’s grandfather yelled to everyone else. He kissed Isabelon the cheek, surprising her, and then stood and jumped into the ocean.“Lito!” Isabel cried. “Lito!” “Papá!” Isabel’s mother cried. “What’s he doing?” Isabel’s grandfather popped back up a few meters away, his head appearing and disappearing in the waves. “Lito!” Isabel cried. “Help!” he cried, waving his arms at the Coast Guard ship while at the same time swimming away from it. “Help me!” he yelled. “He jumped in to distract them!” Papi realized. “They’ll come for us first!” Señor Castillo said. “No, he’s in danger of drowning. They have to rescue him!” Amara cried. “This is our chance. Row—row!” Tears rolled down Isabel’s cheek where her grandfather had just kissed her good-bye. “Lito!”she cried again, reaching out for him over the waves. “Don’t worry about me, Chabela! If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s treading water,” Lito yelled back. “Now, row! Mañana is yours, my beautiful songbird. Go to Miami and be free!” Isabel sobbed. She couldn’t paddle. Couldn’t row. Couldn’t do anything but watch as the Coast Guard ship veered away from their little boat and steered toward her grandfather. Went to save him and send him to Guantanamo. Back to Cuba.(Gratz 277-278)

We can use this theme statement because when Mahmoud and his whole family were going to drown he still pushed himself to keep his family and himself alive. "He sobbed with the effort of fighting off the Man's fingers and hanging onto the dinghy "Please, take us with you!" "No! No room!" "At least take my sister!" Mahmoud begged. "She's a baby. she won't take up any room!" A woman appeared at the side of the boat, her arms reaching down to Mahmoud"s mother. reaching for the baby. (Gratz 162)

Survival

Trying to survive is what drive people.