dirkdeklein

  • Israel

    I know that in the current political environment, there is a popular belief among some that the name Israel did not exist until 1948. Ironically, some of these same people will be celebrating the birth of a Jewish man, born in Bethlehem, a city in Israel, more than 2000 years ago. I can appreciate that

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  • The story of Emma van Essen-Frankenstein is a story of desperation. Her maiden name is also the name of a famous horror story, but Emma’s story is more horrific than that of her fictional namesake. She was born in Salzderkilden, Germany on 18 March 1862. In May 1893 she married Dutchman, Abraham Levie van Essen,

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  • Deception

    If you look at the photograph above, it appears to be a photo of a marketplace. Initially, you will see nothing wrong with it. There is a man with a bike talking to another man, possibly about the weather. You can see a young boy running, and perhaps he is chasing the dog. There are

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  • It’s personal-A poem.

    They say I am their enemy but yet I don’t know them and have never seen them before. Why are they taking my glasses and my shoes, they are not weapons. Why are they making this so personal, what is it that I have done? I really would like to know. They say I no

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  • The Fear

    World War II officially ended in 1945, but for many who lived through it, the war never truly ended. The fear it instilled often turned into paranoia and secrecy, rippling across generations and affecting even those born decades later. This is the story of my connection to World War II. Both my parents were born

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  • In the mid 1800’s Lady Maria Clutterbuck published a cook book called “what shall we have for dinner?” An introduction was written by Sir Charles Coldstream. It was a cook book typical of the Victorian era. The book did not necessarily instructions how to cook a meal it was more a book of menus. like

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  • Die Hard, a Christmas movie? Yippee-Ki-yay or Yippee-Ki-nay? Every year around Christmas time there is the question “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?” Personally, for me, it is not Christmas until I see Hans Gruber fall off the Nakatomi building. However, I appreciate that that will not get everyone in a festive mood. So, let

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  • There were three groups of people in the Holocaust: The criminals who tortured and murdered; The victims murdered; and those who survived and were scarred for life—mentally and physically. The helpers were the people who helped the Jews and others to escape and survive. These are just examples of each group. The Criminal Hildegard Lachert

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  • On December 4 ,1956 , Carl Perkins, who had had a big hit for the Memphis-based record label Sun that year with “Blue Suede Shoes,” had a recording session booked at Sun’s studio. Jerry Lee Lewis, not yet a star in his own right,had been hired to play piano. Elvis Presley — Sun’s breakthrough artist,

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  • Corpses in Silence

    This may be my most harrowing blog post yet. It’s one I won’t be sharing on social media, as it would almost certainly be removed. While I strive to avoid graphic imagery whenever possible, there are moments when it becomes necessary to confront the stark reality of what a deeply malevolent political ideology can bring

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