How the West Was Won

How the West Was Won

Interview a Character

These eight questions, composed by Justin R. Casselle, are directed towards Laurie Sanders, of Palo Alto, California.

Q. Describe the incident know as “The Wave.”

A. Well, that was a difficult moment in my life and for many others as well. Ours history teacher, Mr. Ross, was trying to teach us about the Holocaust and Nazi Germany. We saw videos and tapes and looked at pictures and books but just couldn’t believe that all those people, soldiers included, could be manipulated like that. Without our knowing, he devised a plan training us to be like Nazi Germany. We had mottos and signals and signs and secret codes and only certain people could be in our little group. We called that little group THE WAVE; hence the signal of a wave. It got carried away; to the point where people had to be with certain groups of people all the time. Students would cut class just to sit and hopefully get a chance to join THE WAVE. I tried to stop it by myself but it was too big, too powerful, too much. Eventually Mr. Ross realized his mistake with help from the parents of the students, his wife the choir director Mrs. Ross and my boyfriend David Collins and I. It was a very rough time, physically and mentally.

Q. What did the students of THE WAVE at first?

A. Everyone loved it, including myself. We were all so connected and together. We were one, but what we didn’t realize was that it was taking away our independence and freedom and creativity and our self-worth.

Q. What was the reaction of your parents when they heard about THE WAVE?

A. My mom, as usual, was skeptical but my dad was glad us students has some direction. I was always upset with my mother because she just didn’t understand what THE WAVE was about. Well, I guess I didn’t either.

Q. Earlier you stated that THE WAVE had signals and mottos? What were those like?

A. Ha, the mottos were the only thing that actually makes me smile about THE WAVE. The mottos were true and...

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