From Mark Schiffer:

Los Angeles was one of the more diverse stops on our summer journey. On the way to L.A. we stopped for lunch at a 1950s throwback diner called Peggy Sue’s. After a very tasty meal, we continued to Los Angeles. On the way, we watched the film “Crash” which introduced the theme of our visit to California, which was power. We learned about who had power, who doesn’t, and why people who have power should care about those who don’t have access to power. It is easy to allow injustice in the world to continue. To stomp out injustice, you have to care enough to challenge the majority.

This theme was especially compounded at our visit to the Museum of Tolerance. Mr. Walter Gertz, our guide at the museum, spoke to us about the importance of voicing your opinion in the face of opposition. The Museum contained many exhibits detailing the effects of the Holocaust along with other examples of injustice and intolerance in the world.

After the Museum of Tolerance, we went to Beit Teshuvah, a synagogue for recovering addicts. We spoke with Rabbi Borovitz, who has spent time in jail for illegal activities, as well as Doug and Evie, young Jews, who were addicts. We were all able to relate to their stories as we could see ourselves in them. Most agreed that this program was much more powerful than the usual anti-drug programs we get in school.

The next morning, we walked around Beverly Hills to see how the people with access to money and power live. We were able to compare and contrast this neighborhood with the next area we visited, South Central. Although, on the surface, South Central did not look terrible, our bus driver Carlton, who live in South Central, made us aware that looks could be deceiving. Just making the buildings look better did not fix the real socio-economic problems that exist in a neighborhood that does not have easy access to the American Dream. We noticed how the liquor stores, bail bonds and check cashing stores that dominate in South Central are not seen in Beverly Hills. This exposure to the grim reality of the separation of classes in America, created a melancholy on the bus as we went to University of Southern California for our next meeting.

At USC we met with Dr. Lewis, a teacher at USC, about how prevalent class issues impact us in today’s society. After a passionate talk, we returned to Beverly Hills to see the play “Tick, Tick, Boom” by Jonathan Larson. This was the play he wrote before he created the hit “Rent”. The play was about a struggling artist turning 30 years old and having to decide what is important in life, if he should abandon his real passion and dreams in order to make better money or should he remain true to who he is. We all enjoyed the play and then went to our hotel for a good night’s sleep.