David says about the Nazis, “… that was a long time ago… To me it’s like a piece of history.” How does Ben’s experiment prove this statement wrong? Give information from the story to support your answer.
group mentality and conformity are still a part of our society, especially in a high school. At the beginning of The Wave, the students in Mr. Ross's history class all agree that they would never have allowed the Holocaust to happen if they had lived in Nazi Germany. However, most of them lack real critical thinking skills. They are excited about The Wave, and the militaristic culture of the movement discourages them from thinking differently. As Robert says, the movement will only work if the students all agree with it and follow it blindly. This is not necessarily true. Some of the best parts about The Wave––like its inclusivity, for example––are actually enhanced by critical thinking and disagreement. Although The Wave incorporates former 'losers' like Robert, it also excludes moderate thinkers like Laurie.
