Later on today I and my family shall be part of a torch-lit procession in commemoration of the Holocaust, the event is entitled Peace, Hope, and Light.
This is one of the most important days of the year as far as I am concerned, both the horrors of the Holocaust and its legacy should never be forgotten.
Although other genocides have been committed whether in Armenia, or Rwanda, or even in Darfur, nevertheless the systematic and legalised attempt at the extermination of the Jews and the Roma stands as a low watermark in human atrocity.
I can only concur wholeheartedly with a statement of commitment issued by the United Nations in 2004, which said:
* We recognise that the Holocaust shook the foundations of modern civilisation. Its unprecedented character and horror will always hold universal meaning.
* We believe the Holocaust must have a permanent place in our collective memory. We honour the survivors still with us, and reaffirm our shared goals of mutual understanding and justice.
* We must ensure that future generations understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon its consequences. We vow to remember the victims of Nazi persecution and of all genocide.
* We value the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives to protect or rescue victims, as a touchstone of the human capacity for good in the face of evil.
* We recognise that humanity is still scarred by the belief that race, religion, disability, or sexuality make some people's lives worth less than others'. Genocide, antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and discrimination still continue. We have a shared responsibility to fight these evils.
* We pledge to strengthen our efforts to promote education and research about the Holocaust and other genocide. We shall do our utmost to make sure that the lessons of such events are fully learnt.
* We shall continue to encourage Holocaust remembrance by holding an annual Holocaust Memorial Day. We condemn the evils of prejudice, discrimination, and racism. We value a free, tolerant, and democratic society.
Showing posts with label holocaust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holocaust. Show all posts
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Thursday, 3 September 2009
"... consequently this country is at war with Germany"
Probably the most chilling words heard on the radio. It is exactly seventy years ago that they were spoken on the BBC by then Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain.
What was to follow, were the most incredible six years in modern history. A world plunged into chaos and carnage, and a continent torn asunder. Not to mention the unleashing of the most fearsome weapon of destruction, namely the atom bomb.
And for what?
A perverse ideology that held not only that there were distinct races, but that one was superior to the rest, leading to the virtual annihilation of European Jewry, as well as its Roma population. Not forgetting an overall total of more than 50,000,000 dead, more than half of whom were civilians.
That's more than the population of England, folks!
The bravery and heroism, the dogged determination and stoicism that helped this country pull through in its darkest hour should not be forgotten. Nor indeed the aid and succour we received from the Commonwealth and US soldiers, the Polish and Czechoslovak aviators, Dutch and Norwegian sailors, and others too numerous to mention.
One of my heroes, Dr. Jacob Bronowski (who wrote the Ascent of Man, and whose family perished in the Death Camps of Auschwitz) was asked what he would say to the perpetrators if he could have had the chance, and he replied with a quotation from Oliver Cromwell, "I beseech you in the bowels of Christ: Think it possible you may be mistaken".
So the next time you read some nauseating lie in the "Daily Hate Mail", or "The Daily Excess", or even "The Pun", having a go at a made up story having a go at Europe, remember that we shall never in our lifetime, nor our children's, nor even our grandchildren's will we ever have to hear those chilling words of, "consequently this country is at war with Germany".
What was to follow, were the most incredible six years in modern history. A world plunged into chaos and carnage, and a continent torn asunder. Not to mention the unleashing of the most fearsome weapon of destruction, namely the atom bomb.
And for what?
A perverse ideology that held not only that there were distinct races, but that one was superior to the rest, leading to the virtual annihilation of European Jewry, as well as its Roma population. Not forgetting an overall total of more than 50,000,000 dead, more than half of whom were civilians.
That's more than the population of England, folks!
The bravery and heroism, the dogged determination and stoicism that helped this country pull through in its darkest hour should not be forgotten. Nor indeed the aid and succour we received from the Commonwealth and US soldiers, the Polish and Czechoslovak aviators, Dutch and Norwegian sailors, and others too numerous to mention.
One of my heroes, Dr. Jacob Bronowski (who wrote the Ascent of Man, and whose family perished in the Death Camps of Auschwitz) was asked what he would say to the perpetrators if he could have had the chance, and he replied with a quotation from Oliver Cromwell, "I beseech you in the bowels of Christ: Think it possible you may be mistaken".
So the next time you read some nauseating lie in the "Daily Hate Mail", or "The Daily Excess", or even "The Pun", having a go at a made up story having a go at Europe, remember that we shall never in our lifetime, nor our children's, nor even our grandchildren's will we ever have to hear those chilling words of, "consequently this country is at war with Germany".
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Will John Demjanjuk finally face justice?
John Demjanjuk is a "suspected" and "convicted" war criminal who has been deported to Munich to begin his trial.
He was deported to Israel in the 1980s and later sentenced to death for war crimes, based on his identification by Israeli Holocaust survivors as "Ivan the Terrible", a notorious SS guard at Treblinka, who committed murder and savage acts of violence against camp prisoners.
His conviction for crimes against humanity was later overturned in 1993 because of reasonable doubt.
He was put on trial again in 2001 on charges that he had served as a guard at the Sobibor, Majdanek, and Flossenbürg on charges of accessory to 29,000 counts of murder.
He is an old man and frail, nevertheless he must face trial, so that justice must be done, for all the victims of the Holocaust.
He was deported to Israel in the 1980s and later sentenced to death for war crimes, based on his identification by Israeli Holocaust survivors as "Ivan the Terrible", a notorious SS guard at Treblinka, who committed murder and savage acts of violence against camp prisoners.
His conviction for crimes against humanity was later overturned in 1993 because of reasonable doubt.
He was put on trial again in 2001 on charges that he had served as a guard at the Sobibor, Majdanek, and Flossenbürg on charges of accessory to 29,000 counts of murder.
He is an old man and frail, nevertheless he must face trial, so that justice must be done, for all the victims of the Holocaust.
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