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 roma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label roma. 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, 1 September 2009
Hats off to Sir Nicholas Winton
How wonderful to see Sir Nicholas on the news today looking as fit as a fiddle although he's a hundred years old.
Seventy years ago he saved 669 children by organising their transfer from the then Nazi Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia to Britain. Before all that, he had to arrange official permits for their departure, secure their reception by British families, and to deposit bail. All this as a thirty-year-old, when asked why he did it he replied, "because no-one else was".
I first came across his story at the cinema in Olomouc a decade back when I went to see the film "Vsichni moji blízcí" with Rupert Graves playing him.
One of the things the film touched on was the treatment of Gypsies by the Nazis and ultimately how they suffered at the hands of the Nazis in much the same way as the Jews, what the Roma people call the Porajmos, literally, the Devouring.
A truly remarkable man who reminds us that whenever people ask "why do people do such terrible things?" we should never forget that there are always people who do amazing things. Good, honest, decent people like Sir Nicholas.
Seventy years ago he saved 669 children by organising their transfer from the then Nazi Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia to Britain. Before all that, he had to arrange official permits for their departure, secure their reception by British families, and to deposit bail. All this as a thirty-year-old, when asked why he did it he replied, "because no-one else was".
I first came across his story at the cinema in Olomouc a decade back when I went to see the film "Vsichni moji blízcí" with Rupert Graves playing him.
One of the things the film touched on was the treatment of Gypsies by the Nazis and ultimately how they suffered at the hands of the Nazis in much the same way as the Jews, what the Roma people call the Porajmos, literally, the Devouring.
A truly remarkable man who reminds us that whenever people ask "why do people do such terrible things?" we should never forget that there are always people who do amazing things. Good, honest, decent people like Sir Nicholas.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
Disgusting news from Belfast
How tragic to see the hunted faces of the 100 Romanians being chased out of their homes in Belfast, by gangs of hooligans.
What was doubly horrible was that it was obvious that these people were Roma and so visibly dark-skinned.
You would have thought that this level of racist xenophobia would be nigh on impossible in a place that is coming out of its own long nightmarish period of "The Troubles".
The positive thing we can take is that nearly everyone else has come out in support of the Roma, the main political parties, the churches, and ordinary decent folk.
There is no room for this sort of thuggery in today's society.
What was doubly horrible was that it was obvious that these people were Roma and so visibly dark-skinned.
You would have thought that this level of racist xenophobia would be nigh on impossible in a place that is coming out of its own long nightmarish period of "The Troubles".
The positive thing we can take is that nearly everyone else has come out in support of the Roma, the main political parties, the churches, and ordinary decent folk.
There is no room for this sort of thuggery in today's society.
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