Remember
At the Holocaust Museum this week, there were many great quotes about the importance of remembering what happened during the war. One lesson that can be taken away from the Holocaust is that the authorities in charge are not always right. Sometimes we have to question authority and think for ourselves. It is not enough to do what is legally right – sometimes we must do what is morally right. But even that was difficult if not impossible to do in Nazi Germany without risk of being killed.
I expressed worry that children would not understand the significance of the Holocaust and why it must never happen again. An exhibit at the Holocaust Museum of 3,000 tiles painted by American school children quashed that concern.
Some tiles were about love and peace while others said Hitler must be stopped. Some misunderstood the issues but enough of them clearly grasped the topics. I smiled and grabbed my camera.
I think we can safely assume the younger generations will not forget the lessons of the past.
Article comments
1 - Purple Tigress
Maybe we cannot truly understand what is was like, but it is somehow comforting to know that some people stood up for their neighbors while others let their neighbors be taken away just because they were Jewish, gypsies, gay or communists.
I think we should all question ourselves to see if we would have had the courage to stand up for others, for what is right as opposed to what is easy and what gives us the best deal.
In the world now, we have similar situations and we cannot, should not ignore them.
I recently saw a play called, iWitness, about a man who died because he would not join the army. He was thought a fool at the time but now he is considered a moral hero, almost a saint. He was Catholic. All he had to do was wear a Nazi uniform as other Austrians did, but he refused.
Quite impressive to die not because your life and your family's lives are threatened but because the lives of unknown others are. That's something that most people, no matter how religious, would not choose to do.
2 - Scott Butki
I should note that hate as well as Holocaust deniers still exist.
In fact, a local KKK group is holding a rally soon at the Antietam National Battlefield.
There is a good editorial on the topic in the local newspaper.
It points out that the location is ironic since it was a moment near the end of the confederary in the Civil War.
3 - Purple Tigress
Even the Northerners were racist and the Civil War did free the slaves but was originally fought over the right to secede from the Union.
Actually, I found this essay quite moving. One of the reasons I mentioned iWitness was because the production I saw used the imagery of shoes.
I also recall when I was younger that I, too, thought that just because I had read a book or two, that I could truly understand, but now that I'm older, I know I cannot.
4 - Barb
The moldy smell of the shoes at the Museum leaves an imprint on the brain of this visitor.
Unforgettable.
5 - Scott Butki
Definitely.
6 - Scott Butki
Have others been to this museum?
7 - Scott Butki
So how are others honoring the anniversaries?
8 - Scott Butki
I led a discussion tonight of Paper Clip.
Here's the link to the movie site:It a great discussion, spanning 3 or 4 generations, and I'll be writing up a review within
the week. I'm also working on getting an interview with those in making what I consider
the most inspiring movie I've seen in several years.
9 - Victor Plenty
The Civil War was fought over slavery. The "right to secede" was an effort to preserve slavery. Nothing more, nothing less. When people seek to distort the memory of historic events, some will resist and some will capitulate.
Did the Holocaust really happen? Dishonest people want you to doubt it really happened. Was the American Civil War really about slavery? Dishonest people want you to doubt it really was. I choose to resist both strains of ideological revisionism, along with many others.
Thank you for your continuing work to keep the memory of history alive, Scott.
10 - Scott Butki
You are welcome. I have another, related piece in the pipline as I write this.
11 - Scott Butki
Thanks. I'm glad you liked my piece. I'll check out your page shortly.