27th January Holocaust Memorial Day

With apologies for the length of this post - and I hope you will take the time to read it.

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2020 marks 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

2020 also marks 25th anniversary of the Bosnian genocide (1998-1995).


"Don’t be content in your life just to do no wrong, be prepared every day to try and do some good."

Sir Nicholas Winton,
who rescued 669 children from Nazi-occupied Europe 80 years ago.

I'm of an age, and have lived in part of London, where I have met dozens of Holocaust survivors and some of the children from the Kinder Transport.

We should never forget the atrocities that man can wreak upon man. It's important to keep these events in the forefront of our memories in order to try and avoid it happening again.

Millions of people were stripped of their humanity and murdered during the Holocaust and Nazi Persecution. Each person was unique, with their own interests, friends and family.

The theme for this year is "Stand Together".

Genocidal regimes throughout history have deliberately fractured societies by marginalising certain groups. Now more than ever, we need to stand together with others in our communities in order to stop division and the spread of hatred in our society.

In the UK, thousands of local events and activities take place every year on this event – each one an opportunity for people to reflect on those whose lives were changed beyond recognition, and to challenge prejudice, discrimination, and hatred in our own society today

Many churches across the country will be holding prayers today based on the HMD theme.

First they came

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out, Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out, Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out, Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out, Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me
And there was no one left To speak out for me

Pastor Martin Niemoller

This is the bronze statue at London's Liverpool Street Station to mark the arrival of the Kinder Transport children.

They were torn from their families, lost, alone and didn't speak the language. Amongst those children saved were many who became famous scientists (two Nobel laureates), doctors, teachers, artists, poets, authors, politicians and philanthropists.

It is called "Arrival".

 

No, apologies needed, Shiney, as a post on this subject cannot never be too long. Unfortunately, as a species we continue, even now, to kill for no other reason than difference in beliefs and hatred born of the fear of the those beliefs. People who are capable of such actions and thoughts on such a scale will always be born but my belief is that there will always be more people who will defend and resist such hatred, beliefs and evil.