"Silence never helps the victim"

The title of this blog post, a quote from Dr. Susanna Kokkonen relates greatly to some of the teachings of the March of Remembrance and Hope and the quote we wore proudly on our MRH t-shirts that has become such a huge motivator and explanation of our vision:

"Be not a victim,
Be not a perpetrator,
But above all - be not a bystander"
- inspired by Yehuda Bauer

Birkenau (Auschwitz II) and the 'famous' gate.

This idea, that by refraining from continuing to teach Holocaust education and continue the stories of survivors is really no different than turning a shoulder to what was going on during WWII. I have heard the question posed several times: "why should we continue to study the Holocaust", especially since there have been genocides and mass murders since?

While this is an important question, and the controversy regarding the Canadian Museum of Human Rights [set for completion in 2013] and their specific Holocaust 'zone' comes in to play and raises valid points, I think it is important that the Holocaust be studied as more than simply a genocide or mass murder. There were many implications regarding the Holocaust that must be studied to fully understand it and the evil of the Nazi Party: the anti-semitism and it's roots, the economy of Germany and Europe as a whole, the use of concentration and extermination camps, etc. While there have been since genocides, which yes, we should study, the scale of the Holocaust itself proves its importance and the need to study it in 2011, some 70 years later. (You can read more about the controversy regarding the anticipated Winnipeg museum, here).

Another issue that should be noted is the use of "German" when studying the Holocaust and the definition of "Nazi". I know my friend Camille pointed this out to me when my blog was just starting last winter/spring, and I think it is important to draw attention to. While it's often just a slip or generalization, we often target the Germans as the perpetrators of the Holocaust. This, however, is not the case. It was the Nazi party and their followers - mostly Germans, however, not all Germans who were involved in the dehumanization and attacks on the Jewish peoples. I know I spoke of the national guilt in a previous blog post, and I think that being specific in the group to which we are speaking, and the group held responsible for the Holocaust, is important in eliminating this feeling. Without specification, how are we any better than those who discriminate? It is mere generalization and feelings of dislike towards a group that should not be held responsible.

There was another Holocaust Education Week event this evening that I had hoped to make it to, but did not. I won't be able to attend any other events, but I urge you to check out the schedule if you are in Halifax, and attend any and everything you can!

My apologies for any format problems with this blogpost; Blogger was not cooperating this evening.