Reasons for Remembering

So, why did I decide to embark on this journey, which was not only a ten-day journey of being overseas, or six months of webinars, readings and preparations, but is a life-long journey of constant learning and love for one another, compassion, and fighting for justice.

Marching to Birkenau. I can be seen front and center
(with big sunglasses). Photo taken by Jemy Joseph.

Why did I decide to do this?

I'm not Jewish, no. I have no real connection to the Holocaust, and although I have family members who fought in WWII, I don't know their stories so I don't feel a real connection to the war as a whole. I've never felt real prejudice and hatred, and I guess I don't know evil.

But, I will admit, I take things for granted. I overlook things, I focus too heavily on others, I don't treat everyone with the respect I would want in return. I'm human. We make mistakes, we get caught up in things, some things slip and slide. And therefore, I have a responsibility to do something; to stand up and shout out, and to take action.

And I pledge to do so. Starting now, through raising awareness of something that has been a slap in the face to myself, and several others on the MRH trip that I have spoken to upon finding these articles.

A U of T grad who wrote her masters thesis in 2010 has been creating a bit of hoopla among the MRH community. Her thesis, titled The Victimhood of the Powerful: White Jews, Zionism and the Racims of Hegemonic Holocaust Education, specifically mentions the March of Remembrance and Hope, but does so in a negative light. Ms. Peto, a grad from the Department of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, accuses MRH of trying to turn "coloured people" into Zionist supporters (to quote a fellow MRH participant who discusses this article on Facebook).

Apparently the directors of the MRH program were aware this thesis existed.

Ms. Peto seems biased in her research, and I cannot fathom how she was awarded a degree for making the claims she has. You can read her thesis here.

Another article I recently found, through the Facebook feed of the MRH group is no better.

Anti-semitism and a Classroom "Jew Count" at University of Toronto's Social Work Faculty brings attention to displacing one's thoughts on others. While I disagree with a Prof sharing their personal views about a topic, unless stated in an appropriate way which can, perhaps, be joked about or debated, I am disgusted to hear that this prof not only projected his views of the Jewish people to a class, but provoking conversations - of the negative kind - to take place within the classroom.

This article can be found here. 

I will be the first to admit that I have not read Ms. Peto's thesis to it's full extent, as I cannot manage to force myself any further while keeping decorum and appropriate language directed towards this individual, but I encourage you all to read these, and take action.