Tuesday, February 10, 2009

In Memoriam ...... 63 Years Later


It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. I received this as an e-mail that was being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests, the almost 55,000 homosexuals, 250,000 Roma/Sinti (Gypsies), and 1.5 million children who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russian Peoples looking the other way! Now, more than ever, with Iraq, Iran and others including a few Catholic priests, claiming the Holocaust to be 'a myth,' it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to have history repeat itself.

Below is a Non Sequitur comic strip that you will need to click on to make it large enough to read. Although there is nothing funny about the comic strip or it's subject manner, it is a prime example of Wiley using artistic talent to get the message across.



A word from Jo: As a teenager in high school one of my favorite classes was history. I was fortunate enough to have had a history teacher that made the past come alive for her students. She spoke of historical events as if she had experienced them herself. She always left me with a thirst for more knowledge of what she had spoken of. This was especially true of World War II. She sparked an interest in my heart and mind to read anything and everything I could get my hands on concerning the Holocaust. I searched the pages of those books for something........ anything...... that would make sense of the cruel and sadistic deaths of so many innocent people. All I found in explanation was pictures of a world gone mad. In the midst of the madness was the madman Hitler. In all reality 63 years ago is not ancient history. When I was reading all of those books and looking at the pictures through tear filled eyes, those events that I was researching had only happened some 20 or so years prior. I can not for the life of me understand how anyone can deny that the holocaust happened. How do they explain the photos? I do understand one thing though........ I understand that we should never forget the Holocaust. I will leave you today with this quote from George Santayana: "Those who do not learn from history is doomed to repeat it."


I thank my friend Lynn in Orlando, Florida for the e-mail and my daughter Tersie for the exact words of the quote that I couldn't get straight in my mind.


10 comments:

Laura ~Peach~ said...

i got the same email... it is good to remember.

BittersweetPunkin said...

I don't understand how anyone can deny it happened...ever....the images speak for themselves.

Lanny said...

The denial takes the same heart as the perpetration. A heart full of fear, revenge, blame, discontentment, mistrust, envy...

Diane@Diane's Place said...

....Lest we forget....

Love,

Diane

Mike Golch said...

Jo,thank you for this powerful posting.I had a history teacher that brought history alive as well.He inspired me to excell in all of my class's in the 8th grade.I just wish I could remember his name to honor that gentileman.I'm going to my site to place a link to yours.

Sandee said...

Mike sent me over. This is an awesome post and I too cannot see how some call the holocaust a myth. It is not a myth at all.

Have a terrific day. :)

Akelamalu said...

I came here via Mike's blog as he said you had an important message in your post today. I agree with him and you - the holocaust should never be forgotten. In October I went to Auchwitz and that strengthened my belief in this. I posted about what I saw if you are interested in reading it.

http://akelamalu.blogspot.com/2008/11/krakow-part-3.html

Reva said...

There are alot of ugly people doing ugly things to others all around the world everyday and it behooves us who live in relative peace and safety to remember that and offer solace, understanding and help as much as we can and if nothing else to remember, just as you suggest.

Betty said...

Very good post, Jo. It's good you liked history so much. I'm sorry I can't say the same for myself. History was one of my least favorite subject.

BClark said...

This is a horror that we all need to remember and make sure it does not happen again. We get comfortable in our own little area and close our eyes to others suffering. We need to nudge each other and be vigilent. It is amazing how people can tune out so many bad things.