The day was set up specifically on this day because of the liberation of Auschwitz, to commemorate the horrors of the Nazi holocaust, and it should not be a wasted time to reflect on what happened as well as other terrible hate crimes. The second world war is now part of history and what happened should never be forgotten but also, sadly can not be changed. However, discrimination is unfortunately not a part of history, it is a ongoing reality of the present. This, we do have the ability to change. Anti-semitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, and many other forms of hatred based on identity, skin colour, nationality and religion are still killing people today all over the world.
When the holocaust ended, the world said 'never again'. Yet since then, the world has watched genocides in many places - Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur (which is still ongoing) to name a few. One does not have to look that far for hatred and let us not make the mistake of believing that these things can not happen in our civilised society. Europe was very 'civilised' and 'enlightened' when it systematically murdered six million Jews and a further seven million people for who they were, how they were born or how they chose to identify.
The way we vote, the way we act and the way we make people feel are all important ways of making this world safer and more peaceful. But, we have to go beyond that. Part of the reason the nazis managed to kill so many, was because the world let them. We are still part of a society with influence, power and wealth beyond compare, and yet, we are still letting atrocities occur.
This year, HMDs theme is the legacy of hope. Let us be the generation which stands by our moral convictions, which seriously stands up for what is right and fair in this world. It is our world, lets make it one we can be proud of.
that was really inspiring. thank u. please can you do a communication at gc about exactly what is going on?
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