Holocaust art speaks truth when words are not enough

The need for reflection and restraint of power is what led Louis Freeh to order that all new agent classes visit the Holocaust Museum here in Washington so they could see and feel and hear in a palpable way the consequences of abuse of power on a massive, almost unimaginable scale. ~ James Comey

In the flurry or a warmish winter weekend – not to mention the frantic anticipation of the Super Bowl – it’s easy to overlook the fact that today is Holocaust Remembrance Day.  As James Comey knows only too well, we fail to learn from our history at our peril.  We need to “see and feel and hear in a palpable way the consequences of abuse of power….”

This nation’s Holocaust Museum offers a readily accessible refresher on the essential story of the Holocaust – a reminder for many, a framework for focusing our 21^st Century minds on a time that can slip into the history when our leaders forget or never knew our history. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-statement-marking-holocaust-remembrance-leaves-out-mention-of-jews/2017/01/27/0886d3c2-e4bd-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html?utm_term=.007f0ff6a11c

At times, when the truth overwhelms and words fail, art can communicate ideas, true facts.  These and several other sites share artists’ reflections, interpretations and unique perspectives on horrors too diabolical for mere words.

• http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160203-art-from-the-holocaust-the-stories-behind-the-images
• http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/art/index.asp
• https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/artists-responses-to-the-holocaust

If time permits, you might want to delve into this excellent lecture that explores the art of the Holocaust in greater depth: http://statecrime.org/state-crime-research/art-of-the-holocaust-creativity-in-extremis-public-lecture-review/

In these troubled times, we must not lose sight of the truth that it is on our shoulders at this time to learn, remember, reflect on our history and open our minds to the responsibility that rests with each of us and with our nation to shape a world that is sufficiently wise and caring to learn from the past.

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today ~ Abraham Lincoln

 

 

 

 

Holocaust Remembrance Day-Remember, Honor, Learn

“Remember the Holocaust didn’t start in the gas chambers, it began with the rhetoric of hate.” Rabina Khan

Possibly the best way to honor International Holocaust Remembrance Day (today, January 27) is simply to reflect on this profound thought.

Since 2005 the United Nations and its member states have held commemoration ceremonies to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Berkenau and to honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

Clearly, the main purpose of the day is to honor the victims; a secondary and related goal is to support the development of educational programs to remember the Holocaust and to prevent further genocide. Equally important is the commitment to reject any form of Holocaust denial, in part by preserving historic sites related to the Holocaust.

Drawing from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the UN Resolution 60/7 condemns all forms of “religious intolerance, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief throughout the world.”

“I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”   Elie Wiesel

Read more about International Holocaust Remembrance Day here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/27/holocuast-memorial-day-eternal-vigilance-can-prevent-return/

https://www.yivo.org/cimages/richardbreitman-ottofrank-whitepaper.pdf?c=

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/27/trump-fails-mention-jews-holocaust-remembrance-statement/97150252/

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/27/us/holocaust-survivor-poverty/