Readings make sure history not forgotten
Editorial
The history of mankind is rife with genocidal acts by dictators. This weekend, we are reminded of possibly the most horrific – the Holocaust.It is with quiet reflection we view this event. Due to the self-styled machinations of one Adolph Hitler, 10 million people – six million of them Jewish – died a horrible death.While genocide continues to plague the world, the Holocaust stands almost alone on its scale of monstrosity.The systematic elimination of people who did not fit Hitler’s “ideal race” was striking for the sheer mechanical actions of the people involved. The German hierarchy ruthlessly eliminated those who did not meet their standards and they did it with almost no remorse. Personal belongings of value which were held by the victims were shipped out of the country or stored in Hitler’s palaces. Families were split up and executed in some of the most hideous ways possible – such as incineration, gas chambers or simply being shot in the back of the head.Perhaps the most chilling aspect of this brutality was the incorporation of technology. Instead of simply killing their victims, the Germans experimented, seemingly using the executions as proving grounds for new and more brutal ways to eliminate those they hated.The Hillel Center here on campus has faced up to this hideous aspect of their past and taken it head on. This year, as it has in the past, the center has held a vigil for remembrance of the victims of this horrific act.Volunteers read names of those killed from 9 p.m. Saturday night to 9 p.m. Sunday night. The candlelight vigil was held to mark Yom Hashoah, Hebrew for Holocaust Remembrance Day. Perhaps the most stunning fact to come from this vigil is the fact it would take 24-hour vigils for three quarters to read the names of all Holocaust victims.This makes us sit back and take a deep breath as we realize the sheer magnitude of this horror. Ten million people -10 million people – were killed for no reason other than their religion or physical attributes.However, this realization leads us to another realization. Even though the Holocaust was the most awe-inspiring – and we mean “awe” in a soul-shaking, terrifying way – ritual slaughters take place in this world often enough to make us wonder about that “inherent goodness” which seems to be brought up in most discussions of the human race.Millions of people exit this earth every year for one reason – they are doomed by genetics or belief to be punished by people in positions of power who don’t like them for things as insignificant as skin color.We commend the Hillel Center for their remembrance of this tragedy and their efforts to make sure it is not repeated. The simple fact that these efforts are made every year ensure the Holocaust will not be forgotten, for if something is forgotten, we are almost doomed to repeat it.We need to recognize these tragedies occur every day – not just in the history books. We need to ensure we will fight against these tragedies and do our best to eradicate them; but not forget them.And we need to make sure they are not repeated.
