Why hatred should be discouraged and love encouraged..
Yesterday the world marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and for the millions of Jews who experienced the harrowing experiences, a conclusion to the largest genocide which the world have witnessed. Sadly however for six million Jews the liberation and the end of the Nazi occupation came to late and men,women and children lost their lives in these camps on a mass scale never seen by humanity.
For those fortunate to survive, they had to forge a new life in new unfamiliar surroundings around the world and without several relatives who had perished under the hands of the Nazi’s. Thankfully inbuilt to every Jew is a survival instinct that has been called on throughout history from being enslaved by the ancient Egyptians to the present day. Constantly persecuted the Jewish population has somehow found inner strength to rise again with fortitude.
Sadly the number of Kinder children who live and tell their stories diminishes with each year, but their stories live on through their families and should not be forgotten. In my last profession I had the pleasure to meet Edgar Mehl himself a Kinder child and former managing director of EMKO, Edgar was one of the most charming people I have ever met and often recounted about his childhood that was taken from him. At a young age he was separated from his family to escape the persecution from the Nazi’s and brought to England, he never saw his family ever again. But as I said previously us Jews have fortitude and Edgar went on to forge a successful life for himself and his new family in London until his passing a few years ago.
On the flip side to these stories of heroism is the constant reminders by the ignorant members of our society who believe the holocaust never occurred. Well this is the bedrock of hatred and these people should be ashamed and disgusted with their claims. Now before I become bombarded with criticism from other religions and other areas of society which are the target of hatred, let me clarify something I am Jewish and proud of my heritage and I will always make the holocaust a priority.
Unfortunately it is not just religion that is a source of hatred, the colour of your skin and even in these present times your gender. I have a 14 month old great niece who I adore and is the next generation, however due to the constant hatred which still blankets this planet, it is conceivable she may never see peace on this planet in her lifetime as well. I call on all religions,gender groups and white supremacy groups to take a good look at yourselves and start the healing process so that the next generation is able to thrive in peace.
Finally to the six million Jews whose lives were lost in the Nazi concentration camps, I light a candle to your memory and to echo John Lennon’s words “Give peace a chance”
