Have you lived through the Holocaust? Have you been schooled in what its all about? Have you visited a Holocaust memorial or museum? Do you know of the atrocious nature of the Nazis and the Russians at the time? Your answer to these questions are an accurate gauge of your true understanding of the plight of the Jewish experience during World War ll and even thereafter.
I recently had the opportunity to visit Tisovec, Slovakia on City business. Our plane came in and out of Budapest, Hungary. We stayed the last couple days prior to our departure plane in Budapest. I had the grand and somber occasion to visit two separate Holocaust memorials. I hold to the fact that one cannot leave either building with smiles or even happy thoughts.
The first building we visited is the Terror Haza or commonly termed the House of Terror. It is the actual building where Nazi and later Russian fascists interrogated, tortured and even murdered Jewish citizens whom they purposely deemed and framed as vagrants and resistors. It was first used in 1944 by the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party. Each floor deepened the empathy in each visitor for those souls who suffered cruel indignity and death. It's interesting that the curriculum we are taught elsewhere in the world including the United States pales in thorough information that is only known through going to those places. I did not know the depth of the twisted nature of the evil regimes of the Nazis, Russians and factions such as the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party. In fact, to learn of history from a different land can only bond you to the actual event only so far. But, to walk the very city, to walk the very footsteps of millions of doomed men, women and children is most humbling indeed. Doing so cannot be compared to.
As with all dictatorships and rise of liberty-stripped populations the empires start with small seemingly insignificant events. The Jewish community was industrious, happy and included many business leaders. Out of hate and fear the Arrow Cross restricted their prosperity, and eventually instituted policies regarding the very nature of man including procreation between a Jew and a non-Jew. Then this now isolated people had to wear the Yellow Star of David. The categorization of this people had already begun.
Officers at the House of Terror quickly became known as masters of life and death. In infamy the address 60 Andrassy Boulevard became. The knot in the noose of fear and terror housed the horrors of what men can possibly do to another from 1944 through 1957.
The other building was the Holocaust Memorial Center. It also was very somber. It listed several torture techniques that is unconscionable to even fair minded human beings. There are reports of crushing a man's testicles and crushing a woman's uterus as a token and an assurance that a Jew cannot procreate. My Holy God! The dredging feeling in the heart is wrenching. Also disturbing was individual life stories being told. Many stories of couples and families happy and prosperous one day and in the camps the next. You see pictures of happy couples smiling and in love. It was difficult to see such happiness and to already know their demise in such short few days, months or years. The lasting symbol tribute to the Holocaust victims was the Tree of Life outside the Holocaust Memorial Center.
It was difficult indeed to comprehend especially with the connection I personally have with the departed. The experience forces the organization of the mind into deep reflection. I left the building and returned to a fast-paced busy world of Budapest. I watched as people walked to and fro and drove like mad men (as is custom in Budapest) to their respective destinations. Many are used to the Holocaust memorials in their midst. Many are oblivious to them and express their disinterest. I marvel how we as a people can forget and fail to humble ourselves to such events that took place literally not even 60 years ago.
As far as God and human events are concerned I believe two things. God allows things to happen or God invokes or causes things to happen. It is clear that those dark years were allowed to happen. If something is allowed to happen then we are to learn from it. Right? As I reflect as people went about their business I have to ask myself - are we or have we learned?
History marks the way. That which is failed to be learned is doomed to happen again. 9.75 out of every 10 persons would say that such things can never happen again. It is impossible with our modern sense of morality and technology. Yet, I bet the populous thought the very same thing in 1935.
I am here to tell you that it can happen again. With our technology and might I foresee such an event happening swift, quick and on such a widespread scale that will shadow even the fiery chambers of the death camps. May we ever learn the lessons of the Holocaust and hold sway the adverse forces that seek it.
I recently had the opportunity to visit Tisovec, Slovakia on City business. Our plane came in and out of Budapest, Hungary. We stayed the last couple days prior to our departure plane in Budapest. I had the grand and somber occasion to visit two separate Holocaust memorials. I hold to the fact that one cannot leave either building with smiles or even happy thoughts.
The first building we visited is the Terror Haza or commonly termed the House of Terror. It is the actual building where Nazi and later Russian fascists interrogated, tortured and even murdered Jewish citizens whom they purposely deemed and framed as vagrants and resistors. It was first used in 1944 by the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party. Each floor deepened the empathy in each visitor for those souls who suffered cruel indignity and death. It's interesting that the curriculum we are taught elsewhere in the world including the United States pales in thorough information that is only known through going to those places. I did not know the depth of the twisted nature of the evil regimes of the Nazis, Russians and factions such as the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party. In fact, to learn of history from a different land can only bond you to the actual event only so far. But, to walk the very city, to walk the very footsteps of millions of doomed men, women and children is most humbling indeed. Doing so cannot be compared to.
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| House of Terror |
Officers at the House of Terror quickly became known as masters of life and death. In infamy the address 60 Andrassy Boulevard became. The knot in the noose of fear and terror housed the horrors of what men can possibly do to another from 1944 through 1957.
The other building was the Holocaust Memorial Center. It also was very somber. It listed several torture techniques that is unconscionable to even fair minded human beings. There are reports of crushing a man's testicles and crushing a woman's uterus as a token and an assurance that a Jew cannot procreate. My Holy God! The dredging feeling in the heart is wrenching. Also disturbing was individual life stories being told. Many stories of couples and families happy and prosperous one day and in the camps the next. You see pictures of happy couples smiling and in love. It was difficult to see such happiness and to already know their demise in such short few days, months or years. The lasting symbol tribute to the Holocaust victims was the Tree of Life outside the Holocaust Memorial Center.
 |
| The Tree of Life |
As far as God and human events are concerned I believe two things. God allows things to happen or God invokes or causes things to happen. It is clear that those dark years were allowed to happen. If something is allowed to happen then we are to learn from it. Right? As I reflect as people went about their business I have to ask myself - are we or have we learned?
History marks the way. That which is failed to be learned is doomed to happen again. 9.75 out of every 10 persons would say that such things can never happen again. It is impossible with our modern sense of morality and technology. Yet, I bet the populous thought the very same thing in 1935.
I am here to tell you that it can happen again. With our technology and might I foresee such an event happening swift, quick and on such a widespread scale that will shadow even the fiery chambers of the death camps. May we ever learn the lessons of the Holocaust and hold sway the adverse forces that seek it.
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