I chaired Birmingham's Holocaust Memorial event in the Foyer of Symphony Hall today. This was an event both in memory of all atrocities and in memory of the Holocaust itself. It was very well attended with over 200 people there (the first event 5 years ago had about 20 people there).
We had a Normandy Veteran and a survivor of Auschwitz speak as well as a film of what happened.
It is worth dwelling on these matters to remember how bad things can get. There are many tensions in the world and things are being done which exacerbate the tensions.
In Birmingham I was quite clear that we are recognising all atrocities without limit. There are atrocities which continue today in many places in the world. There seems to be some debate nationally as to whether or not this particular event is inclusive or not. In Birmingham it was inclusive. I personally met Christians, Muslims, Buddhists as well as Jews who were at the event.
It saddens me really that people in government (cf Dubya and Blair) have so little empathy that they go around making things worse when actually it is possible to work for a more peaceful world.
We had a Normandy Veteran and a survivor of Auschwitz speak as well as a film of what happened.
It is worth dwelling on these matters to remember how bad things can get. There are many tensions in the world and things are being done which exacerbate the tensions.
In Birmingham I was quite clear that we are recognising all atrocities without limit. There are atrocities which continue today in many places in the world. There seems to be some debate nationally as to whether or not this particular event is inclusive or not. In Birmingham it was inclusive. I personally met Christians, Muslims, Buddhists as well as Jews who were at the event.
It saddens me really that people in government (cf Dubya and Blair) have so little empathy that they go around making things worse when actually it is possible to work for a more peaceful world.
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