Auschwitz?

2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the Auschwitz incident. Yet another short film/documentary, whatever. I watched it on GPB a couple of days back. The documentary talked about a new film about Auschwitz and also included conversations with survivors, Jewish commanders and others. It was chilling to watch how one man’s singular obsession wiped out millions of innocent people whose only claim to fame may have been their faith. But I wonder: how many more films do we need? Of course, if a film-maker wants to make something on Auschwitz, I am the last person to question that aspect of freedom of expression. But if the intention of all this media awareness is in order to ensure that such a horrible incident never occurs again then it’s not really directed in the right direction, I feel.
Years after Auschwitz, the world has witnessed many acts of hatred and anger directed at completely innocent people. Darfur, Rwanda, the Kurds in Iraq… it isn’t as if we need to look too hard to find such examples. From what my German friend tells me, school kids in Germany are taught extensively about the Holocaust and Hitler. I suppose it’s kinda drilled into the national consciousness that such a incident is the shame of the German people. Imagine generations and generations of Germans having that guilt driven into their systems…

Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen and the the entire Holocaust is one of the greatest shames of the people of the world. But what builds up the strength and character in people is not a litany of all the misdeeds of individuals. It is learning about how certain people, in the face of such utter disaster, realise their highest human qualities of generosity and compassion that makes all the difference to the world thereafter. Schindler’s List, Hotel Rwanda and such examples make life’s lessons easier to learn. Yes, there is always room for kindness and compassion and in the end, it is love that survives. It is the only one life-force which sustains generations of life-forms on this planet and will continue to do so.