On the 13th of May I left Cardiff to go on an emotional trip. I was chosen as one of two students within my college to participate in a government funded charity to highlight the atrocities of the Holocaust and the affect racism has on a whole country, a whole society, and a whole world. Needless to say, the trip was extremely thought-provoking. Before the trip I couldn't fully understand or contemplate a number such as 11 million -- it was merely a number that was significant only on the basis of fact, and not emotion -- nor could I understand the magnitude of the Holocaust itself. When I arrived in Auschwitz I still couldn't understand it, not on factual understanding but on experience. It would be impossible for my to fully grasp the emotional backlashes of such a time and experience, because I wasn't the one who experienced it in the first place. I left the camp feeling incredibly confused and extremely guilty. I had ongoing thoughts as to how I should be feeling: 'should I feel remorsful?', 'have I no compassion?', and strangly enough 'did so many truly die here?' I must admit that I even had doubts of the Holocaust itself after leaving, it was such a massive blow to me that I was finding hard to even contemplate the thought. People seem to think that genocide is something that happens in backwater countries; that it occured only in medieval times during the crusades. This happened on our very doorsteps, in the middle of Christian Europe and within only two generations of most of our lives, and now, as time grows weary so does the survivors able to tell their stories. The new generation has an obligation to keep this dying flame alive so as to prevent further atrocities for as long as people are willing to listen; because it's only the people who listen that can prevent this as much as the people who are telling the stories. These are the extreme consequences when people remain idle to prejudice and racism: Auschwitz 2008 [Please hold mouse over the photo notes to view full text.]
I've long been fascinated with historic sites. I'm really envious of my son, who is spending the next few months traveling around Europe. He is unable to make it to Germany, however, at least not this year. Instead he'll be in Eastern Europe/SW Asia, mostly Turkey, checking out old ruins and stuff. Mostly while staying with local families to experience "real life" there, to get a real feel for things. He's so lucky and I'm so envious I look like a big green plant. Traveling is really quite a kewl thing, and I love it when someone shares their travels with those of us who just can't seem to do so.
Cost is the primary limiting factor, and time. I can't say "never" but it isn't practical at this time.
I thought the Camp and Museum were in Poland ? And the exchange rate isn't helping any. I have papers and a grinder. I think so too. I got my new passport in '05 already on page #13, "pages 1-7 don't count".............. life is good.
