70th Holocaust Anniversary

There was an interview on local radio this morning with a survivor of Auschwitz, she was the only member of her family to survive. Asked if she was bitter about what happened she said she refused to be bitter because that would have ruined her life which would have been what Hitler wanted. She also said she could never forgive the people who actually carried out the atrocities but she held no ill feeling towards the current generation of Germans. It was truly humbling to hear her.

I've been watching some of the survivors' accounts on TV this week. Truly horrendous. I watched the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas not quite realising the story. I couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks. My granddaughter's class was shown it in primary school when she was 10/11. She was severely traumatised by it. I'm not sure what the thinking was behind showing that to such young children. I suppose to make sure the children appreciated what went on but I wonder whether the parents should have been advised first.

There was a gathering of Jewish people at the war memorial in Warwick. They filled the road leading to the church which we intend visiting but I didn't want to intrude.
If only half of what we hear actually happened, it was a horrific time.

Agonising to think about, but we must also remember the Roma Gypsies, homosexuals, Jehovah Witnesses , the disabled both physical and mental , it isn't the highest number of a particular race but each human being regardless of race . How can man do this to man

We watched Freddie Knoller's War (BBC2 last night) in total silence. He spoke so movingly of his life as a young man escaping Nazi Germany then rather irresponsibly putting himself right back in the most dangerous situations. How he managed to still have a wry sense of humour about some of the more dramatic events was incredible.

I really don't know how survivors are finding the strength and courage to return to Auschwitz.

My senior GD has repeatedly asked me to take her to Auschwitz. I don't think I could hold up, so hopefully one day she will be able to afford to take herself.

That was 50 million phoenix.

It is certainly a moving memorial day and I realise it must be remembered but I'm afraid I find programs/films about it too upsetting to watch. Even people talking about it (I know it needs to be talked about) makes me turn off the radio or television, there must be a word for people like me who know full well it happened but don't actually want to be reminded of mans cruelty to its own kind in graphic detail . I've never been able to watch 'Shindler's List' or the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas for the same reason.

Have just heard that a permanent Holocaust Memorial is planned, at a cost of several million (or billion?).

Its certainly a day of remembrance isn't it. I have just watch the news coverage from Auchwitz which never fails to move me. Some of my relatives fled Germany before the First World War as anti-Semitism had already been gong on for years as it had in Russia.