Auschwitz Never Again - World Marks 60th Anniversary of Liberation
The world mourned and pledged to never again “let another Auschwitz take place, as it remembered the victims of the Holocaust on Thursday, the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp.
The world mourned and pledged to never again “let another Auschwitz take place", as it remembered the victims of the Holocaust on Thursday-- the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp.
“Today, some of the tendencies that led to crimes such as took place in Auschwitz continue to plague the world,” said Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), a fellowship of 75 million Christians from 215 churches in 107 countries.
During the Second World War, some 1.5 million people, mostly Jews, were killed at the infamous death camp. Most were killed immediately – others were worked, beaten and starved to death.
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Nyomi explained that even after 60 years, the world is still touched by the anguish of the victims of genocide.
“Our hearts still go out to survivors and descendants of victims and survivors. No words can right the wrong and the pain that was inflicted,” said Nyomi.
In light of observing the anniversary, some 30 political leaders, including Vice President Dick Cheney, Presidents Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland, Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Jacques Chirac of France, placed candles shielded in blue lanterns on a low stone memorial at the camp site.
According to the Associated Press, the new Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko gently set down his candle and made the sign of the cross.
Putin meanwhile compared the Nazis with modern terrorists.
"Today we shall not only remember the past but also be aware of all the threats of the modern world," he said. "Terrorism is among them, and it is no less dangerous and cunning than fascism."
Nyomi agreed that the threats of such violence continues to exist, but in places closer than once thought.
“The tendency to think of whole sections of people or nations as dispensable, as well as to slip into the mode of readiness to get rid of ‘those who are not like us’ continues to be evident in our world,” said Nyomi. “Sometimes the utterances of politicians in high places come frighteningly close to such statements.”
Nyomi concluded with a call to speak out against hatred and violence.
“People of all faiths need to be vigilant against such tendencies. The world cannot sit by and let another Auschwitz happen,” he said.
“Let us ensure that the people who perished in the horrible gas chambers did not do so in vain – never again.”
