Israel is marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time to remember the millions of Jews and other victims who were murdered by the Nazis.
There is the old saying along the lines of those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. Those words ring especially true for days like Holocaust Remembrance Day.
We’ve seen deadly shooting attacks at synagogues in the U.S. and at mosques in Canada and New Zealand in recent years.
Crimes like these are the reason why we can never be complacent and must always stand together and speak out against hate and violence.
The Holocaust sprung from unchecked and escalating brutality against the Jews in the 1930s and the world community paid a terrible price to defeat the hateful and monstrous Nazi regime and end the Holocaust.
Just think of how much better our world might have been if a strong and firm stand had been taken against the hate that existed in Germany prior to the Second World War.
We at OPSEU understand the importance of diversity and standing together for what is right and we should take every opportunity to remind those outside our family about the lessons of history.
The United Nations set International Holocaust Remembrance Day in late January while Israel marks the day in the Spring. Whenever an opportunity to reflect on the Holocaust occurs in the calendar we should always pause and remember.
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, First Vice-President/Treasurer