The Saddest Day
This year's Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust falls this week, from April 15-22, 2007.
There are a number of different ways to remember the Holocaust survivors in greater Cincinnati this week. In Northern Kentucky, I was surprised to find a small display dedicated to Holocaust victims at the Kenton County library in Covington.
Though the library's Days of Remembrance display is small, it's still very moving. I walked by it at first, not sure what it was, when one of the items caught my eye so I came back to study all of it, and I was mesmerized for several minutes.
It's hard for me to put into words what's in the case. Paperwork. Photos. Faded paper stars emblazoned with the word Juden. Combat boots lined with human hair.
Today is a sad day on many counts. I watched the press conference this morning at Virginia Tech and I wanted to write something here about those students, their families and the administration that's in mourning today. I wish there was a way to let them know that we are mourning for them too.
Often when tragedies occur, it's too easy to brush them aside: We're busy. It happened a long time ago. It happened in a faraway place to people we don't know. I think we do this because addressing our real feelings is far too painful. It's just too hard to actualize events that involve the innocent, the children.
Maybe you pray. Maybe you don't pray. Whatever your belief system, give yourself the time this week to remember the victims and the survivors- long ago, and today. Your positive energy and good thoughts may not seem like much; but your strength and your goodwill mean more to those people, those people you don't even know, than you can imagine.
There are a number of different ways to remember the Holocaust survivors in greater Cincinnati this week. In Northern Kentucky, I was surprised to find a small display dedicated to Holocaust victims at the Kenton County library in Covington.
Though the library's Days of Remembrance display is small, it's still very moving. I walked by it at first, not sure what it was, when one of the items caught my eye so I came back to study all of it, and I was mesmerized for several minutes.
It's hard for me to put into words what's in the case. Paperwork. Photos. Faded paper stars emblazoned with the word Juden. Combat boots lined with human hair.
Today is a sad day on many counts. I watched the press conference this morning at Virginia Tech and I wanted to write something here about those students, their families and the administration that's in mourning today. I wish there was a way to let them know that we are mourning for them too.
Often when tragedies occur, it's too easy to brush them aside: We're busy. It happened a long time ago. It happened in a faraway place to people we don't know. I think we do this because addressing our real feelings is far too painful. It's just too hard to actualize events that involve the innocent, the children.
Maybe you pray. Maybe you don't pray. Whatever your belief system, give yourself the time this week to remember the victims and the survivors- long ago, and today. Your positive energy and good thoughts may not seem like much; but your strength and your goodwill mean more to those people, those people you don't even know, than you can imagine.
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