Page 72 - Bellfort Magazine 2019

Lessons in Auschwitz
condemned to repeat it.” I personally think nothing can prepare you for what you see
The lessons in Auschwitz programme fund- this a powerful statement within the walls and experience of the Holocaust atrocity.
ed by the Holocaust Educational Trust of Auschwitz as it connects a rich diversity Due to a perpetrators biased thoughts
of historical perspectives, culminating in a which made a whole nation become
without any embellishments a life
changing experience for me as it will forev- unique and unrivalled form of materialism, collaborators turning against each other
er be attributed to changing my views on with bold reconciliation of spirit and nature through antisemitism. This resulted in
of the event. Therefore, I feel that we as a mass genocide event; leaving many to
how I perceive the world. Although, I
always wonder if those individuals who community need to see the importance of never leave the gates. They didn’t see the
lost their lives in the mass genocide event what the past has had on our lives to be to victims as individual people they saw them
would be proud of the world which is make stable foundation for the future as objects which where lesser than
shaped today. generations; so, that people of the animals. They dehumanised as proud
Holocaust would be honoured with world people as all was seen was differences
As a student with a non-history
which is left for us with if they were still rather than similarities. The ripples of its
background for further education, the 5th
here today. event are still be felt today as we have
of March 2019 was a lesson that opened
barriers in Northern Ireland that exist in
my eyes in a way which I didn’t think was Janine Webber was a survivor of the
the form of division walls in Belfast. They
possible. There hasn’t been a single day Holocaust who I had the pleasure to meet
are emotional and physical barriers that
that I haven’t thought about Auschwitz during my first seminar of the lessons. She
people find hard to let go so when it comes
and its’ significance. As the rooms filled will always be within my heart due to her
to times of real hardship only then will
with evidence, especially those with the inspirational testimony which taught me
people realise, they have a common goal.
40,000 tiny shoes. Each representing a the skilful tactics she used to get her where
If we as ambassadors don’t make an effort
single individual’s life which was once pre- she is now. However, sadly she will not be
to encourage others to make a difference
sent in the world put everything into per- around forever to keeping passing on her
in the world who else will take over from
spective for me about the seriousness of moving messages, and extraordinary
us.
what really happened. experiences.

A quote that stood out to me was by I personally can say that ‘hearing is not like
George Santayana who quoted “Those seeing’ learning object set by the Lesson in Reported by:
Auschwitz programme is 100% true as
who do not remember the past are Laura Du Bois—Pidgeon

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