Читать книгу A Big Circle of Friends - Erica Bentel - Страница 9
ОглавлениеLATER THAT NIGHT
Sasha types up the last few pages of her project:
IN SUMMARY
Ordinary people allowed it to happen. Most of the civilians would never have dreamed of committing those atrocities themselves, but they did not stop it because it was not directed at them. Before they knew it, the Nazis ruled and the ordinary people lost control. In the end, as a nation, they were guilty of mass genocide. And millions of good, honest, ordinary people were slaughtered.
She’s inserting her next photograph. Mass Grave.1945.
Her mother walks in.
“How’s it going?”
“Nearly finished.”
“Do you know what the time is?”
“I know. I won’t be much longer.”
“I’m going to bed. Good night. Love you.”
“Love you too. Good night.”
Sasha rubs her eyes, takes another bite of her muesli bar and carries on working.
WHAT CAN THIS TEACH US FOR THE FUTURE?
Believe it or not, antisemitism still exists today and is fuelled by extremists.
So is racism and hate against countless other minority groups and religions.
History has proved that there will always be people who spread extreme hatred and try to exterminate people from other groups or different religions. From the Spanish Inquisition to Nazi Germany. From former Yugoslavia to Cambodia.
She inserts a B&W photograph, titled Field of human skulls. Cambodian Killing Fields. 1975-1979.
and continues writing:
If we are to learn anything from history it is this: It is up to us. If we do not stand up against the hatred, against these bullies, it means we are going along with it. It means that we are not all that good, or all that innocent, after all.
She searches for the quote she’s been saving, finds it and inserts it:
“ALL THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE FORCES OF EVIL TO SUCCEED IS FOR ENOUGH GOOD PEOPLE TO REMAIN SILENT.”
Sasha types up her final paragraph.
IN CONCLUSION:
People look back at history now and think: how did it ever happen? It happened because most of the good people stayed uninvolved until it was too late.
