On #HolocaustRemembranceDay, we honor the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and remind ourselves that human beings are not inherently good by nature.
When we think of that dark period in recent history, we tend to believe that, had we been there, we would have been the good ones, the Schindlers… But the truth is that the great totalitarian regimes of the 20th century—and those that still persist today—were often born and thrived with the support of the majority, who endorsed them and enabled their worst atrocities, almost always for personal gain.
It was for personal gain that scientists, philosophers, writers, and prominent intellectuals of the time (some of whom lived until relatively recently) signed in Italy the "Manifesto of Race" in 1938—an abominable intellectual justification for discrimination.
And it was, again, for personal gain that many, too many, followed horrific orders with indifference, hiding behind the excuse of obeying the law.
On this day, let us not forget that when pushed to the limit, each of us reveals who we truly are. Let us ask ourselves: Who are we? Who could we be? And what do we intend to do to be different?
Because after all we’re history.
And we make it everyday.
