International Holocaust Remembrance Day

And good morning to you, too! To explain why today matters:

In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated January 27 as an annual international day of commemoration to honor the victims of the Nazi era. This date marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. … The U.N. resolution rejects denial of the Holocaust, and condemns discrimination and violence based on religion or ethnicity.

This morning I heard a report on the radio that due to the economic crisis and lack of funds, Auschwitz, which is now an educational site, may have to close. That would be unfortunate.

Interestingly, on this day in 1973, the Vietnam peace pacts were signed. The New York Times‘ Flora Lewis wrote then:

The Vietnam cease-fire agreement was signed here today in eerie silence, without a word or a gesture to express the world’s relief that the years of war were officially ending.

The accord was effective at 7 P.M. Eastern standard time.

Secretary of State William P. Rogers wrote his name 62 times on the documents providing–after 12 years–a settlement of the longest, most divisive foreign war in America’s history.

I wonder what else happened on Jan. 27. We are but specks of dust.

liz | 10:26 AM | Uncategorized