Share, respect and remember

Jan. 27, Holocaust Memorial Day, is both the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland and the 20th anniversary of the Bosnian Genocide.

Because of the radical prejudices that resulted in the Holocaust, the world lost 11 million people through systematic persecution and mass murder. Out of these, there were 6 million Jews. Other victims included Jehovah's Witnesses, homosexuals, the disabled, political opponents, gypsies and common criminals. Each group has a story of persecution and each individual has their own experience of inhumane treatment.

We must remember that many factors that allowed the Holocaust to occur are, sadly, still present in today's world, including social, political and racial hatred. As a whole, we must be conscious of this and remember the atrocities that can stem from radical prejudice in order to prevent even more subsequent genocidal acts. Awareness of the Holocaust, as well as the many other genocides, brings the realization that it is necessary to question authority and to not act as a mere bystander. This fact needs to be remembered, as does the scar from the Holocaust that has been left on humanity.

It is imperative that we keep this memory alive for future generations to learn from. After 70 years, the number of Holocaust survivors is waning. It is our duty to retell their stories and learn from the past in order to create a safer, more tolerant future.

Remembering why the Holocaust happened is not all that this day is about. It is also about honoring the victims, survivors, resistors and rescuers. Resistors and rescuers risked their lives, and the lives of their families, in order to save other humans. Keeping their memory alive, as well as the memory of the victims and survivors, is essential.

On Holocaust Memorial Day, it is important that we remember the victims of genocide, share stories of survivors and pay our respects to the liberators. Any day, but especially this day, we can remember and spread awareness: share a story of a survivor, attend a Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony or simply light six candles in remembrance of the Holocaust, other groups persecuted by the Nazis and the genocides of Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur, and Cambodia.

Humankind, as a whole, needs to remember these horrific events to prevent these types of atrocities from occurring again.

' Madeline Trachta is a Master's student of Holocaust Studies at Royal Holloway, University of London. Comments: madelinetrachta@gmail.com