Yes, indeed, I am not looking forward to next week. It will be the 75th anniversary of the capture of Auschwitz, forever a bleak symbol of 'Man's inhumanity to Man'. It will, of course and quite properly, be the subject of 'meeja' attention but I will have to grit my teeth to take it on. Not that it is the worst example of inhumanity, history abounds with them. Even so, there is something utterly and completely revolting in the sight of men - and women! - herding other men and women and children into gas chambers to complete an industrial-style elimination of them. Each time I catch a glimpse of old photos showing the inmates of Auschwitz with their stoical faces pressed against the wire I feel . . . well, actually, I can't quite summarise my feelings . . . a sort of mixture of rage and pity and impotence.
Not a good week to look forward to!
Hardly comparable, I know, but you can take heart from the big step towards national freedom that we will take next Friday.
Posted by: Whyaxye | Saturday, 25 January 2020 at 18:47
Can't wait, 'W', and the champagne is already in the fridge!
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 25 January 2020 at 19:14
It was 75 years ago, and the Germans did it, not the Brits. Meanwhile the crimes of the Japanese - against our people - seem to be memoryholed these days - 'Tenko' was decades ago.
When I was studying history in 1970 I'm pretty sure the Guardian and BBC weren't hammering the lessons of Gordon's death, Islamist insurgence and the Mad Mahdi at me every hour or so.
Posted by: Hugh Mann | Monday, 27 January 2020 at 15:05