Nicola Sturgeon: Rising antisemitism risks a return to Auschwitz

[Behind the Aegis]

The Holocaust did not begin in Nazi concentration camps but when ordinary people started turning a blind eye to what was happening and so, with antisemitism once again rearing its head, it is incumbent on all of us to challenge hatred and division wherever we find it, writes First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

---snip---

Sadly, we live in a world today where antisemitism has reared its head again and in which racism, prejudice, intolerance and hatred of all kinds are all too present. This has most recently been seen in the tragic events at a Pittsburgh synagogue last week.

While the Holocaust was perpetrated by the Nazi regime, it was facilitated by thousands of ordinary people who went along with what was happening and perhaps turned a blind eye. Of course, the Holocaust didn’t start in Auschwitz – it started in the everyday antisemitism and discrimination which was allowed to flourish at the time. What happened under the Nazis, and in the recent events in Pittsburgh, are at the end of a spectrum which begins with allowing racism, prejudice and hatred to spread in society.

One of the most important lessons I took from the visit is that we should not be a bystander in our everyday lives – and not turn a blind eye – to prejudice, discrimination, bigotry and racism. It is incumbent on all of us to think about what we can do to confront and challenge hatred and division wherever we find it.

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[OnDoutside]

1. 100% agree, these racists need to be hammered back down into

the sewers from whence they came. I think we have all sleepwalked to this point, where populist regimes are gaining a foothold around the world, blaming minorities to suit their own ends. November the 6th has to be the turning point, not just for America but as the leader of the free world, the rest of the world wll be put on notice that they need to stand up against tyranny too.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

2. do not empower insane narcissists

Twitler is a joke, until he isn't. Scapegoating is one step along the path to 'cleansing'.

[calimary]

3. THIS.

"One of the most important lessons I took from the visit is that we should not be a bystander in our everyday lives – and not turn a blind eye – to prejudice, discrimination, bigotry and racism. It is incumbent on all of us to think about what we can do to confront and challenge hatred and division wherever we find it."

AND

"That is why programmes like the Lessons from Auschwitz are so important – they show in horrifying detail what can happen when hatred and intolerance go unchecked."

(Emphasis mine)

[demmiblue]

4. K&R

[The Blue Flower]

5. Depriving Native American voting rights in ND via a ridiculous new rule is a perfect example

Under the Third Reich, it was the systematic, incremental withdrawal of civil rights that succeeded in excluding Jews from all of civil society.