We must never forget...

I will never fully understand or be able to comprehend the Jewish Holocaust. In trying to learn more, I visited the Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin. I had no idea what this memorial would be or that it would affect me as it did. A few weeks early, I visited Dachau and had a hard time viewing the crematoriums. I went through the museum at Dachau and read the history. I have also visited the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles, but I was shocked at what I learned in this information center underground in Berlin.

I found the memorial itself to be extremely powerful. It was a very simple memorial in theory. 2,711 concrete slabs, each of a unique size, placed in rows to create pathways. The ground was left as it was and was not leveled, so while walking through a row you would go up and down at times. It was very solemn, eerie, and lonely walking among the concrete slabs. I don't really know how to explain it, it kind of just hits you.

The museum/information center is underneath the memorial, do to protests about the memorial not paying tribute to the jewish people. I didn't know what to expect. But I know that what I did experience, I was not expecting. The museum was dark, only the exhibit itself in each room was lit. Each room was different. It started off with a historical timeline. I decided to skip that since I'd just been to Dachau. Then I apparently went the opposite direction and did the museum backwards, though I'm glad I did, because my last room, which would have been my first, was extremely emotional and upsetting. We all know about the Holocaust and how 6 million Jewish people were murdered. But I still learned many things about these mass murders and the countries involved in the disaster. I had no idea there were 500 concentration camps all over Europe. I had no idea how many countries' citizens were persecuted. It was 'bigger' than I'd always pictured, if that's possible.

The last room, was that of last postcards and diary entries of the Holocaust victims. And those words I read, I don't think can ever be forgotten. Mothers writing to their children and children writing to their parents because they are scared about being burned alive. It brings tears to your eyes and a sickness in your heart and body.

I left the underground museum in tears and it took a while to get my composure back. And I was not myself the rest of the day. I am very thankful to have been able to visit this Memorial. I am glad that Peter Eisenman was finally able to build his memorial because as I read in the museum, "If we wish to live and to bequeath life to our offspring, if we believe that we are to pave the way to the future, then we must first of all not forget." _Yad Vashem

We must always learn from the past, so as not to repeat these tragedies. I hope you all help teach acceptance and respect to your children and remember that you must always speak up for injustices, no matter how small. I read a quote today that said, "Do not stand in the middle, go to the right or to the left."

These are memorials on the streets in front of buildings where someone who was killed in the Holocaust lived, worked, or studied.

The map displaying all of the concentration camps.

Another memorial in the city for the members of parliament who were killed in the Holocaust.