| The Holocaust and Jehovah's Witnesses |
| Written by John Scott | |
| Thursday, 31 December 2009 | |
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While most are aware that Jews were persecuted and were killed and persecuted by the Nazis, not all are familiar with the fact that there were significant other groups who were also persecuted by the Nazis. When visiting the Dachau concentration camp, the unforgettable image of one Gypsy young man standing at attention with their faces straight ahead in the daily line up, is forever inscribed in the recesses of my mind.
While most are aware that Jews were persecuted and were killed and persecuted by the Nazis, not all are familiar with the fact that there were significant other groups who were also persecuted by the Nazis. When visiting the Dachau concentration camp, the unforgettable image of one Gypsy young man standing at attention with their faces straight ahead in the daily line up, is forever inscribed in the recesses of my mind. Standing in that very spot, some 60 years later is something that one can never forget, and visiting the concentration camps at least once in one's lifetime irrespective of one's religion or background. This is especially true in view of the fact that history, in some respects, has repeated itself in Cambodia, with Duch (pronounced doik), one of the notorious camp commandants during the 1970s, his trial recently completed, and waiting a few weeks. There have been of course, other places on the earth since the 1930s and 40s where specific ethic or social groups have been targeted. This comment recently made from the Midwest Center for Holocaust Studies this thought, "While in Auschwitz I, we were able to tour the museum that is housed in the barracks. I was reminded of the horrors that were experienced by not only Jews, but homosexuals, Poles, Jehovah's Witnesses and prisoners of war. Walking through buildings that house various artifacts, recovered after liberation, I learned just how personal the events of the Holocaust are and how they impact us each differently, depending on our personal experiences. Having a five-year-old daughter, I found it extremely hard to view the suitcases, dolls, spoons, and shoes from children." Midwest Center for Holocaust Studies, Education Educator's Forum. In certain public schools in N.J., the subject of the Holocaust is given attention by grade school teachers every year. In today's children's culture, that is, a culture of silly and irreverent movies and TV shows, a sobering remembrance of what violence really means can be of value to children, and help them to appreciate the as well as the precariousness of freedom. In the case of Jehovah's Witnesses had been persecuted, not for who they were in terms of national origin, but because they refused be a part of Hitler's party, salute the national flag, or be any part of Hitler's war machine. The Witnesses could leave the camps, simply by signing a paper renouncing their faith, but very few did so, rather, they lost their lives or suffered alongside the Jews in the camps, but at the same time, didn't hate their persecutors, but instead to pray for them, as Jesus encouraged his followers, or witnessed to them, and their fellow non-Witness captives, about the wonderful hope of God's kingdom. Hope can sustain us through life's most onerous trials. The Article Author: This was written by John Scott, who is also one of Jehovah's Witnesses. US Holocaut Museum pages on Jehovah's Witnesses: Holocaust Teacher Resource Center and Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs page. (official site). |
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