Be The Light In The Darkness

“To save one is to save the world,”

– The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris

Posting on Holocaust Memorial Day is not a new experience for me. I have been posting on this day for many years, (though I have deleted most of my past posts). Last years the theme was #StandTogether. My post focused on fractured groups in society and the importance of standing together as one, not allowing differences to divide us. Since, that post it is obvious to state that life has changed quite a bit for a lot of us. Due to COVID-19, restrictions have been forced upon us by Governments, in an attempt to save lives. Every night statistics are thrown at us, how many cases, how many have died and most recently how many have had the vaccinations. Life at the moment is difficult for everyone. The scale of loss, not just deaths, but of liberties is weighing hard upon many. So, how can we live up to this years HMD theme and Be The Light In The Darkness.

Bringing Tomorrow in Sight

I could write a whole post on my feelings concerning the Holocaust or genocide. I could even expand on to how I feel about those today who feel marginalised by society. There is one problem though, it will be how ‘I’ feel… me!! My thoughts and opinions even though I like to air them every so often, are not really that important and don’t make that much difference. BE THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS – this years HMD theme, is a call for action not words.

To be the light, we first need to understand what the dark could be? The dark is: prejudice, misinformation, injustice, persecution, lies etc… based towards an individual, community, organisation, ethnic group etc…

How can we be the light? Though it would be impossible for one person to right all the wrongs in the world, there are small actions that we can take to help make the world a nicer place. One of those actions would be not to share anything on Social Media that could be considered, racist or offensive (no matter how funny you consider it to be). On a different but not completely unrelated topic, don’t share fake news. Conspiracy Theories are rampant at the moment, not just concerning COVID-19 or vaccinations but aliens, faked deaths and the lockness monster are all having a ‘hayday’ at the moment. Before sharing anything remember to THINK: Is it true? Helpful? Inspiring? Necessary? Kind?

By using the acronym THINK before we post, share or comment we can contribute to being the light in a darkness.

Holocaust Memorial Day encourages everyone around the globe to remember the atrocities of the past. From those forced from their lives into Death Camps during World War 2 under Nazi Persecution to more recently the genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. It is important that words and actions that encourage hatred or prejudice are stamped out by us all.

REMEMBER TO THINK & BE THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Take care and stay safe x