“The United States strongly encourages other nations who have not already done so to follow suit and to contribute to the Auschwitz-Birkenau fund to preserve the site for future generations.” Clinton made the announcement at the museum for the World War II–era factory of Oskar Schindler, the German entrepreneur who saved hundreds of Jewish factory workers from the Holocaust and on whom the movie “Schindler’s List” is based. In a separate press release of Clinton’s comments, she said, “Our contribution will help preserve the camp so that future generations can see for themselves why the world must never again allow a place of such hatred to scar the soul of humankind.” She expressed appreciation for the members of Congress that have been supportive of the funding initiative, saying, “I look forward to working with them to secure this funding.”
The State Department said that in 2009 alone more than 1.3 million people from across the globe visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum and memorial. The press release said the American funding announcement “illustrates the significance of the Auschwitz-Birkenau site, helps commemorate the 1.1 million victims who perished there and demonstrates America’s commitment to Holocaust education, remembrance and research.”
“The preservation and continuation of Auschwitz-Birkenau is essential so that future generations can visit and understand how the world can never again allow a place of such hatred and persecution to exist,” said the press release. “It is also an important educational tool to show those who doubt that the Holocaust ever existed that indeed, tragically, it did.”
The State Department noted the appropriateness of the Schindler factory for the announcement, while Clinton pointed to the lessons drawn from the famous site. Said Clinton, “The history we see here is a reminder that there is an alternative to inaction, a reminder that when we learn of crimes that cry out against our conscience we cannot stand by in quiet revulsion, hoping the world will fix itself. We must follow the example of the righteous among the nations. And the way best to honor their memory is by acting as they would have us to act.”
Posted on July 8, 2010
Source: (By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, July 5, 2010)
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