Disgrace

[Robert HM]

This isn't an opinion, just a question, but why do we want to maintain a place where millions of people were slaughtered?

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

[Rod Paradise]

This isn't an opinion, just a question, but why do we want to maintain a place where millions of people were slaughtered?

So future generations don't forget that they were slaughtered, and that humans are capable of such acts.

From the world heritage citation.

The site is a key place of memory for the whole of humankind for the holocaust, racist policies and barbarism; it is a place of our collective memory of this dark chapter in the history of humanity, of transmission to younger generations and a sign of warning of the many threats and tragic consequences of extreme ideologies and denial of human dignity.

My only problem with that is that while Germany & their allies in WW2 are rightly made to remember their wrongs, all other such crimes, while not on the same scale, are quietly allowed to slip into history, and the lesson that any nation is capable of evil deeds is lost.

[gatso]

This isn't an opinion, just a question, but why do we want to maintain a place where millions of people were slaughtered?

it's a hard one to put into words although the quote kev posted has a good crack at it

once you've visited you get an insight into what evil humanity is capable of that you never had before, just reading about it doesn't do that in the same way

[TheChipPrince]

This isn't an opinion, just a question, but why do we want to maintain a place where millions of people were slaughtered?

it's a hard one to put into words although the quote kev posted has a good crack at it

once you've visited you get an insight into what evil humanity is capable of that you never had before, just reading about it doesn't do that in the same way

Similar to having a memorial at the World Trade Centre sight in some respects

[kinboshi]

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is there to serve the same purpose.  It's interesting to note that the Genbaku Dome is recognised on the World Heritage list, but China and the US both opposed it's entry: http://whc.unesco.org/archive/repco96x.htm#annex5

I haven't been to Auschwitz, but I expect that it's similarly haunting and appalling (in terms of what humans are capable of doing to other humans).

[Robert HM]

Just found this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/holocaust/

[GlasgowBandit]

Governments should spend on preventing future genocide rather than preserving old concentration camps imo

+ 1

[ScottMGee]

Every country across Europe, AND the USA should be contributing imo, Europes heritage and history should not just be medieval castles and roman ruins etc etc , the horrors of our history should be preserved to serve as a reminder of darker days.

Not entirely sure why people think that the USA or UK should be contributing, personally I think we spent enough in terms of human life (and money) fighting the germans at the time. I am sure we are still paying off debt from this war.

[Colchester Kev]

Every country across Europe, AND the USA should be contributing imo, Europes heritage and history should not just be medieval castles and roman ruins etc etc , the horrors of our history should be preserved to serve as a reminder of darker days.

Not entirely sure why people think that the USA or UK should be contributing, personally I think we spent enough in terms of human life (and money) fighting the germans at the time. I am sure we are still paying off debt from this war.

I typed out a long answer .... then i deleted it.

Im sure your question is a level.

[RED-DOG]

I typed out a long answer .... then i deleted it.

Lol! Me too.

[AndrewT]

I think ScottMGee's point is if it comes down to other countries needing to provide funding to keep Auschwitz from crumbling away, then countries which didn't sacrifice their people to stop the Nazis should probably be the first to open their wallets.

[Karabiner]

Surely the participants rather than the victims should be responsible for the upkeep as a stark reminder.

[LLevan]

Regardless of whether or not Aushwitz is preserved Israel already has its own memorial museum in Yad Vashem which will ensure that the memory of those who perished at the hands of the SS will live on forever. However I'm with Kev here and hope that funds can be found to ensure the actual site of the genocide is preserved to remind the world of the attrocities of the Nazis.

[Dingdell]

Question - Kev will know this as he's been. Is there a place to make donations when you've visited?

If not I wonder what the thought was behind them not wanting donations. Surely the best time to get funding for it's upkeep is from the people who have just visited as they will have been so affected by their visit.

[RED-DOG]

So ends Holocaust memorial day.