13 September 2005
The pain and suffering of innocent people, regardless of their race, religion, ethnic origin or nation, deserves to be remembered. This proposal, however, demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of the Holocaust, and represents an attempt by committee members to politicize Holocaust Remembrance Day in Britian.
There is a inherent difference between the Holocaust, which was a unique occurance in the European and human civilization -- the systematic and intentional murder of millions of Jews with the goal of exterminating all memory of the Jewish people - and other murders that have been the consequence of wars or various ethnic conflicts. The proposal further illustrates the need for continuing, deepened Holocaust education in Britain.
We have learned that the Jewish Comminity in Britian has received firm assurances from the Home Office that Holocaust Remembrance Day is not going to be changed.
