At the heart of marking the Holocaust lies a conundrum. On the one hand, genocides happen all over the world, from Cambodia to Darfur. Each life lost is an equal horror; there can be no hierarchy of death. On the other, the attempted liquidation of world Jewry during the second world war was an entirely specific atrocity. It was an expression of mankind’s oldest hatred by the most advanced civilisation on Earth, using the most sophisticated science, technology, logistics and propaganda at its disposal. It was unique. It was about the Jews.
Clearly, balance is required. But it seems in short supply. Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. My teenage children have been learning about it all week at their school, a comprehensive in Winchester. After several classes and an assembly on the subject, the main point my son brought home was this: ‘I never realised that Holocausts have happened all over the world and still happen today.’
Is it only the Jews who are expected to share the ownership of their history?
I couldn’t believe my ears.
