Tilly is now pointed in a generally westward direction, signifying the half way point in our expedition. We're moving from Katowice to Srebrna Gora (both in Poland) today, which is near the ancestral stomping grounds
of the Weigel side off the family.
We visited Auschwitz yesterday. It was somber and words really can't describe it. It was huge and dreary and hot. There was a lot of information about the horrible things that happened there, but there was also a lot of information about the resistance and the people who found ways to do good in the midst of horrific evil. We were all very glad our families had moved from here prior to World War 2. Had they not, some of our families would likely have been killed in that very place, simply because of their last name. Some could have been conscripted to fight for the Axis powers. Any that survived would have been dramatically changed forever.
It was all a powerful reminder that we can never let ourselves fall into the trap of judging people based on race, religion, occupation, or anything else. Each of us sees it everyday, and yet we often just let it pass. We should not. Every person deserves to be treated as a human being and judged based on their own actions, not based on our assumptions of who and what they are. The world should never again create scenes where slightly freigtened looking children are holding hands while being walked to their slaughter. Never. Ever.
And with that, we continue our trek west, grateful for the men and women who gave their lives to rid the world of such evil 70 years ago, and thankful for the ones who fought and lived.
No comments:
Post a Comment