SABBATH IN PRISON OR A WORD ABOUT TOLERANCE

In the German extermination camp, Aushwitz, behind the gate with the sneering inscription "Arbeit Macht Frei" functioned a gigantic factory of death. Slowly, systematically, with German precision and inhuman cruelty, an unfeeling killing machine took out life of 1.5 million people, mainly Polish and Jews, over almost five years.

Even now, 60 years after this crime, it is difficult to find adequate words to describe the suffering, pain and humiliation of victims. This barbaric crime will for ever remain a part of German history; it was an unprecedented flouting of all civilised standards. It had its roots in a lack of tolerance and inordinate national pride.

Remembering the victims of Nazism we must never allow the helI of Auschwitz to repeat itself. From their earliest years children should be taught the principle of respecting others and tolerating their attitudes, always within the limits of the law.

A Pole or a Jew, white or black, rich or poor, handicapped, educated or not,  is always a man. An important element in developing mutual understanding is learning about the culture of other nations. Understanding the behaviour of others, caused by their national, cultural, religious, tribal or caste status, allows us to look at another man not as a deviant, but as an equal member of an international society.

 Widespread migration has recently caused the mixing of societies and cultures. Unfortunately there still exist stereotypes, strengthened by ignorance, which result in clashes and conflicts on nationalistic background.

Racial hatred should be fought, we should propagate friendship among people with all our strength, so another Auschwitz - a synonym for extermination - will never come into being. So no representative of the human race will ever stand with his eyes fulI of shame and tears and say that "people prepared this fate for other people". Barbed wire, barracks, death wall - Auschwitz camp and all camps - must be subject to particular protection because they are monuments reminding generations the about crimes of World War II, they are a warning that an educated, tolerant and open society is not given to us for ever. We, through our attitude to others, must give proof that we deserve to be designated as civilised human beings.

                                                                                      Peter Ch.

                                                                             (Rzeszow, Poland)