The late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” As the leader of one of America’s closest allies who fought against the Nazis just three generations ago, his words are a powerful reminder that even the darkest stories in our history books are at risk of repeating themselves if we fail to heed their lessons. This month is a great opportunity to do just that as we mark the 81st anniversary of the liberation of the largest Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, on Jan. 27, what we now call “International Holocaust Remembrance Day.”
Some moments in history are difficult to reflect on, but as we look ahead to the future that we hope to build for the next generation, the past can serve as a guidepost of what we should seek to emulate – and what to never forget. Just over eight decades ago, thousands of Jewish prisoners were freed from Nazi persecution by Allied soldiers, and International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a chance to honor them and the millions of victims who lost their lives during the Holocaust.
As stewards of the great American experiment, it is our duty to protect the principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution so our democracy will not crumble at the hands of those wishing to spread hate or oppress others. When the United States was established, freedom was of such great importance to our Founding Fathers that it was enshrined in our First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Freedom of religion is embedded so deeply in our way of life, we sometimes take it for granted. The Holocaust stands as a reminder that there are – to this day – those who would seek to deny their fellow countrymen these freedoms and thus, their very humanity…