When the imams went to Auschwitz

christiefan915

Catalyst
It's rare that stories like this get reported here. Time to counter all the hate articles we read on a regular basis.

"We pay a great deal of attention to the actions of Muslim radicals, and when an extremist does something terrible, we always hear the complaints of those who want to hear more loudly from Muslim moderates. So, it’s important that everyone — Muslims, Jews, Christians and people who hold other beliefs — hear about an event that unfolded a few weeks ago at Auschwitz...

The imams came from the U.S., India, Indonesia, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. They toured the camp, listened to Holocaust survivors, Polish rescuers, and others. They saw the gas chambers used to kill, the ovens used to turn the dead to ashes, the display of shoes from thousands of children taken to their deaths...

That’s why it’s so significant that after the visit ended, the Muslim leaders issued a landmark statement. “We bear witness,” they said, “to the absolute horror and tragedy of the Holocaust, where millions upon millions of human souls perished, more than half of whom were people of the Jewish faith.” And they added, “it is unacceptable to deny this historical reality and [we] declare such denials or any justification of this tragedy as against the Islamic code of ethics.”

 
It's rare that stories like this get reported here. Time to counter all the hate articles we read on a regular basis.

"We pay a great deal of attention to the actions of Muslim radicals, and when an extremist does something terrible, we always hear the complaints of those who want to hear more loudly from Muslim moderates. So, it’s important that everyone — Muslims, Jews, Christians and people who hold other beliefs — hear about an event that unfolded a few weeks ago at Auschwitz...

The imams came from the U.S., India, Indonesia, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. They toured the camp, listened to Holocaust survivors, Polish rescuers, and others. They saw the gas chambers used to kill, the ovens used to turn the dead to ashes, the display of shoes from thousands of children taken to their deaths...

That’s why it’s so significant that after the visit ended, the Muslim leaders issued a landmark statement. “We bear witness,” they said, “to the absolute horror and tragedy of the Holocaust, where millions upon millions of human souls perished, more than half of whom were people of the Jewish faith.” And they added, “it is unacceptable to deny this historical reality and [we] declare such denials or any justification of this tragedy as against the Islamic code of ethics.”


I went to Auschwitz, or Oświęcim in Polish, once back in the '90s when I was working in Poland and managed to get a weekend off to go there from Warsawa. I went with an American guy who worked for US Sprint. Not exactly a fun day out but well worth doing all the same.
 
I went to Auschwitz, or Oświęcim in Polish, once back in the '90s when I was working in Poland and managed to get a weekend off to go there from Warsawa. I went with an American guy who worked for US Sprint. Not exactly a fun day out but well worth doing all the same.
I felt that way when I visited Ghettysburg. No where near the scale of Auschwitz to be sure but still, a great human tragedy. A friend of mine recently visited the Verdun battle field, including the Douaumont ossuary. I was completely stunned by the size and scale of the ossuary.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...-UfKGGcrCyAHlpoGQAQ&ved=0CDsQ9QEwBA&dur=10220
 
I felt that way when I visited Ghettysburg. No where near the scale of Auschwitz to be sure but still, a great human tragedy. A friend of mine recently visited the Verdun battle field, including the Douaumont ossuary. I was completely stunned by the size and scale of the ossuary.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...-UfKGGcrCyAHlpoGQAQ&ved=0CDsQ9QEwBA&dur=10220

Several years ago I decided to go and see all the Normandy beaches with the family, we started at the Pegasus Bridge followed by Ouistreham, Arromanche, Vierville, Pont de Hoc and on to Cherbourg. Incredibly fascinating, I recommend it to anyone with an interest in history.

http://images.france-for-visitors.com/images/large/invasion-beaches-france-map.jpg
 
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Several years ago I decided to go and see all the Normandy beaches with the family, we started at the Pegasus Bridge followed by Ouistreham, Arromanche, Vierville, Pont de Hoc and on to Cherbourg. Incredibly fascinating, I recommend it to anyone with an interest in history.

http://images.france-for-visitors.com/images/large/invasion-beaches-france-map.jpg
I'd love to do that. I'd like to also travel the country and visit the Civil War battle sites. I've been to Ghettysburg, Antietam and Shiloh so far.
 
It's rare that stories like this get reported here. Time to counter all the hate articles we read on a regular basis.

"We pay a great deal of attention to the actions of Muslim radicals, and when an extremist does something terrible, we always hear the complaints of those who want to hear more loudly from Muslim moderates. So, it’s important that everyone — Muslims, Jews, Christians and people who hold other beliefs — hear about an event that unfolded a few weeks ago at Auschwitz...

The imams came from the U.S., India, Indonesia, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. They toured the camp, listened to Holocaust survivors, Polish rescuers, and others. They saw the gas chambers used to kill, the ovens used to turn the dead to ashes, the display of shoes from thousands of children taken to their deaths...

That’s why it’s so significant that after the visit ended, the Muslim leaders issued a landmark statement. “We bear witness,” they said, “to the absolute horror and tragedy of the Holocaust, where millions upon millions of human souls perished, more than half of whom were people of the Jewish faith.” And they added, “it is unacceptable to deny this historical reality and [we] declare such denials or any justification of this tragedy as against the Islamic code of ethics.”


fortunately, not everyone is filled with hate. still, there are those that feel that the death camps were not successful enough and would see their return. i am thankful that their numbers shrink with each generation. also, remember that the death camps did not just kill Jews, but anyone that the Nazis disapproved of.

and do not forget Stalin who sought to 'purify' Russian political thought.
 
I went to Auschwitz, or Oświęcim in Polish, once back in the '90s when I was working in Poland and managed to get a weekend off to go there from Warsawa. I went with an American guy who worked for US Sprint. Not exactly a fun day out but well worth doing all the same.

I really want to go there. It's on my bucket list. Back in the '80s there was a traveling exhibit from Auschwitz that I saw, and it was heart-breaking, not just the pictures but the piles of shoes, clothing, etc.
 
I really want to go there. It's on my bucket list. Back in the '80s there was a traveling exhibit from Auschwitz that I saw, and it was heart-breaking, not just the pictures but the piles of shoes, clothing, etc.

my exwife is Jewish and she lost all of her family that was still living in Europe during WWII. the only survivors were those that emigrated from Europe to the u s.

fyi, there is a holocaust museum in los angeles if you are ever there. yes, the exhibits are heartbreaking and horrifying. however, the Jews were not the only victims of the death camps.

thank you for being brave enough to see the exhibit.
 
my exwife is Jewish and she lost all of her family that was still living in Europe during WWII. the only survivors were those that emigrated from Europe to the u s.

fyi, there is a holocaust museum in los angeles if you are ever there. yes, the exhibits are heartbreaking and horrifying. however, the Jews were not the only victims of the death camps.

thank you for being brave enough to see the exhibit.

That's so incredibly sad. I wonder how people are able to go on after living through such a catastrophe.

My family are charter members of the Holocaust Museum in D.C. and we're hoping to visit this summer.
 
That's so incredibly sad. I wonder how people are able to go on after living through such a catastrophe.

My family are charter members of the Holocaust Museum in D.C. and we're hoping to visit this summer.

just a suggestion. do not go alone. go with friends and/or family.
 
You didn't see the photos in my link, did you? ;)

No, did it show them? If you look at the pic of the building I posted you can see the slotted vents around the bottom of the building. That's where the bones are. They're still finding bodies. Oh, the crosses go on forever.
 
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