Prove that “Never Again” has real meaning
May 17th, 2022 Letter #10
A week ago, most of the world celebrated light's victory over darkness in 1945. Some fifty million people died during the six-year war. The universal lesson learned and commitment made by almost everyone on this planet is summarised by two words, NEVER AGAIN. We all know what they mean in terms of the Holocaust. Today, in Ukraine, those words have taken on a new meaning. President Zelensky explains:
I also wanted to restate my plea related to Never Again that I shared with many of you already on March 6th, in my first letter.
March 6, 2022, Letter #1
My dear friends,
As you already know or have surmised, the events of the past eleven days have had a life-changing impact on me. If they haven't had the same effect on you, I am certain you all feel the war in Ukraine is something you wish you could do something about.
As I quell my emotions, I become increasingly committed to doing everything in my power to make a difference and be on the right side of history.
I see these events and times akin to 1936, '48, '67, and '73. The events that made these years relevant in the reels of history are repeating themselves. The threat to Ukraine is existential. If we again let the enemy succeed, as we have in 1936 to 1941, we become complicit not only in the genocide of the Ukrainian people but all genocides—genocides of the past, present, and future.
Many recipients of this email are Jews with roots in Ukraine, and I know too well the meaning of the words "Never Again."
I lost a grandfather in the Holocaust. I refuse to accept that the words Never Again have a statute of limitations of some 77 years or apply to Jews only. If they do, those words just become hollow and empty slogans.
Sam Rozenberg
Glory to Ukraine.