Holocaust Memorial Day UK.

As we in the UK reflect on the awful events that took place at Auschwitz, Treblinka, etc, have we forgotten about past and present holocausts? Let us make no bones what happened back then was vile. It's one thing to hate or dislike a group of people but when you extend it to a mass genocide that's another level. The holocaust undertaken by the Nazi regime to destroy a whole community of people based on their faith and ethnicity has to be the most memorable and arguably the worst genocide ever. When you systematically, machinelike, exterminate fellow human beings in the most ghastly manner possible you are beyond redemption (in many people's eyes).

6 million European Jews went up in a puff of smoke. Others paid the price in these death camps homosexuals, communists, anti-Nazis, gypsies, etc. These people were considered "Untermenschen" or "Subhuman", therefore, they were expendable. They did not fit what a European should look like or act like according to Nazi ideology. We remember the Jewish people in particular as they were the biggest victims of this foul enterprise. That's not to forget all the other victims of the Nazi regime though.

If you were half or a quarter Jewish you might be safe. You could serve in the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, or Kriegsmarine. Some Jews managed to hide their Jewish identity and serve in the German armed forces. Those who survived the camps or served in the German war machine were the lucky ones. These survivors always say "Never forget what happened" and- that is true. We should never forget what happened back then and yes my friends, it could happen again.

Look at the rise of the far-right in Europe once more. Reform in the UK, AFD in Germany, National Rally in France, and The Brothers of Italy in Italy. Even the coming to power of Trump 2.0 has some people concerned.

One can understand people voting for these parties when they feel they are not listened to. Many of these voters are not necessarily racist or hateful it is just they see their country with unfettered immigration some of it illegally, changing. They have legitimate concerns but if the government of the day does not address these issues people will turn to these parties. At the same time, one must guard against policies that could lead to things like the holocaust. Woke culture has led to the rise of extremist parties. Wokeism which is an extremity itself has led to all of the above so-called right-wing parties doing well.

Let us not forget a holocaust of this type has happened in recent European history. Serbian nationalists under Slobodan Milosevic exterminated hundreds of Muslims in camps in the Balkans. NATO fought Serbia and defeated it. Serb war criminals were brought to book in The Hague. Slobodan was brought to face trial but he did the court a favour by committing suicide. Serbian nationalism today, however, remains a clear and present danger.

We cannot forget what Imperial Japan did either, what Stalin, Mao, and other past and present dictators have done. All of the European empires have committed genocides too. The US nearly wiped out its Native American population but thankfully they are on the increase again. Then there was the international slave trade of Africans. Slavery today is an issue in one form or another. We cannot forget the terrible holocaust of Armenians at the hands of the Turks. The treatment of Kurds by Middle Eastern regimes too. Or the evil works of African dictators. Even what Israel has done to Palestinians over 75 years of expansion. Also, China's actions against Uighurs, Hong Kongers, and Tibetans. Russia's war in Ukraine either.

Sadly, Israel has echoed the atrocities of their Nazi persecutors. Look at what is happening in the West Bank and lately in the war with Hamas in Gaza. 50,000 Palestinians lie dead with thousands wounded or maimed for life. That's not to say Israelis haven't suffered, especially after the October 7 attacks. However, Israel's response in reducing Gaza to rubble isn't correct either.

Of all people, the Jews should see another suffering group the Palestinians and understand their plight. Sadly, with far-right elements in Netanyahu's government Israel has been acting like those who persecuted them. The saying goes that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it and sadly, this is the case with Israel.