City - A.K.A. AUSCHWITZ State - CITY OF OSWIECIM Country - Poland
About
Worldwide, this has got to be the darkest of dark places of the 20th Century. The Entrance to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Above the gate is a sign that reads "Work Will Set You Free" - a sick joke in the sickest of all places. Not only were 8 million people murdered here (6 million Jews / 2 Million Slavs, Gypsies, Gays, Handicapped People , and Political Dissidents) but many medical experiments were performed on the prisoners too disgusting to mention here. Everybody needs to visit this place and see the giant rooms full of shoes, travel bags, human hair. This place will turn your stomach for sure. But it will also open your eyes to what power does to people. Don't think this is all in the past because there's plenty of sick people with power walking around today and they don't have little square black mustaches under their nose but they lie, steal, cheat, destroy, and kill just the same. Human nature stays constant, it doesn't change - don't fall for the Propaganda. Open your eyes and think For Yourself.
In Memory of the Famous Nazi Hunter Simon Wiesenthal who died on the 20th of September, 2005, at the age of 96. A Concentration camp survivor who in his life time brought more than 1,100 Nazi War criminals to justice. How he stayed sane I'll never know but he beat them all.. May he Rest in Peace.
> I am still smiling but my heart is turning pale > and I am becoming more and more pessimist!
I would not call that pessimism so much as an empirical observation.
Yes, it is all so immensely horrible, unthinkable... Often I wonder what is worse: the fact that all the killing and suffering and destruction (and the associated lies) are happening - or the fact that so many people pretend to themselves that it is not happening. (as commented on above)
When we look back to 1930s Germany, the question is often asked: how on earth could people not have realised what was going on - why did they let it all happen? (ok, that's two questions rolled into one...)
The same will be said of our generation: why did they not realise?
For anyone who was ever in doubt, all they need to do is open their eyes and the answer is there. Staring you in the face.
A new world war has already started and most people are still desperate to pretend that it is not happening. As long as they are not directly affected, it is actually quite easy to deny it.
So many huge crimes are allowed to pass... unstopped, unpunished. And it all just gets worse.
I read this the other day:
"Do what you think is right, and don't worry about the consequences. Soon you will learn that actions you can take actually change the future."
Bili, be sure to visit Germany before it is laid to waste by insanity and an abundance of lies, and all of Europe is totally flattened (and while the weather is still nice)!
""How he stayed sane I'll never know but he beat them all..""...very powerful tribute to a man who never, never gave up trying to right the wrongs....powerful and insightful, as usual!!
hi, thanks for posting this tribute image to a most remarkable man...i read about his death the other day and was surprised he lived to be 96! Yes,he did "beat them all"...another archival image in your vast collection,Mark.....nicely composed...regards,gayle
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B:)liana {K:30945} 9/24/2005
Oh, dear Paul R. you are so right, and I dont know what WE, few, can DO, as the MAJORITY is kinda BLIND!?!?!?
Uf.. I am so scarred sometimes to live on this Planet Earth!! Hope one day, one day, we are all going to be more Human :)
I am still smiling but my heart is turning pale and I am becoming more and more pessimist!
Biliana
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B:)liana {K:30945} 9/24/2005
Dear Paul, I dont think that NOW, TODAY, is anymore the question - what makes an American, or Nazi ... but the main question is - at least for me - WHAT MAKES A "HUMAN BEING" HUMAN !?!?! or what is Man Kind? is that some Race thesedays??? Where the Humanity went? or How come Most of People are UnHuman ?!?! Uf.. what ever, this WORLD is going Crazy!!
This images causes me to pose a question and a corollary: -What makes a good Nazi? Is it someone who stands up against wrong, or just 'goes along to get along'?
-What makes a good American? Is it someone who speaks out against injustice and abuse of power, or someone who believes patriotisim uber alles, and what they are told by their government?
> I dont know what is happening with our World, but it seems > that everything is upside down and even worst than before and > I am more and more sad!
Ohhh, Bili, everything is upside down, yes, good people are all too easily maligned as bad, and rotten people have convinced millions that they are paragons of good. When you go around saying things like killing is a bad thing (unless in a sanctioned, non-consequential way), you get spat on, ridiculed, threatened... When people run scared when you contradict the comforting lies that they repeat and repeat and repeat in their panic attempts to not acknowledge the nightmare horrors creeping ever nearer... When you have laws that make it illegal to point out what is exceedingly obvious...
What we look for in others is what we need to see in ourselves...
A great tribute to a great man, Mark! It's amazing to me how little was made of his passing. These are scary times, alright - I've never seen a time when so many people are so easily and willingly misled, but rather just drone back the propaganda, even when there are facts and evidence right in front of their eyes that expose the lies! Maybe it's best that Mr. Wiesenthal doesn't have to see any more of what's happening - he saw more than one man should have to see. The photo is wonderfully stark and old looking - the harsh contrast perfect for the harshness of the place. Well done!
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B:)liana {K:30945} 9/23/2005
Thank you Michael for your comment and words!
I dont know what is happening with our World, but it seems that everything is upside down and even worst than before and I am more and more sad!
Just a quick reply to your comment to Mark - you not only have a great talent for photography but you also have a great heart. The world needs more people like you.
There seems to be things in the world that most people want to forget. But when that happens people tend to repeat the same horrific acts. I have never been there but the images I have seen will be ones that I will never forget. Thank you for reminding us of our "human" nature.
Michael
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B:)liana {K:30945} 9/23/2005
wow. wow. this is so spooky and sad dear Markoni :( uf.. I never saw it like that. Thank you for sharing my friend! Biliana
P.S. but as you see, it seems that nobody cares actually :( Maybe if you had put a nude woman, maybe they would care :(
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