23 April, 2009

Last day at TL Hanna/Yom Hashoah

This morning was the last day I had at TL Hanna. It has been a terrific experience there and has definitely given me confidence and experience for my job in Guatemala.

Tuesday was the Jewish holiday of Yom Hashoah. It is a day of reflection and remembrance of those who had fallen victim to the Holocaust. Unfortunately, there have been many instances of Genocide since the Holocaust, including one such instance in Guatemala.

200,000 Guatemalans were ruthlessly murdered from 1980-1982 and even today, Guatemala remains a violent nation. The ruling party in Guatemala attempted to further their political control of the nation and did so by murdering "Indians" and those of mixed "Indian" race, most of whom supported a rival political faction. Those who are guilty of these crimes have never been brought to justice and from the looks of it, never will.

It's important to remember when we say "Never Forget," that we must not only never forget those who perished in the Shoah. But also, those who have perished in other cases of Genocide, that are all too easily forgotten.

Love,

Marc

Disclaimer: The contents of this blog are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.