September 30th, 2024
I think memorial museums such as these are important for people to go to at least once in their lifetimes to learn and reflect. Without these museums I do not think that society would understand the gravity of situations that these groups of people had to go through. Of course in high school you learn about the Holocust but having the actual exhibits and artifacts in front of you makes you have more respect, even if it didn’t directly effect you. Another way this can change society would be for the purposes of confronting anti-semitism and genocide. Today, there are a lot of jokes that the young generations are viewing created by media shows like Southpark and Saturday Night Live, even though they are satirical, are exposing teens/young adults to comedy bits that aren’t funny. While I will admit these shows do have their moments, I do think that the writers get carried away with the stereotyping jokes and name calling behaviors. I know that my generation (geteration z) specifically has watched the shows by themselves or with older members of their family that have taught these behaviors or phrases to be okay, which that is infact not the case. After people who have either made these jokes or deemed such attitudes acceptable see all the people who have died because of religion, race, or sexuality or maybe even died trying to stop the cause will make them avoid using derrogatory terms instead of excusing it by saying “It’s okay it’s just a joke.” By avoiding these phrases, words, or mindsets all together, we are helping society learn from their past rather than repeat it. While some poeple could say the Holocaust Memorial Museum is about the past so it does not effect them, it is sayings like these that will make the past repeat itself. Across the world we are seeing genocide of people based on things that they cannot control or that they shouldn’t have to hide, whether that be your race, gender, sexuality, or religion. This museum specifically speaks out and has exhibits against genocide and anti-semitism to avoid such behaviors for continuing. It is of importance we go to museums or at least educate ourselves on these uncomfortable topics so we understand the gravity of these situations and to stop history from becoming the present.