Tản mạn: OVERCOME THE "NIGHTMARES"

(Writing on the 81st Anniversary of the Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony)

    In the past, I often thought that reflecting on the “nightmares” that have followed people at every stage of life means being reminded of the burdens and fears that shape us as we grow. Yet, during the 81st Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony, one theme resonated with me most deeply: the enduring resilience of survivors and the transformative power of compassion in the face of unimaginable suffering.

     As a young Asian person, the events of the Holocaust once felt distant and almost unimaginable. My knowledge was limited to the infamous figure of Hitler and the staggering atrocity—the murder of six million Jews and millions of others, including 1.5 million children. With only these facts, my response was a reflexive, “It’s terrible!”—an expression of horror tinged with a vague call for compassion. Yet, everything changed when I listened directly to the voices of survivors. Their stories brought the past to life, revealing not only the pain of history but also the steadfast perseverance that enabled them to endure.

    I often ask myself: if we were in their place, what would we do? Hearing their testimonies moved me to tears—not out of pity, but out of deep respect for their resilience and the powerful message they carry: “I must live!” The ceremony featured both survivors and a daughter of survivors. What struck me most was their honest sharing, free from bitterness or resentment, even toward those who persecuted them. One daughter, for example, expressed profound gratitude to everyone who helped her parents survive, acknowledging the risk these helpers took, often at the cost of their own safety. She spoke of miracles and the privilege she feels in continuing to bear witness to her parents’ story.

    Another speaker, a woman who, as a five-year-old, escaped with her aunt, recounted her journey through hardship: time in an orphanage, emigration to Canada, and eventually building a family of her own. Both women echoed a single, resounding message: “We lived thanks to the help of others, so we must continue to share that love and teach the next generations this spirit of humanity.”

    While some might expect survivors to lose faith or struggle with their identity, what I witnessed was the opposite. They stand as living witnesses of faith—balancing the weight of the past, the reality of the present, and the hope for the future. Although they carry profound sorrow, they also embody the conviction that history must never repeat itself. Their focus is on building a bright future for all generations, promoting humanity, justice, and charity. Most remarkably, they have transformed deep-seated pain into a boundless love for others—a testament to the possibility of healing and hope.

    This spirit reminds me of the message of St. Francis of Assisi in his prayer:

"Lord, make me a channel of thy peace,

that where there is hatred, I may bring love;

that where there is wrong,

 I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;

that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;

that where there is error, I may bring truth;

that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;

that where there is despair, I may bring hope;

that where there are shadows, I may bring light;

that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to 

comfort than to be comforted;

to understand, than to be understood;

to love, than to be loved.

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.

It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life."

Author: Little Stream

Photo: Moon