Bishop Rose at 'Moment of Reflection'
Bishop Rose took part in the Holocaust Memorial Day 'Moment of Reflection' at the Silver Birch, Peace Garden in Dane John Gardens, Canterbury today, and has shared the following message: "Today the world marks Holocaust Memorial Day. I am attending an event in Canterbury marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp.
"As survivors of the camp and their relatives gather, the endless theme must surely be to 'Remember.' It is imperative however, that we not only remember the horrors experienced by those forced into the concentration camps, the hard labour and the gas chambers, but that we remember how it all began.
"We must remember that from what some may have regarded as their right to free speech – how that so called free speech was used to 'other' certain groups of people and how before long, many began to join in. We must remember how those who were being othered, were seen as the reason why some people were no longer prospering; we must remember that some used it to spread political propaganda, and we must remember the collusion of silence by the many who did nothing, including a world who stood by failing to be ‘our brother’s keeper.’
Canon Andrew speaking at 'Moment of Reflection'
"Today, as we commit ourselves to remember, it must be with a renewed commitment, not to be silent when we see and hear of parts of humanity being ‘othered’; we must hold politicians to account when we hear them throwing out unhelpful rhetoric making sure they know that they are not speaking in our name.
"Today we must renew our commitment to stand together as one human race, sisters and brothers of all faiths and none. It is only by ‘becoming our sister’s and brother’s keeper’, that we will work for the good of all humanity and thus ensure that history does not keep repeating itself.
"Today, I remember!"
Group photo at the 'Moment of Reflection'
Also in attendance at the 'Moment of Reflection' were The Reverend Andrew Dodd, Canon Treasurer at Canterbury Cathedral, the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lieutenant Colonel Jane Carey-Harris TD DL VR, Leader of Canterbury City Council, Cllr Alan Baldock, Marie Royle, Director of People at Canterbury City Council, representatives of Canterbury and District Interfaith Action (CANDIFA), Canterbury UN Association, Canterbury RBL and Ethnic Minorities in Canterbury (EMIC).