Sunday was another NYC parade day, this time on Staten Island. The Staten Island Ferry was busy, as today was the first all-inclusive St. Patrick's Day parade to be held on the Island. Apparently the Staten Island "official" parade, held on March 3, is understood to be the only known St. Patrick's Day parade that still excludes people. So, on Sunday, March 17, St Patrick's Day, the first Staten Island LGBTQ all-inclusive parade was held.
We were at The Battery to visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage (https://mjhnyc.org). The Museum is located at one end of The Battery, just a great location with views of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. According to their mission statement: "The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is New York’s contribution to the global responsibility to never forget." "To never forget". With fewer Holocaust survivors still alive, it is critical that museums and exhibitions devoted to telling this history are active and alive.
Along with the main collection, "The Holocaust - What Hate Can Do", there were two special exhibitions. "Survivors: Faces of Life After the Holocaust" was a collection of (75) survivor photographs, each with a short bio and a personal statement. Very powerful.
The other special exhibit is titled "Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark", and tells the story of the rescue of Danish Jews during the Holocaust, when ordinary Danish citizens united to save 95% of the Danish Jewish population.
Although the Jews of Europe were the primary victims of the Holocaust, the Nazis also targeted gypsies, the disabled , black people, non-Jewish Polish citizens, and gay people. I would like to think that an event like the Holocaust could not happen again, that the world is beyond that level of hatred, but then I take pause and acknowledge my naivety. With anti-semitic acts and expressions increasing, with the need to hold a separate parade on Staten Island in order for LBGTQ residents to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and with a presidential candidate who continues to spew and fuel racial stereotypes, we are clearly not beyond the ignorance and intolerance that sows the seeds for this type of hatred.
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