[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR MARKING 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                        LIBERATION OF AUSCHWITZ

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 25, 2005

  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I solemnly rise today to commemorate the 
60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the first and largest 
Nazi concentration camp stumbled across by Allied troops as they fought 
back Nazi Germany.
  Today, the twin camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau are silent, yet full of 
the ghosts of horrors of boundless slaughter, torture and sadistic 
human experimentation. We lost over one million souls at Auschwitz 
alone. Over 5 million more innocent people with names, families and 
lives were murdered at several other Nazi concentration camps.
  On January 27, 1945, Allied troops marched by the ashes of those 
killed at Auschwitz, and freed the few remaining survivors. Tattooed 
with a number on their left forearm, and inconceivable torment in their 
minds and bodies, the survivors walked under the Auschwitz gate adorned 
with the words ``Arbeit Macht Frei'' or ``Work Makes Freedom'' as 
emancipated men and women.
  The survivors miraculously got on with their lives, although the pain 
of their memories did not diminish. Many have become successful 
doctors, teachers, writers and entrepreneurs. Others served valiantly 
in defending the state of Israel against hatemongers with similar 
intentions as the Nazis. Many others settled in New York's Eight 
Congressional District, which I proudly represent, and added immensely 
to New York City's soul and wealth of character. Theirs is a remarkable 
story of the human spirit.
  It is an appalling realization that 60 years after the Holocaust, the 
Jewish people are still persecuted, anti-Semitism remains prevalent in 
many parts of the world, and genocide occurs and is often ignored.
  As we commemorate this 60th anniversary, we face the terrible reality 
that anti-Semitism did not die in Auschwitz. Many of those who survived 
the holocaust are now reliving the unspeakable horror of anti-Semitic 
hatred for the sole reason of their religion and identity.
  Moreover, sixty years later, we continue to turn our backs on the 
victims of hatred and genocide. We failed to appropriately respond to 
devastation and death in Rwanda, and now we repeat our desertion of 
innocent women and children in Sudan.
  Let us honor the memories of those who died in Auschwitz and the 
Holocaust and the lives of those who survived it, by combating anti-
Semitism, hate and bigotry today, tomorrow, and always.
  Let us never forget.

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