KZ GUSEN MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

within ARBEITSKREIS FUER HEIMAT-, DENKMAL- UND GESCHICHTSPFLEGE
and Local-International Platform ST. GEORGEN/GUSEN, Austria

KZ Mauthausen-GUSEN Info-Pages

Local-International Commemoration
May 10, 2003

Stones on our Way to Peace

The subsequent thoughts were dedicated by students of class 7.b of "Stiftsgymnasium Seitenstetten"
to this local-international commemoration and my be synominous for better educated younger Austrian generations.

P E A C E We all desire peace, donīt we? However, despite our good intentions it seems to be miles away. I ask myself: Which stone makes us stumble on our way to peace? There is a stone of intolerance and prejudice. "These people with their funny accent, the stench of their cooking, their oddball attire, their silly customs and traditions, ..." I meet them with suspicion. You know this feeling? Tolerance does not mean difference, not apathy for what these people do or find important because I choose not to even acknowledge their existence anyway. I do not want to have anything to do with them. Tolerance is rather accepting that this human being is my brother, my sister, a valuable part of our colourful, multicultural puzzle our wonderful world consists of.

Speech of Mr. Gunther Truebswasser, MP

The speech of Mr. Gunther Truebswasser, Representative of the Upper Austrian Provincial Parliament, was:
(Translation by Siegi Witzany-Durda):

Dear guests of honour, ladies and gentlemen, dear young guests! I have been here many times at this place of suffering and contempt for humankind, which is also a place of reconcilliation and hope. Whether it was a Saturday in May, like today, or in autumn, or any other day of the year, they were always special days. They were days of rememberance, of commemoration, of bowing to the victims, but also days that boosted my courage an gave me strength. Apart from all the indescribable suffering, desperation and terror Gusen stands for, I always took one phrase with me when I left that could not be more true for this place and this particular day of commemoration: "In spite of it all!" For me "in spite of it all" implies resistance, but also hope. The particular situation determines if the focus is on resistance or on hope. "In spite of it all" is a phrase used by those who do not give up, who are strong and full of life, who rebel if necessary. They do not neglect the past but draw their energies for a better future from their knowledge of the past. We know quite a lot about this place, but still not enough. Certainly not enough about the people. That is why we continue reading the history, listening to eye-witnesses, trying to understand the incomprehensible, and trying to learn in order to never ever let it happen again. And although in fact the history of this place is unbearable, I can see young and happy faces, sometimes even a smile. In spite of it all! I suppose this phrase helped many a survivor to continue with his life 58 years ago, when the times of terror ended. Despite their horrible experiences many were able to pass on their legacy. Fifty eight years is nearly a lifetime and still, those who wrote down their stories, those who carefully read them and listened to them, have passed their legacy down to us today. They were those who - in spite of it all - believed in a next day to come. There is a strength in this unswerving phrase "in spite of it all" that comes from Gusen and all the other concentration camps, a strength to try again and again, not to slacken oneīs efforts to stand up for the rights of refugees, for the socially weak and for the rights of minorities in generel. History shows up how urgent it is not to give up our struggle for the rights of people. All those who at first were "only" marginalized, discriminated against, despised and deprived of their basic rights due to their ethnic origin, their religious belief, their political opinion, their sexual orientation or their handicaps, ended up in extermination camps. They were the victims. The descent from everyday racism to denied human rights to physical destruction was, for the most part, gradual. I am not talking about hypotheses and I do not want to raise the spectre of anarchy. It is just that I and many other people are deeply worried when racist remarks and civil rights violations happen again and again, still today and in this democratic and civilized country. Then I am not worried about shadows of the past but of shadows of the present. Have we not learned our lesson? I ask myself why mayors make racist and discriminating remarks about people living in their towns? Why are refugees, men, women, children, treated like objects pushed from here to there? Why are some people denied entrance to public bars because of their outward appearance? Where are those to protest against it? Where is the outcry of people with a sense of justice that puts the human being first? I am worried about the atmosphere of indifference that does not seem to care about such encroachments. In the end indifference means quiet approval. History shows us painfully where this can lead and what human beings are capable of doing. At this special place I want to say "never again" and not only refer to the ultimate consequences and atrocities human beings are able to commit. I also want to include the preliminary stages of this spiral of violence, of everyday racism, of denied rights and daily discrimination when I say "never again". I want to name the daily discriminations, although we tend to sweep them under the carpet and call them trifles. I would feel better if Austria - despite its smallness - had a more broadminded asylum policy. I also want to be able to say "never ever terror and war", even if others are talking about "political necessities" and "limited operations". I want to be honest about myself, my values and what I have learned from places like Gusen. In spite of it all! I want to be able to say I am a supporter of Austriaīs neutrality without being smiled at. Neutrality is not limited to just standing by, but means active peace politics, a continuous role as mediator in times of crisis. This is a role which Austria has frequently proven its worth. I detest any terror, war and violence, although I daily have to face their real existence. I am not going to be talked out of my personal conviction that the politics of the 21st century can do without terror, war, and violence because I have not lost my belief in a world of solidarity without war. This is especially ture at this place, where I came to understand the words "in spite of it all" so forcefully. I was taught by victims and survivors I bow my head to.