The Holocaust Memorial Center sponsors an annual art and writing contest that encourages students to explore issues that arise through the study and remembrance of the Holocaust. Each year a different theme is selected to provide focus and direction for student entries. This year’s theme is entitled,

“Never Again?!”

"Auschwitz should have heralded an awakening, it should have invoked an immediate, universal response that insisted that
'Never Again' would not be reduced to mere rhetoric."

Michael Savage
January 27, 2008
Imperial War Musem
Address for the 63rd Anniversary
of the Liberation of Auschwitz

Unfortunately, if an awakening occurred, it was not to a new dawn of peace, but to a twilight world of continuing human rights abuses. Many millions have fallen victim to genocide and ethnic cleansing, since 1945. The present situation in Darfur is a stark reminder of the magnitude and persistance of the problem.

At first, it seemed as though real progress was possible. In the final years of the Nazi era, the crime of genocide was named and defined for the first time. This helped to focus attention on the problem to a greater degree than ever before. The growing recognition of genocide as a crime against international law was one of the reasons for the Nuremberg Trials (and subsequent prosecutions) in the aftermath of World War II. In 1948, the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. By 1951, it had been ratified by twenty countries, enough for it to come into legal effect. Through the years, more countries have signed on, giving the effort to prevent genocide even more support and additional credibility. (Ratification by the United States came in 1988.) Also, since the time of the Holocaust, many have embraced on a personal level the idea expressed in the words, "Never Again" - the idea that preventing genocide is the great moral challenge or our time.

With all of these positive developments, it would be easy to assume that the problem of genocide, as well as other human rights abuses, is diminishing. Easy, but not true. This forces the question:

What went wrong? Why have the best-laid plans for a genocide-free world failed, thus far?

• Is this type of violence so natural to human beings that we will never overcome it? Do we just learn to "live with it" and lessen the harm whenever we can?
  
  
• Perhaps we haven't learned enough about the problem to know what to do? Will more study (and remembrance of victims past) open the path to a wiser course of action that we don't yet see?
  
  
• Maybe there are too many people who don't care about this issue at all. Perhaps we need to convince more people to become informed and to get involved. Will public pressure from citizens force governments around the world to act more decisively to end genocide?

The three ideas listed above are just a few suggestions to consider. There are many more possibilities. Students entering this year's contest are encouraged to come up with their own ideas. You may choose to focus on people or events from history to support your arguments. You may choose to create a fictional character to give voice to your ideas in a diary or journal. You may write a persuasive essay to convince others to follow your suggestions for bringing positive change. You may also choose to write a poem to express your thoughts and feelings. No matter which approach you choose, please remember that there are two parts to the prompt. In their simplest form, the two parts are:

1. Why do we have this problem?
2. What can we do about it?

The best entries will include strong answers to both parts.

Writing Prompt:

In response to the terrible crimes of the Holocaust, concerned people throughout the world have proclaimed, “Never again!”

Nevertheless, genocides and human rights abuses have continued to occur and anti-Semitism is still flourishing in the world.

Why, after all these years, do we still struggle with the issues of prejudice and discrimination and how can we finally defeat these destructive forces?

Art Prompt:

Create a work of art that illustrates the enduring nature of prejudice and bigotry and the critical need to fight against these forces.

Students who choose to submit an art entry face the same two-part question as described for the writers above.

1. Why do we have this problem?
2. What can we do about it?

What is the source of prejudice? Is it an emotional reaction to fear or anger? Is it a learned response to perceived differences - an unwillingness to recognize human dignity in others? Perhaps it is motivated by misinformation, such as stereotypes and accusations of wrong-doing. Whatever the case, your task is to create a work of art that moves the viewer from a position of seeing the problem to that of wanting to do something to solve it.

Please note: Graphic depictions of Nazi brutality are not advisable. Attempting to "shock" viewers by showing acts of violence tends to dehumanize the victims. Respectful portrayals of the victims of persecution are more likely to motivate viewers to want to help.

The deadline for entries is April 11, 2008

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