By Chris Beswetherick
The Ray Wolpow Institute for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity invites Noémi Ban this Wednesday, March 8 to Arntzen Hall 100 from 6-8 p.m. to tell her personal story of living through the Holocaust and her time after war in communist Hungary.
Ban speaks about love and life in a manner that relates cathartic information to her audience’s reasoning and emotion. There is powerful information people can learn from Holocaust survivors: to understand what cultures have experienced due to bigoted governments.
When Germany declared they were going to march into Ban’s hometown, the very next day Nazis arrived and established it as a ghetto. Eventually they were led to cattle cars and then taken to an unknown location which they later learned to be Auschwitz.
Everyone in the United States learns about the Holocaust because there is a worldwide goal to prevent another mass murder. Through Ban’s stories, audiences begin to comprehend the emotions she underwent, and apply those to their current knowledge and daily life.
In Ban’s lecture, she will introduce the idea of water.
“Water is freedom,” Ban said. “Everytime I drink water, I feel free.”
Her lesson is vital, especially in privileged societies. She leads people to realize the state of the world against theirs.
The value of the attending this lecture is that Ban experienced the Holocaust first hand and will share the conclusions and realizations she made. As a result of living through the Holocaust, her appreciation of life grew. She emphasizes that, if she did not appreciate life, she would dwindle.
She also makes an interesting comment about her opinion toward Nazis, which contradicts how many do look at them.
“If I were to hate the Nazis, I would be like them,” she said.
Her comment shows hatred is only negative. That is what leads to murder and death and sadness, according to Ban.
The lecture she delivers is based on her book “Sharing is Healing” written by Ban and co-written with Ray Wolpow, a retired Western professor. Ban informs the audience that through sharing and discussion, people will begin to overcome troubles. Communication and openness led Ban to better understand her experiences in the Holocaust.
The Ray Wolpow Institute participates and takes part in many other eye-opening lectures throughout campus. Most recently, Edward Mathieu, a visiting history professor, used maps to analyze German diaspora (spread) throughout Europe from 1772 to 1945. Tracing Germany’s borders shows their evolving role in Europe and helps illustrate their effect on Europe.
College campuses share knowledge, and participating in these lectures helps grow and maintain a prosperous community.