TheImportanceofHolocaustRemembrance
Overview
“Withthepassageoftime,theRescuers,theLiberators,andtheSurvivors…arenaturallydwindlingin
numbers…Wearetransitioningfromlivingmemorytohistoricalmemory,andthatplacesagreatburdenof
responsibilityontherestofus.Asthewitnessestothewitnesses,wecarrythemoralobligationofmemory.”
Inthislesson,studentswillexplorewhyitisimportanttokeepremembranceoftheHolocaustaliveand
conveytheirthoughtsastheysimulateparticipatinginthe“StockholmInternationalForumontheHolocaust.”
Grade
7
NorthCarolinaEssentialStandardsfor7thGrade
• 7.H.1.1-Constructcharts,graphs,andhistoricalnarrativestoexplainparticulareventsorissuesovertime.
• 7.H.1.2-Summarizetheliteralmeaningofhistoricaldocumentsinordertoestablishcontext.
• 7.H.1.3-Useprimaryandsecondarysourcestointerpretvarioushistoricalperspectives.
• 7.H.2.1-Analyzetheeffectsofsocial,economic,militaryandpoliticalconflictamongnations,regions,and
groups(e.g.war,genocide,imperialismandcolonization).
EssentialQuestions
• WhatarethelessonstobedrawnfromtheHolocaust?
• WhyisitimportanttokeepHolocaustremembrancealive?
• WhatisthebestwaytopassonthelessonsfromtheHolocausttofuturegenerations?
Materials
• HolocaustMonumentimage,attached
• StockholmForumimage,attached
• ExcerptfromJoshuaB.BoltenSpeech&DiscussionQuestions,attached
• SpeechfortheInternationalStockholmForumontheHolocaust&SpeechRubric,attached
• DeclarationoftheStockholmInternationalForumontheHolocaust,attachedforteacherreference
Duration
Variesbasedonamountofclasstimegivenforworkingonspeeches
StudentPreparation
Thislessonisrecommendedasaculminatingactivity,bestusedattheendofaunitontheHolocaustwhen
studentshaveafirmunderstandingofthecausesandeffectsofthistragicperiod.
Procedure
ExploringRemembrance
1. Asawarm-up,projecttheattachedimageforstudentstoexamine.(Donottellthemthattheimageisofa
Holocaustmonumentyet).Givestudentsseveralsilentminutesconsideringtheimagethendiscuss:
• Whenviewingthisimage,whatwordspopintoyourmind?(Encouragestudentstobrainstormwords
thatdescribetheirinitialreaction,explainingthereisnorightorwrong.Chartstudentresponseson
theboard.)
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•
Whatpartofthisimagedidyounoticefirst?(Asstudentsdiscussparticulardetailsintheartwork,
allowthemtowalktotheprojectedimageandpointtotheareastheyarereferringto.)
• Whatmessagedoyouthinktheartististryingtoconvey?
• Whydoyouthinkshe/hechosethisparticularmedium?
• Whatdoyouthinkthepurposeand/orintendedaudienceofthisstructureis?
o ExplaintostudentsthattheyareviewingapieceofartbyYugoslavsculptorGlidNandor.The
monumentislocatedonthesiteoftheformerDachauprisoncamp.Nadorhimselfspenttimeina
forcedlaborcampduringthewar.
• WhydoyouthinkNandorandothersurvivorswantustobeeducatedaboutandrememberthe
Holocaust?
2. Next,projectthefollowingquoteandhaveavolunteerreaditaloud:
• “…fewpeoplewanttoreadabouttheHolocaust.Suchdepressingsubjectmatter.Butwecannot
indefinitelyavoiddepressingsubjectmatter,particularlyifitistrue,andinthesubsequentquarter
centurytheworldhashadtohearastoryitwouldhavepreferrednottohear-thestoryofhowa
culturedpeopleturnedtogenocide,andhowtherestoftheworld,alsocomposedofculturedpeople,
remainedsilentinthefaceofgenocide.[Wemust]acceptresponsibilityforourpastandlearnfrom
thatpastforthesakeofourfuture.”RobertMcAfeeBrown,inhisprefacetoNightbyEllieWiesel.
• Furtherdiscuss:
o WhatpointisBrowntryingtomake?Doyouagreeordisagreeandwhy?
o WhatdoesBrownmeanwhenhesays“theworldhashadtohearastoryitwouldhavepreferred
nottohear?”
o Whydoyouthinkhespecificallypointsoutthatthestoryinvolvesa“culturedpeople”turningto
genocideandremainingsilentregardinggenocide?
o Howcanweillustratethatwearelearningfromthepast?(Discusswithstudentsthatanytimethey
standuptohate,prejudice,racism,anti-Semitism,etc.,theyarelearningfromthepastand
ensuringabetterfuture.Thismightbeasbasicasstandingupforsomeoneatschoolwhois
shunnedbecausetheyareviewedas“different,”orpointingouttosomeonewhentheymakea
racistjoke.)
o WhoseresponsibilityisittoensurewekeepthememoryoftheHolocaustaliveandthatwelearn
fromthosemistakesforthesakeofourfuture?Whatroleshouldgovernmentofficials,educators,
citizens,etc.play?
3. TellstudentsthattheUnitedStatesCongressestablishedthe“DaysofRemembrance”asournation's
annualcommemorationofthevictimsoftheHolocaustandcreatedtheUnitedStatesHolocaustMemorial
Museumasapermanentlivingmemorialtothosevictims.Handouttheattachedspeechexcerptby
JoshuaBolten,ChiefofStafftothePresident.ThespeechwasdeliveredonMay1,2008aspartofthe
“DaysofRemembrance2008.”Instructstudentstoreadthespeechandanswertheattacheddiscussion
questions.(Teachersmayalsochoosetohavestudentsreadanddiscussinpartnersorgroups,orreadand
discussthespeechasanentireclass.)
Simulation:TheStockholmInternationalForumontheHolocaust
4. ExplaintostudentsthattherehavebeenothermovementstoensuretheHolocaustisnotforgotten.In
Januaryof2000,thefirstStockholmInternationalForumontheHolocaustwasheldinStockholm,Sweden.
TheForumbroughttogetherpresidents,primeministersandotherhigh-rankingministersandofficials
from40countriestodiscusshowtokeepHolocaustremembrancealive;thelessonstobedrawn;andhow
besttopassontheknowledgeofthefacttofuturegenerations.TheconferenceadoptedaDeclaration
nowknownasTheStockholmDeclaration,whichhascometoberegardedasamilestoneininternational
supportforcombatingracism,anti-Semitism,ethnichatredandignoranceofhistory.
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5. Handouttheattachedassignment,“SpeechfortheStockholmInternationalForumontheHolocaust”and
tellstudentsthattheywillberecreatingtheforuminclass.Explainthateachofthemistoassumetherole
ofapresident,ambassador,orprimeministerandtowriteaspeechtodeliverattheforum.Gooverthe
assignmentsheetwithstudents,acceptingquestionsasneeded.Letstudentsknowthedateonwhichthe
Forumwillbeheld(thisisthedatestudentsshouldhavetheirspeechcompletedandreadytobe
presentedtotheclass).
6. Dependingonhowmuchtimecanbedevotedtothisactivity,teachersmaywanttohavestudentswrite
theirfirstdraftofthespeechindividually,thenmeetinpartnersorsmallgroupsforfeedbackonhowto
makethewrittenspeechbetter.Aftertheserevisions,teachersmayalsowanttoallowstudentsto
practicetheirspeechesinpartnersorsmallgroupsinpreparationforpresentingthemtoclass(a.k.a.“The
Forum.”)Ifclasstimewillbeprovidedforpractice,studentsmayneedspecificguidelinesforassistingone
another.Forexample,havestudentsmonitortheirpartnerforeffectivepublicspeakingtraitssuchasthe
following:
• Speakclearlyandatanappropriatevolume.
• Makeeyecontactwhenpossible(don’tlookatthepaperandreadyourspeech).
• Varyyourvoicetotryandputemphasisonparticularparts(don’tspeakinamonotone)
• Standstill(don’tshiftonyourfeet)
7. Onthedayofthe“Forum,”beforestudentsdelivertheirspeeches,goovertheexpectationsofarespectful
audiencemember.TeachersmaywanttoprojecttheattachedphotofromtheactualForumasareminder
thattheeventtheyarerecreatingactuallytookplace.LetstudentsknowwhattheformatoftheForum
willbe:
• TheteachershouldassumethepersonaofaworldleaderandopentheForumwithareviewofthe
day’spurposeandapresentationofhis/herownspeechoranappropriatespeechwrittenbyaworld
leaderontheHolocaust.(TeachersmayalsoselectastudenttoopentheForum.)
• Aftertheopeningremarks,studentsshouldvolunteeronebyonetogivetheirspeechtotheForum.
• Aftereachspeech,audiencemembersshouldclapthenofferpositivecommentsregarding“WhatI
likedaboutyourspeech”or“WhatIlearnedfromyourspeech.”
Ø Note:Ifclasstimeislimited,studentscanpresentinsmallgroups,or,teacherscanaskforvolunteersto
present.Also,onthedayofthe“Forum”teachersmaywanttoencouragestudentstodresstheirpart,
rememberingthattheyareassumingthepersonaofaworldleader.
8. Afterspeecheshavebeenpresented,thesamepersonwhodeliveredtheopeningtotheForumshould
leadaround-tablediscussion.(Thiscanalsobedoneinsmallgroupsofapproximately5students,withone
studentineachgroupselectedtoleadthediscussion.)Samplequestionstodiscussinclude:
• Basedonthespeechesyouheardtoday,whatdoyoufeelisthemostimportantlessontobedrawn
fromtheHolocaust?
• WhatwerethemostcompellingreasonsyouheardregardingwhytheHolocaustshouldcontinuallybe
remembered?
• Basedonwhatyouheard,orbasedonyourownideas,whatarethebestwaystoensurefuture
generationslearnabouttheHolocaust?Howcanweberesponsible“witnessestothewitnesses?”
StockholmDeclaration
9. Afterstudentshavediscussed,explainthatoneoftheoutcomesoftheactualStockholmForumwasa
Declaration,adocumentcreatedandapprovedbytheForumparticipantsthatcontainedstatementsof
commitment/goalsregardingtheHolocaust.ShareanexamplestatementfromtheDeclaration,suchas
theonebelow(theentireDeclarationisattachedforteacherreference):
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•
“WeshareacommitmenttocommemoratethevictimsoftheHolocaustandtohonorthosewho
stoodagainstit.WewillencourageappropriateformsofHolocaustremembrance,includinganannual
DayofHolocaustRemembrance,inourcountries.”
10. Intheirsmallgroups,tellstudentstocomeupwiththeirownstatementdescribingacommitmentorgoal
regardingtheHolocaust.Thiscommitment/goalmaybebasedonthegroup’sanswerstotheirround-table
discussion,ormaybebasedonnewideasposedbythestudents.Thestatementshouldbeasspecificas
possibleandshouldnotbemorethan3sentences.
11. Onceallgroupshavecompletedafinalversionoftheirstatement,havethemwriteitneatlyatthetopofa
sheetofwhitepaper.Teachersshouldthenfacilitateanorganizedchangingofstatements,sothateach
groupgetsanothergroup’sstatementtoreview.(Forexample,instructeachgrouptopasstheirstatement
clockwisetothegrouptotheirright.)Onceeachgrouphasreceivedanothergroup’sstatement,they
shouldcarefullyreviewitandnoteanyimprovementstheymayhave.Theyshouldwritetheirimproved
statementunderneaththegroup’soriginalwork.Iftheyhavenorecommendationsorimprovementsthey
shouldleavethestatementasis.Givegroupsapproximately2-3minutestoreviewthestatementthen
repeatthisprocess,againswitchingstatements.Thistime,groupswillbereviewingtheoriginalstatement
aswellastherevisedstatementwhereapplicable.Again,groupswillwriteoutanewstatementwithany
additionalrevisions,orleavethestatementalone.Continuethisprocessuntilallgroupshavereviewedall
statementsandreceivedthestatementtheyoriginallycreated.Allowgroups2-3minutestonoteany
improvementsmadetotheirworkandtomakeanyoftheirownlastminutechanges.Finally,teachers
shouldhaveeachgroupreadtheirfinalstatementoutloudtotheclass.Onasheetofchartpaper,
teachersshouldwritethefinalstatementfromeachgroup,forminganofficialclass“Declarationonthe
Holocaust.”Onceallstatementshavebeenreadandwritten,allowstudentstocommentonthensignthe
Declaration.
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HolocaustMonument
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/holocaust/art.htm
AviewoftheInternationalmonumentbyYugoslavsculptorGlidNandor,1968.Nandorspenttimeinaforcedlaborcamp
duringthewarandlaterfoughtwiththeYugoslavpartisans.
PicturefromInternationalStockholmForumontheHolocaust,2000
Source:http://www.dccam.org/Projects/Affinity/SIF/DATA/2000/conference_2000.html
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ExcerptfromaspeechbyJoshuaB.Bolten,ChiefofStafftothePresident
Deliveredfor“DaysofRemembrance”,anannualcommemorationoftheHolocaust
May1,2008,U.S.CapitolRotunda,Washington,D.C.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Iamdeeplyhonoredtobeatthispodiumtoday,tospeakaboutanniversariesandthemoralobligationof
memory…
Withthepassageoftime,theRescuers,theLiberators,andtheSurvivors–likethosewhomwe’reblessedto
havewithustoday–arenaturallydwindlinginnumbers…Wearetransitioningfromlivingmemorytohistorical
memory,andthatplacesagreatburdenofresponsibilityontherestofus.Asthewitnessestothewitnesses,
wecarrythemoralobligationofmemory.
Andwhatisthatobligation?Surelyitismorethanfixingblame–forjustasthegenerationofSurvivors,
RescuersandLiberatorsdwindles,somustthePerpetrators,CollaboratorsandBystanders.Butwhymustwe
rememberinsuchpainfuldetail?
Inhisintroductiontothepresidentialcommissionreportthatmyfatherhelpedshepherd,ElieWieselgavean
eloquentanswer:First,Wieselwrote,“wecannotgrantthekillersaposthumousvictory.Notonlydidthey
humiliateandassassinatetheirvictims,theywantedalsotodestroytheirmemory.Theykilledthemtwice,
reducingthemtoashesandthendenyingtheirdeed.”
ANaziguardoncetoldSimonWiesenthal*that,intime,noonewouldbelievehisaccountofwhathesaw.
Manyinthisroomhavedevotedalifetimetoprovingthatpredictionwrong.Yettherearestillthosewho
challengethefactssurroundingtheHolocaust,orevenbrazenlydenyitsreality.Whateverformittakes…we
muststandagainsteveryattemptatdenial.Wehaveanobligationtocondemntheseliesforwhattheyare–
andremindpeopleofthetruth.
Wiesel’ssecondexplanationforthemoralobligationofmemoryisthat“wecannotdenythevictimsthe
fulfillmentoftheirlastwish...tobearwitness.”ThiswishiscapturedinEmanuelRingelblum’s“Oneg
Shabbat”project*...Whenwereadthevictims’storiesinthoselong-buriedmilkcans,werelivetheirsuffering.
Wehonortheirdefiance.Andwefulfilltheirrequestnevertobeforgotten.
Third,andmostimportant,Wieselwrote,“wemustremember...forthesakeofourownhumanity,”because
“indifferencetothevictimswouldresult,inevitably,inindifferencetoourselves.”
…Tragically,theinternationalcommunityhasrepeatedthisindifferenceinthedecadessincetheHolocaust.In
Rwandaandelsewhere,theinnocenthavepaidtheprice.
Ourgenerationhasanopportunity–andamoralobligation–tobedifferent.Whenwesay,“Neveragain,”we
mustmeanit.Notinourmomentofhistoryandresponsibility.Wemustcallevilbyitsname,andconfrontit
withpurposeandcourage.Weingovernmentserviceespeciallymustchallengethosewhohavebecome
enamoredwithprocessthatsubstitutesforactionandwhoshrinkfromthehardchoices.
ThiscommitmentisbeingtestedinDarfur.PresidentBushistheonlyworldleadertocallthekillingthere
“genocide.”Hehasorderedsanctionsonthoseresponsibleforviolence.Andhehaspledgedtoprovide
trainingandequipmenttohelpAfricantroopsdeploytoDarfur.YetAmericaremainstoolonelyinthiseffort.
Inthepastthreeyears,theUnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncilhaspassedmorethansixtimesasmany
resolutionsagainstIsraelasithasagainstSudan.Anddespiterepeatedurging,theUNpeacekeepingforcehas
yettodeploy.Itisnottoolatetosetthisright.
InansweringWiesel’sthreecalls–todenythekillersaposthumousvictory…tofulfillthelastwishesofthe
victims…andtoaffirmourownhumanity–weupholdthemoralobligationofmemory.Andinour
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responsibilityaswitnessestothewitnesses,weareblessedtohaveremarkableassets.
First,ofcourse,aretheSurvivorsthemselves,whocomprehendevilwithaclaritythatcomesonlyfromdirect
experience.Astheysharetheirstories,theydomorethandeepenourknowledgeofhistory–theyadvance
thecauseofjustice.
WearealsoblessedwiththeeffortsofindividualslikeFatherPatrickDebois.Goingdoortodoor,Father
Deboishascollectedthetestimonyofmorethan700witnessesandbystanderstotheNaziterrorinUkraine.
Hehasidentifiedtheburialsitesofcountlessvictimsshotexecution-styleinwhathasbeencalledthe
“holocaustofbullets.”Thankstothisgoodpriest’swork,namesandstoriesarereplacingthecoldanonymity
ofmassgraves.Andwitnesseswhohaveheldthesememoriesintheirheartsfor60yearsarefindinghealing.
FatherDebois,wearehonoredbyyourpresencetoday.
Forgenerationstocome,alastingsourceoflearningandmemorywillbethemuseums.Inthepastyear,Ihave
hadtheprivilegetovisitthreewiththePresident–YadVasheminIsrael,theKigaliGenocideMemorialCenter
inRwanda,andtheU.S.HolocaustMemorialMuseumhereinWashington.Thesemuseumscommemorate
lossindistinctways.Yettheyallrecognizethatgenocideispossibleonlybythedenialofindividuality.And
theyrecognizethatthebestwaytorestorehumanityistoretellthevictims’stories,onebyone.
AtYadVashem,exhibitscommemoratenotonlythevictimslost–butalsotheliveslived.Theyshowloving
homesandcherishedpossessions–remindersoftherichnessofhumanitystolenaway.
AttheKigaliCenter,acommunalgraveholdsnearlyaquartermillionvictims,andthatnumbercontinuesto
growasRwandanauthoritiesgatherremainsfromthe1994genocide.Godonlyknows–literally,onlyGod
knows–theidentitiesofthosewhorestonthesite.Yetinsidethemuseum,exhibitsdisplayvividPolaroid
photographsofindividualvictims,mostofthemchildren.Beneaththephotosaredescriptionsofsimplethings
likeafavoritesportorfood–personaldetailsthatcapturetheuniquenessofeachunfinishedlife.
AttheU.S.HolocaustMuseum,eachvisitorreceivestheidentitycardofavictim–thetragedyoftheHolocaust
onapersonalscale.Already,27millionvisitorstherehavepursuedtheirobligationofmemory.Nowand
always,thewitnesseswillfaroutnumberthevictims.
…TheHolocaustshowsthatevilisreal–buthope,goodness,andcourageareeternal.Whenwecarrythis
truthinourhearts,weupholdthemoralobligationofmemory.Andwesummonthestrengthtomeetour
solemnpledge:Neveragain.Notinourmomentofhistoryandresponsibility.
Source:https://www.ushmm.org/remember/days-of-remembrance/past-days-of-remembrance/2008-days-ofremembrance/remarks-by-joshua-b.-bolten
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Name:_______________________________
DiscussionQuestions
1.Basedonyourinitialthoughtsandfeelingsafterreadingthisspeech,chooseawordorphrasefromthetextabovethat
youfeelwouldmakeagoodtitleforthisspeech.
2.WhatdoesBoltenmeanwhenhesays,“Asthewitnessestothewitnesses,wehaveamoralobligationtomemory?”
3.EventhoughrememberingtheHolocaustmaybe“painful,”whyisitstillimportanttodoso?
4.WhyisplacingblameregardingtheHolocaustineffective?
5.WhatdidElieWiesel(Holocaustsurvivorandauthor)meanwhenhesaidvictimsoftheHolocaustwere“killedtwice?”
6.Whatdoyouthinkitmeansto“bearwitness?”Inyouropinion,whatarethemostimportantwayswecan“bear
witness?”
7.ElieWieselclaimedthat“indifferencetothevictimswouldresult,inevitably,toindifferencetoourselves.”What
messagewashetryingtoconvey?
8.Boltensaid,“Ourgenerationhasanopportunity–andamoralobligation–tobedifferent.Whenwesay,‘Neveragain,’
wemustmeanit.Notinourmomentofhistoryandresponsibility.Wemustcallevilbyitsname,andconfrontitwith
purposeandcourage.”Citespecificexamplesofhowwemightfollowhisadvicetoday.
9.WhydoesBoltenspecificallycommendtheworkofRatherPatrickDebois,YadVashem,andtheKigaliCenter?Inwhat
wayhaseachoftheseexamples“commemoratednotonlythevictimslost,butalsotheliveslived?”Whyisthiscrucialto
Holocaustremembrance?
10.“TheHolocaustshowsthatevilisreal–buthope,goodness,andcourageareeternal.Whenwecarrythistruthinour
hearts,weupholdthemoralobligationofmemory.Andwesummonthestrengthtomeetoursolemnpledge:Never
again.Notinourmomentofhistoryandresponsibility.”Basedonthisquote,whatmessageisBoltenhopingtoleaveus
with?
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SpeechfortheInternationalStockholmForumontheHolocaust
Imaginethatyouareanambassador,apresident,oraprimeministerwhoisscheduledto
attendandspeakatthe2008StockholmInternationalForumontheHolocaust.Consider
everythingyouhavelearnedabouttheHolocaustthusfar,includingthethemesofwitnessand
remembrance.
Speciallyconsider:
• Whatarethelessonstobedrawnfromthisperiodofhistory?
• WhyisitimportanttokeepHolocaustremembrancealive?
• WhatisthebestwaytopassonthelessonsfromtheHolocausttofuturegenerations?
WriteaspeechtodeliverattheStockholmForuminwhichyoushareyouropinionregardingeachof
theabovequestions.Yourspeechmustaddresstheimportanceofnotforgettingandcontinuingto
learnabouttheHolocaust.Yourspeechshould:
• Containatleast5factsyouhavelearnedregardingHolocausthistory
• Containatleast2quotesabouttheHolocaustfromhistorians,survivors,orotherprominent
voices(considerthewayJoshuaBoltenquotedElieWiesel,forexample)
• Befactual,creative,andinspirational.
• Addressthethreeguidingquestionsabove,offeringspecificideaswhenapplicable.
• Yourfinalspeechshouldhaveanintroduction,details,andaconclusion.
• Be2-3minuteswhendeliveredtotheForum(theremainderofclass)
Youwillwriteadraftofyourspeechthenworkwithapartnerinapeereditingworkshoptorevise
andimproveit.Oncecomplete,youwillalsoworkwithapartnertopracticedeliveringyourspeech.
TheStockholmForumwillbeheldinclasson__________________________(duedate.)
Aspect
Topic
Introduction
Details
Conclusion
Preparation
Voice
Body
language
Creativity
Time
SPEECHRUBRIC
Speechisontopicandappropriatelyaddressedquestionsandguidelinesposedonthe
assignmentsheet
(1)Gainstheattentionoftheaudience,
(2)Clearlyidentifiesthetopic,
(3)Establishescredibility,
(4)Previewstherestofthespeech
(1)Answersquestionsposedonassignmentsheet:
•
Whatarethelessonstobedrawnfromthisperiodofhistory?
•
WhyisitimportanttokeepHolocaustremembrancealive?
•
WhatisthebestwaytopassonthelessonsfromtheHolocausttofuturegenerations?
(2)Contains5facts
(3)Contains2quotes
(1)Cuestheaudiencethattheendofthespeechisathand
(2)Bringsclosure
(3)Memorable
Hasobviouslyrehearsedthespeech;takesspeechseriouslywhenpresenting
Appropriatevolumeandpace;spokeclearly;didnotvocalizepauses(“um”,“uh”,etc.)
Confidentstance;madeeyecontactwithaudience;didnotfidget
Speechisunique,inspirational,andcreative
Speechisanappropriatelength(2-3min.)
Points
Possible
Score
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DECLARATIONOFTHESTOCKHOLMINTERNATIONALFORUMONTHEHOLOCAUST
JANUARY2000
ThemembersoftheTaskForcearecommittedtotheDeclarationoftheStockholmInternationalForumonthe
Holocaust,whichreadsasfollows:
1.TheHolocaust(Shoah)fundamentallychallengedthefoundationsofcivilization.Theunprecedented
characteroftheHolocaustwillalwaysholduniversalmeaning.Afterhalfacentury,itremainsaneventclose
enoughintimethatsurvivorscanstillbearwitnesstothehorrorsthatengulfedtheJewishpeople.Theterrible
sufferingofthemanymillionsofothervictimsoftheNazishasleftanindeliblescaracrossEuropeaswell.
2.ThemagnitudeoftheHolocaust,plannedandcarriedoutbytheNazis,mustbeforeversearedinour
collectivememory.TheselflesssacrificesofthosewhodefiedtheNazis,andsometimesgavetheirownlivesto
protectorrescuetheHolocaust'svictims,mustalsobeinscribedinourhearts.Thedepthsofthat
horror,andtheheightsoftheirheroism,canbetouchstonesinourunderstandingofthehumancapacityfor
evilandforgood.
3.Withhumanitystillscarredbygenocide,ethniccleansing,racism,anti-Semitismandxenophobia,the
internationalcommunitysharesasolemnresponsibilitytofightthoseevils.Togetherwemustupholdthe
terribletruthoftheHolocaustagainstthosewhodenyit.Wemuststrengthenthemoralcommitmentofour
peoples,andthepoliticalcommitmentofourgovernments,toensurethatfuturegenerationscanunderstand
thecausesoftheHolocaustandreflectuponitsconsequences.
4.Wepledgetostrengthenoureffortstopromoteeducation,remembranceandresearchaboutthe
Holocaust,bothinthoseofourcountriesthathavealreadydonemuchandthosethatchoosetojointhis
effort.
5.WeshareacommitmenttoencouragethestudyoftheHolocaustinallitsdimensions.Wewillpromote
educationabouttheHolocaustinourschoolsanduniversities,inourcommunitiesandencourageitinother
institutions.
6.WeshareacommitmenttocommemoratethevictimsoftheHolocaustandtohonourthosewhostood
againstit.WewillencourageappropriateformsofHolocaustremembrance,includinganannualDayof
HolocaustRemembrance,inourcountries.
7.WeshareacommitmenttothrowlightonthestillobscuredshadowsoftheHolocaust.Wewilltakeall
necessarystepstofacilitatetheopeningofarchivesinordertoensurethatalldocumentsbearingonthe
Holocaustareavailabletoresearchers.
8.Itisappropriatethatthis,thefirstmajorinternationalconferenceofthenewmillennium,declaresits
commitmenttoplanttheseedsofabetterfutureamidstthesoilofabitterpast.Weempathizewiththe
victims'sufferinganddrawinspirationfromtheirstruggle.Ourcommitmentmustbetorememberthevictims
whoperished,respectthesurvivorsstillwithus,andreaffirmhumanity'scommonaspirationformutual
understandingandjustice.
Source:https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/about-us/stockholm-declaration
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