The Anne Frank's House

For those of us who have read about the Holocaust, The Rise of Evil - Hitler and The Diary of Anne Frank, the visit to Anne Frank's House in Amsterdam is not just about historical facts. It is filled with emotional and provoking thoughts.

When the Holocaust ended in 1945, Hitler's racist ideas had ended in genocide and the Nazi had killed six million Jews. In her diary, Anne Frank posed difficult questions. Why is there war? Why are Jewish people hated and discriminated? What is the importance of being cared and caring for others? What is freedom to you?

A fight, a bully, an accident, an injustice, someone in a difficult situation needing a helping hand..... What will you do? Everyday we are confronted with such dilemmas. Some affect us personally and some are so huge that it is hard to know what to do. Do you walk by or do you stop and help? What does it make you feel? Standing up is not always easy but what if you were the one in need of help?

Who is right and who is wrong? What is freedom to you? To be able to speak the truth, to admit your mistakes, to lay down your life for others? Why do some people judge others on their colour, age, sex, religion etc? We do stereotype people and make snap judgment based on little details. Isn't it stupid? Yes, we are all victim of society but that is no excuse for violence and revenge.

Anne Frank wrote in her diary on 6th July 1944... "We are all alive but we don't know why or what for; we are all searching for happiness; we are all leading lives which are different and yet the same."

Today, people are still being persecuted and murdered because they, like Anne Frank are not only "different" but also "want to be". Obviously, there are elements in the diary that are universally recognizable by both the young and old of this generation. Otto Frank, 1967 ...."To build up a future, you have to know the past" but why did people allow history to repeat itself even in this present age? Why are there still so much discrimination, prejudice, war, social injustices, self righteous etc? These make the visit to The Anne Frank's House meaningful even in our times. The Secret Annex - a story of unimaginable horror but also one of great courage indeed gave me more courage and the conviction that to live an authentic and fulfilling life, love and courage is what we need the most.