Holocaust Remembrance Day began last night at sun down.
The annual state ceremony – which this year will mark 60 years since the end of World War II – began at 8 p.m. at Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Moshe Katsav, as well as scores of dignitaries and ambassadors from around the world, are attending the solemn hour-long opening event, which is being broadcast live on Israeli television channels and radio.
Of course, days like today bring out the crazies:
As Israel marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, vandals spray-painted graffiti Thursday near the entrance to Yad Vashem and by the city's Zionist archives, equating Prime Minster Ariel Sharon with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, police said.
"Sharon is continuing in Hitler's path," was sprayed in black paint, on the wall of a side road leading to Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial along with several swastikas.
In addition, the words "Arik is acting like Hitler," was found on the back entrance of the city's Zionist Archives, referring to the premier by his nickname.
It's a shame that this stuff is no longer surprising. We have become all too familiar with stupid people who toss out "fascist" and "Hitler" epithets without thinking about what is being said. This practice not only betrays an advanced state of dementia, but also an ignorance of history and lack of common sense.
UPDATE: Dave Schuler of The Glittering Eye points to many more important events for the day, including P.D.Q. Bach's birthday. Foremost in his list is that this day in 1955 West Germany became a sovereign state. Read his full comment.
Oh yes, and this day is Cinco de Mayo. A good reason for a cervesa.
UPDATE II: Dave also reminds me that Joe Gandelman has a great post on Holocaust Remembrance Day with links to sources. As always, Joe writes eloquently and brings the horror of that time to a personal level. Go there.
Joe Gandelman's Holocaust Day post is a good one.
Posted by: Dave Schuler | May 05, 2005 at 02:31 PM