Holocaust survivor leaves handwritten note explaining why ‘choosing good’ matters
'Children are not born with hatred. It’s an acquired habit.'
The Nazis came into power through legal and democratic means, but once in power, they turned Germany into a dictatorship. It alone explains the importance of choosing a leader who isn't only empathetic but also committed to the public good. Andrew Steiner, a Holocaust survivor who understands the profundity better than anyone else, reminds the world about it through a heartbreaking handwritten note, now with the State of South Australia. Peter Malinauskas (@pmalinauskasmp), the 47th and current Premier of South Australia, posted it on his Instagram on December 16.
The State of South Australia received a handmade statue of Steiner with a note saying, "On the 16th of October 1944, as an 11-year-old boy, I was standing with my hands raised waiting to be executed. Here I am... bearing witness." The statue was a replica of a Holocaust survivor, standing with his hands raised upwards. It was a recreation of an actual day from Steiner's life, a dark chapter in his childhood where he, perhaps, had accepted the uncertain future. His message was downright clear: Antisemitism leads to only destruction.
81 years later, Steiner, who spends his time at the Adelaide Holocaust Museum, is still fighting to spread awareness about it. "Children are not born with hatred. It’s an acquired habit. It's very simple: Never hate anybody, and treat everybody the way you wish to be treated," he said. Steiner also asked people to work towards building a fairer, modest, and more compassionate society. Malinauskas, the Australian politician who was inspired by the survivor's words, hopes that through their funding to the museum, Steiner's message will reach a wider group of people. "We want more young people to understand where antisemitism leads and why it is never acceptable in our state," he wrote. Reflecting on the recent Bondi Beach shootout, this message is most crucial right now.
The Holocaust survivor indirectly asked people to pause and think about where they are heading. In fact, another survivor, Viktor Frankl, had also said something very similar. He explained that the small space between what's happening to us and how we react to it is where we can choose what to do. The survivor explained that instead of responding immediately, one must pause and think. It not only helps us to avoid anger, panic, or fear but also protects our mental well-being. So, the next time you have a problem with something or somebody, pause and think twice before reacting because there is always a choice in how you respond.
Meanwhile, reacting to the Instagram reel, @abromham commented, "What a beautiful man. He speaks the truth. God bless you!" Similarly, @jillbowyer said, "How poignant! We must all learn compassion and live together in harmony."
@kallesoula shared, "I have had the pleasure of meeting Andrew and listening to him talk about his experience during that terrible time in our history several times… he is an inspiring human being." @lisa.h.75 said, "It is so simple and yet so powerful. This is why we need to move our focus from Harmony Day to the message that EVERY DAY we should treat EVERYONE with kindness and respect. The simple golden rule in life is to treat others as we want to be treated. If we all lived by that rule, what a harmonious world we would have."
You can follow Peter Malinauskas (@pmalinauskasmp) on Instagram for the Australian government-related content.
More on Scoop Upworthy
Titanic survivor reveals why the tragedy continued to give him nightmares for decades
98-year-old Holocaust survivor explains why she'll never remove her Auschwitz tattoo
Share on Facebook
