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Historical memory in danger
On the occasion of the Day of Remembrance, the senator for life Liliana Segre has sounded a worrying alarm about the possibility that the Shoah will be forgotten. In an interview with Marco Vigevani, president of the Shoah Memorial events committee, Segre stressed that the risk of reducing this tragedy to a mere footnote in history books is real. Her personal experience as an Auschwitz survivor gives her a unique and disturbing perspective on the issue.
The parallel with Orwell
Segre compared the current situation to what is described in the novel 1984 by George Orwell, where history is rewritten to suit the interests of the government. “Once the last survivors are gone, I fear that the Holocaust will become just a line in a history book, an imprecise date,” he said. This reflection highlights the fragility of historical memory and the importance of preserving first-hand accounts.
Indifference and forgetfulness
The senator highlighted how indifference is a key factor in the possible forgetting of the Holocaust. “There are higher interests that push us not to talk about it anymore,” she said, stressing that history risks being reduced to a simple list of dates. Her belief is that, without adequate attention and awareness, future generations may not have a complete understanding of what really happened.
Attacks and resistance
Despite her concerns, Segre continues to receive attacks, especially on social media, in response to the screening of the documentary “Liliana,” dedicated to her life. This shows how current the debate on historical memory and the importance of telling and preserving the experiences of survivors still is. The senator has always maintained that history must be taught with passion and rigor, so that it is never forgotten.