This film forms part of the City of York's commemorations of Holocaust Memorial Day 2020 and was commissioned by City of York Council and the City of York HMD Steering Group.
Working with a poet, Ross McLeod, we went into primary and secondary schools across York to explore the Holocaust Memorial Day 2020 theme, 'Stand Together'. We encouraged over 250 children and young people to consider the theme, both from an historical perspective - the factors that influenced the Holocaust and subsequent genocides - and as an aspiration for their futures - what can we learn that might allow us to understand the importance of standing together to combat prejudice and discrimination.
Their responses formed the basis of the poem.
We then worked with a filmmaker, Ben Porter, to shape the poem into a resource that can be used by schools when commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day.
STAND TOGETHER
The Illusion of separation lifts like morning fog,
We cordon off a portion of our oneness, lost in translation,
The cost of impatience - the embers of a cindered log,
We wander lost.
The horror caused but did we learn?
Or are blind eyes more inclined to turn,
Ties that bind a collective yearn
A jostle for the prize we earn
Subtle differences magnified and thrust into the harshest light,
To startle sight,
Impartial might
just be the easiest way.
Dress us up in three piece suits, given chance we’ll raid and loot,
Hear us spout our love for all
But prejudice is just on mute.
Murky pools under the surface, thirsty ghouls sharpen their tools and all our pretence could fade in an instant.
The illusion of separation is shattered when we stand together
A grand endeavour, to withstand the weather
For we, apertures, one energy
Experiencing existence’s bliss from seven and a half billion vantage points,
Projecting our dreams to a far away land,
Everything makes sense here
when
Together we stand.
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place on 27 January each year and is a time to remember the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.