Today was another long day filled with interesting things. The first stop was at a place that I was greatly looking forward to visiting. I can say after visiting that it meant far more to me than I thought it would.
If you are in Houston, we recommend visiting the
Holocaust Museum Education Center and Memorial.
As we were standing in the garden, Austin asked me why I make him visit places like this because he feels so sad after being there.
So we spent some time talking about why I find it important to do so, even though I know he will feel sad-as will I.
We talked about what happened and how it happened and what we think about it and I pointed out that we can't change the past.
What is important to me in sharing the past with him, beyond the fact I think it's important to honor those involved, is that I hope it spurs a desire in him to not turn a blind eye to the atrocities that are happening now in
Darfur and other such places and reminded him how we have done some very modest things to help victims of hatred through this organization:
The Invisible Children and how good it is to know that people helping made a difference in Uganda.
I told him it is likely that some day there will be a museum in remembrance of those victims and when his children and grandchildren ask, "How did this happen?" as he had with me that day, I hoped he had an answer that he was at peace with personally for his part in what is happening today.
We have a chance to make a difference today so that his answer and mine and yours can be something other than, "We didn't know".
We live in a different time period where we can know. And we can help because we do know.
When you know better, you can do better. We know better.
I want to do better and I hope he does too, especially after today.
If you are in Houston, we recommend visiting the Holocaust Museum Education Center and Memorial. 
As we were standing in the garden, Austin asked me why I make him visit places like this because he feels so sad after being there.
So we spent some time talking about why I find it important to do so, even though I know he will feel sad-as will I.
We talked about what happened and how it happened and what we think about it and I pointed out that we can't change the past.
What is important to me in sharing the past with him, beyond the fact I think it's important to honor those involved, is that I hope it spurs a desire in him to not turn a blind eye to the atrocities that are happening now in Darfur and other such places and reminded him how we have done some very modest things to help victims of hatred through this organization: The Invisible Children and how good it is to know that people helping made a difference in Uganda.
I told him it is likely that some day there will be a museum in remembrance of those victims and when his children and grandchildren ask, "How did this happen?" as he had with me that day, I hoped he had an answer that he was at peace with personally for his part in what is happening today. 
We have a chance to make a difference today so that his answer and mine and yours can be something other than, "We didn't know". 
We live in a different time period where we can know. And we can help because we do know.
When you know better, you can do better. We know better. 
I want to do better and I hope he does too, especially after today.
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5 comments:
What a good mama you are! :) Your children are at a good age to take all this in...sometimes I'm unsure of when to tell the kids certain historical information-basically, we are just truthful as it comes up... yesterday, the kids had their first experience of a shrine at the alamo where hats had to come off and no pictures were to be taken ... i do get the sense here in texas that it is steeped in history, a wonderful opportunity-makes me want to take advantage of more historical venues back in canada...anyways, i just finished reading -the translator by Daoud Hari -a memoir about this man's experiences in darfur-amazing-i finished it in two days-opens my eyes a little wider yet i do feel helpless and sad too... i was going to read three cups of tea too, i'll have to get a copy now for sure...we are connected for sure! :)
It is such a hard thing to know how and when to introduce the ugliness of the world to our children, isn't it? I also get the sense that Texas is steeped in history so it's inevitable that we will encounter it more here. I hope I handle it with wisdom and grace so it motivates and doesn't simply scare them.
I haven't read the book you just did-hadn't even heard of it so now I will have to check it out. You are definitely one of my soul sisters. =) Can't wait to meet you in person and your little cowboys (and big one).
Awesome post, Krystal.
Thanks, Jaci. It was a deeply touching experience.
Wow! What a very powerful display!
Kandy
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