Do all of these Holocaust museums serve a purpose anymore?

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Local Holocaust Museums Grow Amid Worries About Future
By Gal Beckerman
Published December 23, 2009, issue of January 01, 2010.

The numbers speak for themselves: There are now 16 Holocaust museums in the United States, from Albuquerque, N.M., to Houston, to Richmond, Va. And these are just the biggest of nearly 150 Holocaust centers all over the country.

The proliferation of museums detailing the story of what happened to European Jewry during World War II has been largely a phenomenon of the 1990s, part of the general increase in Holocaust awareness in the culture at large. But it has by no means slowed: The most recent museum, in Skokie, Ill., opened last spring, while construction continues on a second Los Angeles museum, to open in the summer of 2010.

With a substantial, federally-backed national museum in Washington, critics are increasingly wondering about the need for so many local museums. Even more important, the question of whether these institutions will be able to financially sustain themselves into the future — given the heavy costs of maintaining collections, and the dying off of the Holocaust survivors who founded them — is of great concern to museum directors.

The purpose of this thread is NOT to discuss whether the holocaust existed. I believe that it did, while others may disagree.
I would like to know whether after 65 years, with the Nazi regime long dead, and almost all of the survivors deceased, whether there are other causes that are more pressing. For instance, Darfur and other current genocidal wars rage on, while other equally disastrous massacres have occurred in recent times. None, however, seem to draw the attention that the Holocaust generated.
Is it time to move on? Why, of all the horrors in human history, does THIS one, generate a need for 16 museums, and counting?
Please try to keep this discussion civil. I'm not looking to start a religious war here.

reply to post by ProfEmeritus


The thing about history , even tragic history is that if you don't

remember it , your doomed to repeat it

It was only 65 years ago, not that long.



[edit on 4-1-2010 by Sean48]

reply to post by Sean48

The thing about history , even tragic history is that if you don't remember it , your doomed to repeat it

Oh, I certainly agree. However, why are the 16 museums for the holocaust, and none for other events that were just as disastrous?

Originally posted by ProfEmeritus
Oh, I certainly agree. However, why are the 16 museums for the holocaust, and none for other events that were just as disastrous?

So how many museums about the other events have you started? Or are you waiting for someone else to do it?

Of course they do, they serve as a poignant reminder of man's inhumanity to man.

I have been to Auschwitz and will never forget the emotions it stirred.

reply to post by ProfEmeritus


They need museums about the horrors of nuclear warfare.

Because the holocaust killed about 12 million people from various political, ethnic, geographic and social demographics ?

reply to post by ProfEmeritus


I,m one of the biggest "expose Israel" guys on the site.

I'm not anti-Israel, I'm more of (why doesn't Israel stay in their backyard)

kind of guy.

But these museums are important for people as a whole , to remember

what Man is capable of , At his worst.

reply to post by Freeborn

I have been to Auschwitz and will never forget the emotions it stirred.

I'm asking about the 16 museums in the UNITED STATES, not the original camps.

If I could be bothered, I'd sue the entire holocaust-industry

for brainwashing me

for manipulating me

for using me

for abusing me


and for lying to me

reply to post by SerialLurker


Already have one. www.nuclearmuseum.org...

reply to post by Freeborn

Of course they do, they serve as a poignant reminder of man's inhumanity to man.

Then why don't we have 16 museums depicting how the Romans threw the Christians to the lions?

Holocaust museums are in place because if you tell a lie well, and often enough, people will believe it.

It's as simple as that.

[edit on 1/4/2010 by JPhish]

reply to post by dereks

So how many museums about the other events have you started? Or are you waiting for someone else to do it?

The reason is that I don't believe that we should have ANY museums for such purposes, save perhaps the treatment of the American Indians, which was a disgrace perpetrated by people in this land.
Not only did the US NOT cause the holocaust, it was our troops that liberated many of the camps, and risked their lives doing it.
There is no NEED to "remind" us about man's inhumanity in this instance, because our country was not responsible, and did not contribute to it.

reply to post by JPhish


My last post in this thread

Does it really matter the EXACT number of people who died?

The WAY and the REASON is what TRULY matters!!

Not a number.

reply to post by Sean48


I edited my post before you even posted yours because i didn't feel like cycling trivialities . . . but the fact is, these museums are in place to perpetuate a lie.

Where are the museums dedicated to the Native Americans?

Considering that was a REAL holocaust i find it quite ironic.

Good thing is that people can make a choice if they want to attend and what it means to them.

Originally posted by ProfEmeritus
reply to post by Freeborn

 

Of course they do, they serve as a poignant reminder of man's inhumanity to man.

Then why don't we have 16 museums depicting how the Romans threw the Christians to the lions?

Start one

Oh christ here come the "holocaust never happened crowd." You know i am pretty sure the bombing of hiroshima never happened.

reply to post by ProfEmeritus


Forgive me.

I am sure your insular approach will not encourage the denial movement.

Most Americans rarely, if ever, travel outside the USA and as such have no access to Auschwitz etc.
Subsequently I am sure there is a place for some Holocaust museums.