A THOUGHT-PROVOKING exhibition has been launched in Stornoway to mark how millions of Jews and others were gassed during World War II, as part of Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations. It is 68 years since Auschwitz was liberated and the Western Isles was the first area in Scotland to announce that it was to mark the occasion.
Ken (right) helps get an exhibit in barbed wire ready for the public gaze
Organiser Ken Maclennan, a former social worker, said the exhibition was not just to commemorate the millions who died in Nazi Germany but also in the subsequent genocides around the world.
“It is also to make people aware of the discrimination that is still going on. Many people think it could never happen today yet it happened in the 1980s in in Cambodia and in the 1990s in Darfur. It is about spreading hatred and discriminatory practices against sections of the population and we need to always tackle it,” he said. The exhibition has gained or been loaned a series of photos, paintings and poetry which help visitors get a feel for what happened at these horrific events – sometimes directly from those who were there.
Ken with a dramatic painting by Glasgow painter Robert McNeil
Ken said: “I don’t think anyone can leave without being touched in some way.”
As a former social worker, who now lives in Point, he has wide experience of dealing with asylum seekers and refugees and has come into contact with people involved in horrific events.
“Part of our exhibition is devoted to Scottish Gipsy Travellers. You can see in some media coverage the same references to them as happened before the holocaust. There is a lot of discrimination going on in Scotland – the same as everywhere else. The challenge is for people to look at their own communities and make them better for their children and for generations to come.”
Ken does not think it valid to say such ghastly events that resulted in mass killings during World War II could not happen today.
“Discrimination is not obvious overnight and involves a lot of people – including the media – to incite hatred. After some time, perpetrators encourage people to see their victims as sub-human. Once you get people to be seen as vermin, the only real question that will be asked is how to exterminate them.” He now hopes the exhibition materials will be used by teachers, health workers and others who deal with vulnerable people as well as councillors and elected representatives. “It’s about good leadership. Where you get that kind of leadership, they will not allow it to happen on their patch.” About 1,500 events took place around the UK yesterday (SUN) for Holocaust Memorial Day.
Survivors of the Holocaust, politicians and many others gathered at the main event at the Millennium Bridge in central London, which had the general theme of “building bridges”. Stornoway was the first town in Scotland to announce its Holocaust Memorial Day events, although it being a Sunday, no actual events were held yesterday to respect local sabbatarian sentiments. The exhibition, however, runs all week at the town’s An Lanntair Gallery. More details are available on the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website.
It is good that this awareness is exhibited in Stornoway. Mr Maclennan ought to be commemorated for his work.
Genocide and discrimination is still in the world today and needs to be eradicated.
Discrimination by freemasonry is a perpetrator here in our own Island and does indeed involve a lot of people. It will undermind a person who is seen as bettering himself and as he is not a freemason they will spread word to demean his character so as to be seen as vermin.
If one could hold a exhibition of atrocities carried out by them, contact me I would contribute what would shock.
My father, Robert McNeil, exhibited a couple of paintings at the event. Ken MacLennan is to be commended for his efforts in bringing this important event together in the Western Isles.
Hi Ken. Time hasn’t really mellowed you in any discernible way. It’s very noble of you to offer your unique service (Chief Witch Catcher and Burner) to the good people of the Western Isles; I wonder if the locals know what they’ve let themselves in for? Gypsies and Travellers in Scotland are not treated “like vermin” by the Scottish Press nor the vast bulk of the people of our country. It is certainly true that the different ways Travellers and the settled community live their lives often results in friction and mutual distrust between the two groups, but there is no evidence that Scotland is packed with closet Nazis and genocidal maniacs, as you always, always, claim. There’s really not.
Having said that, according to “atlanticfish” Stornoway seems to be awash with devilishly prejudiced and bigoted Freemason troublemakers who clearly need sorting out, so perhaps he/she and you could join forces and “out” them all. You may have discovered your true vocation at last. Good luck with that, Ken.
Mr Hunter, Who d` heck rattled your cage and let you loose or is it just a case that you have no claim to anything at all and begrudges someone for bringing remembrance of the Holocaust to Stornoway. Or is it a case that you are among the minority that believe the Holocaust might never have happened.
As for your attack on myself re freemasonry. I will if I may back up my story to you of a oath taken by freemasons “..to persecute unto death anyone who violates Masonic obligation in the oath of the THRICE ILLUSTRIOUS ORDER of the CROSS “Light on Masonry,” eighth edition, page 199. sworn by freemasons to…”persecute by the blessing of “G-d” with your most decided endeavors any such person who renounces freemasonry and to point him out to the world as an unworthy vagabond, by opposing his interest, by deranging his business, by transferring his character after him wherever he may go, and by exposing him to the contempt of the whole fraternity and of the world, during his whole natural life.”
There is much more that i need not go on here. But I will assure you that the air on these shores has almost been darkened by the immense number of falsehoods that have been circulated, by freemasons, to destroy the reputation of every innocent man who has renounced freemasonry, and has published it or written against it and who that is at all aquainted with facts does not know that the utmost pains are taken to destroy the reputation of every man that dares to take his pen and expose their institution.
In short Mr Hunter, these streets are awash with freemason “troublemakers” as you called them.
By the way, I do not need teaming up with Mr Mclennan or anyone to expose what already exists.
Maybe you were born with blinkers and led a very charmed and innocent life, to which i congratulate you. But if i may say so, that does not call for the attack you instituted in this instance.
As for “outing them all” lol. Only themselves can do that. If they have any balls left.
Atlantic Fish, just be cautious, your Throat could be cut..your Tongue torn out by its Roots, your body buried in rough Sand of the Ocean at the low Water Mark, where the Tide ebbs and flows 2 times in Twenty Four Hours..
I DECLARE Ephesians 6:11. that I “put on the whole armour of G-d,” and 2 Corinthians 10:4 that “the weapons of my warfare are not carnal, but mighty through G-d to the pulling down of strongholds.” and I DECLARE 1John 2:1 that “Jesus Christ the righteous is my advocate with the Father.”
It is generally accepted here in Edinburgh, that Ken Maclennan’s relentless persecution of anyone, or any organisation he personally disapproves of, has had a hugely detrimental effect on his pet project, the lives and times off Scottish Travellers. For years, his vicious slandering of good, decent people has prevented this group getting the practical help and support that that community both needs and deserves. His attitude is wholly counter productive.
Everyone, except Ken himself, is prejudiced, and a closet Nazi!
Of course commemorating those who died at the hands of Hitler is to be applauded. It’s a no brainer.
Anyone in Stornoway who is interested in this issue could access the Scottish Parliament Website to read what a marvellous job our elected representatives are doing to help make Scotland a fair and just society for us ALL.
In my experience, Ken is deeply prejudiced and interested in self promotion alone.
Atlanticfish. Do you know how many Freemasons were murdered in Nazi concentration camps during the war? Perhaps Scottish Freemasons have a reasonable claim to be considered as a specific ethnic minority. I think some folk are prejudiced against this group of people. Would you support that?
Still think you and Ken should meet up. You would make a good team.
At least think about it.
Holocaust or Shoa in Hebrew meaning “calamity.” one of the best-kept secrets about the Holocaust is that Poland lost 6 million citizens, 3 million of the dead were Polish Christians, predominantly catholic, and the other 3 million were Polish Jews. Exact figures about how many of the dead were freemasons is not available as many of the Jews hid the fact that they were freemasons(freemason secrecy) although 80,000 victims is the most conservative estimate
People got killed in the Holocaust because they were Jewish first and foremost. Hitler (who was behind the whole plan of the Holocaust) blamed the Jewish people for everything like WW1, The Great Depression and WW2
There are several reasons why freemasons have been largely ignored in Holocaust studies, not the least of which is the fact that German freemasons emerged from the Third Reich with a certain amount of blood on it`s hands and that many of them cooperated with the Nazi regime. German freemasons as a group are at least somewhat responsible for the atrocities committed by that regime.
I`m sorry George, you seem to have bitter/sweet relationship with Mr Maclennan whom I have never met, but I can only tell you I came on this blog to applaud his work for what he has done concerning the Holocaust.
I have nothing against anyone who happens to be a freemason, I just disapprove what freemasonry represents as most/all of them knows not what really lies beyond the 3rd degree.
That’s my choice
Hi, thanks for sharing.