What did you see in Auschwitz?

[xchrom]

http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/1444921-what-did-you-see-auschwitz

“Maybe a package tour would be more convenient..."

"... You’re right, it would take less time.” They are a couple in their fifties with an attentive way of speaking to each other. Stopping over in Cracow in the course of their holiday, they do not want to miss out on the one item that is at the top of the region’s to do list: a visit to Auschwitz, which is 60 kilometres from the city.

The employee at the tourist office politely provides the required information. Every year he sees thousands of couples like this: people with only three days to visit the region who want to see “the camp.” Today Auschwitz has more visitors than the splendid city of Cracow, for which it has almost become the leading attraction.

Tourists travelling to the city face a constant hail of solicitations: even at the airport, the taxi drivers offer to take you directly to the camp. Tour operators propose day trips: a total of three hours on the bus, and two hours at the site for an all-in fee of 100 zlotys, the equivalent of 20 euros. “Auschwitz is the tour that is most in demand, especially from foreigners,” says Tomas Stanek, the manager of Cracow City Tours. Last year, 1.3 million people visited the camp.

It is a well-oiled machine: one of the agency’s staff picks you up from your hotel and drives you to Szczepanski Square, where the mini-buses leave for the site. Before you get to Oswiecim, you start seeing signs for “Muzeum Auschwitz,” a term that is as carefully neutral as possible. The buses park in a pay-in carpark, where there are toilets, also pay-in, and money changing machines. The pictograms tell you that dogs, swimwear, smoking, eating, and pushchairs – a rule that a lot of young parents choose to ignore – are banned at the site.

[hlthe2b]

1. Uggh... I had to really steel myself to go to the Holocaust museum in DC...

I can not fathom this kind of attitude. I'd need to go sometime when there was a more reverent group of people--less crowded and allow time for reflection and mental recovery afterwards. I can not even believe that parents take young children there in strollers. Heavens. Some people are really (and unbelievably) divorced from the tragedy Auschwitz represents...

[MADem]

2. Very good read. Lots of cognitive dissonance to go around. nt

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. I have been watching Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State on netflix and

what really struck me was how "normal" the people that committed these atrocities are. It seems that people can justify almost anything and it got me thinking about how that related to the people in our country.
It could happen here. All you need to do is listen to the motivations of the ultra right and the politicians that pander to them. Probably 25% would truly believe that their problems would be fixed if the scapegoat was removed, another 50% would go along because they won't want to get involved, and the balance would be horrified.
It is scary to watch in this polarized environment.