The Anti-Defamation Commission has called for the introduction of mandatory Holocaust education in Australia following a suggestion made on childrensbookdaily.com, based in QLD, that parents could dress up their children with concentration camp pyjama stripes and send them to school or to parties, based on John Boyn’s book The Boy in Stripes Pajamas. The suggestion came in an article titled, “23 Easy Book Week 2017 Costumes Inspired by Kids Favourite Books.’ Megan Daily, who runs the website claimed that she did not author the list, but the ADC understands that she was aware of the article. An apology was issued on the website’s Facebook page, though Megan Daily is yet to issue a formal apology. The list has now been deleted
ADC Chairman, Dr Dvir Abramovich, issued the following statement:
“I am stunned by the shocking level of ignorance demonstrated by the person who authored this list and surprised that it was posted on the website. Clearly, this offensive and ill-judged suggestion is a timely wake call that we all have much work to do in ensuring that all everyone understands the enormity of the Holocaust, not only to the Jewish community, but to all the victims, the survivors and to those Australian soldiers who fought to defeat the Third Reich. What’s next, party costumes based on Nazi books? I would suggest that the person who compiled this list, and the person who authorised it, visit Auschwitz so they can see for themselves the genocide that Hitler and his regime unleashed on the victims, and understand that this bizarre inclusion was tasteless, hurtful and offensive. 1.5 million children were murdered in the Holocaust, and its mind boggling to think that anyone would think it’s appropriate to suggest that parents dress up their children for school or a party in concentration camp pyjama stripes. Did they at any point consider the pain and anguish their proposal would cause to those survivors who lost children in the ‘Final Solution.’? Did they pause to think about how deeply inappropriate and bizarre it would be for school children to show up at a party dressed in this way? This is another example why we urgently need mandatory Holocaust education in Australia.”
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677.