By Juliette Davtian
The Museum of Tolerance (MOT). a global leader in Holocaust education and human rights, is located in Los Angeles, CA and is the educational arm of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. As the world’s only museum of its kind, the MOT is dedicated to confronting prejudice and discrimination in all forms, exploring the Holocaust’s historical and contemporary contexts, and inspiring positive change.
Currently, the Museum of Tolerance’s “Tolerance in Built” screen display features news about the draft peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As an advocate for tolerance and a researcher exploring the psychological roots of stereotypical beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors, I should be thrilled about this breakthrough. However, I’m not.
My reservations stem from the stark contrast between Germany’s acknowledgment and apology for the Holocaust and the lack of similar accountability from Turkey and Azerbaijan regarding their own histories of conflict and human rights abuses.
This disparity highlights the importance of acknowledging and learning from past injustices to foster genuine tolerance and reconciliation. The Holocaust, perpetrated by Nazi Germany, resulted in the systematic murder of six million Jews, leaving deep scars and trauma despite the fact that Germany has repeatedly and formally apologized for the Holocaust, acknowledging its responsibility for the atrocities committed during World War II.
The views of Jewish people towards Germans today are diverse and complex, reflecting a range of experiences, perspectives, and historical contexts. While some individuals have reconciled with modern Germany, others remain cautious or critical. Education, awareness, and ongoing dialogue are still essential for fostering greater understanding and cooperation between Jewish communities and Germans.
While tolerance and peace are essential goals for educators and humanity, the national identity of Armenians also is deeply wounded by the repeated traumas of:
• Massacres and atrocities
• The 20th century’s first genocide
• The recent forced deportation of indigenous Karabagh Armenians from their ancestral homeland
• The ongoing occupation of their territories
These historical injustices and ongoing human rights abuses necessitate acknowledgment and reconciliation, rather than silence or indifference.
Juliette Davtian is a PhD researcher at the Armenian State Pedagogical University in the field of Social/Cultural Psychology.
