- We remember the Holocaust, but we do not remember what to learn from it.
I believe that the knowledge that the mechanisms from the past can be repeated even today is extremely important, says Björn Wiman.
In the book's five essays, Björn Wiman writes about the growing anti-Semitism and shows how lies and misinformation fuel both hatred and the threat to the Jews, but also to democracy.
- The rise of authoritarian populism is largely based on lies.
And the lie is life-threatening because it destabilizes us as citizens and takes away from us the conviction that there is something that is true and real, says Björn Wiman.
Fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors
The book also contains Sanna Sjöswärd's portraits and collected testimonies of Holocaust survivors.
They tell about their experiences and several express concern about what to expect when they can no longer testify.
- The Holocaust is an ongoing work that we can all contribute to.
Today, when the number of survivors who have direct experience and testimonies is dwindling, it will be easier for these false mechanisms to start seeping in and sowing doubt, says Björn Wiman.
Can happen again
A recurring theme in the book is the importance of dealing with the past in order to understand what happened, and also what can happen.
- It has happened before, so it can happen again.
If you make a correct settlement with the past, then more people will carry that insight with them.
If, on the other hand, one pretends that the Holocaust happened inside the walls in a mythical place called Auschwitz, then we have misunderstood the Holocaust, says Björn Wiman.
How worried are you that it will happen again?
- I do not belong to those who think we are on the verge of genocide, but that kind of thing takes time.
One can also compare with the 1920s.
There the same kind of irreconcilable contradictions arose between people where they made their opponents of opinion existential enemies.
Unfortunately, we see tendencies in Sweden as well, and it really scares me.