Tomorrow is Holocaust Remembrance Day. And if you’ve never heard of Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, it’s time you did.
Captured during WWII. Thrown into a Nazi POW camp with over 1,200 fellow Americans, 200 of them Jewish.
One day, the Nazis gave an order: “All Jewish soldiers, step forward.” Edmonds gave a different order: “Everyone fall out.” All 1,200 stood shoulder to shoulder. The Nazi commandant lost it. Stormed over. Pulled a pistol. Pressed it to Edmonds’ forehead. “Identify the Jews or I’ll shoot you.” Edmonds didn’t blink. “We are all Jews here. If you shoot me, you’ll have to shoot us all. And when we win this war, you’ll be tried for war crimes.” The Nazi backed down. Two hundred Jewish-American lives were saved. Edmonds never told a soul. Not for credit. Not for medals. Not even to his own son. He didn’t want to be a hero.
He just wanted to do what was right. Let the world never forget his courage. Let his words echo forever. We are all Jews here.
Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
canisgallicus 