Today is Holocaust Day, a day of remembrance, a day to reflect on the millions of innocents who had their liberties destroyed and their lives terminated in the most horrific ways in the furtherance of a political dream.  Let their suffering never be forgotten, we must never forget.

We must never forget to ensure that this never happens on this planet again. 

Whilst the emphasis for the Holocaust has always been on the millions of Jews who suffered in the hands of the Nazi’s, it must also be remembered that hundreds of thousands of Blacks, Gypsies, mentally ill, disabled, trade unionists, political opponents, homosexuals, petty criminals and social misfits also suffered along side them.

It was not just ethnic cleansing of the worst kind, it was also social cleansing. 

Unfortunately the majority of youth in Britain are not aware of these facts, because History along with Geography  as core curriculum subjects were dropped many years ago, and children instead find themselves being taught  personal, social and health education (PSHE), which covers sex and drugs advice and vocational courses.

History has always taught us that those who study history learn the lessons of the past, and the risk of repeating events like the rise of Nazism, the Holocaust and maybe nuclear war are much reduced. 

A teenager’s view of the world today tends to be very insular, with little or no knowledge of the world at large, which countries are where, what their capitals are, what the political make up of a country is, or how history shaped the world and its peoples into the planet that we live on now.

Teaching Nationalism or Britishness, as suggested by Brown and Straw is divisive, and can only lead to the insular thinking that allowed the rise of the Nazi Party in 1937.  A Department for Education and Skills spokesman said: "Having an understanding of history is vital. That's why all five to14-year-olds must study history with a particular focus on British history. 

What they are being taught fails to put Britain in perspective, as part of the bigger world, and its place in that world.  It fails to teach the interaction through time that Britain has had with other countries, other political systems, the wars it has fought and why, whether they were right or wrong, whether they were just or stupid, and in particular does not teach of the Holocaust, claiming that to do so would be  insensitive, and does not take into account our multicultural make up.

That is exactly WHY it must be taught in our schools. 

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has argued for the use of more dates in history to build up "the big picture", but government is adamant that Britishness is the way forward.

With a government view that is both insular and divisive, it is unfortunately a reality that this country will be heading for a new Holocaust, one upon its own people. 

The Government have already enabled laws that would allow such events to take place, camps are being built under the guise of a mismanaged Home Office and a Prison Service with no spare places, and are still pushing for more and more inward looking draconian laws.

We have to pray that the youth of today, from all cultures and backgrounds, are a little more worldly wise than we give them credit for.