An Evening of History

Last night we attended the 'launch' of a book and film about the gulag letters, something to which I referred, in several posts, a while back. Dr. Ruth Derksen Siemens has finally completed her project and it is indeed a labour of love and an insight into a very difficult period of time for the Mennonite people.

During many years of informal polls, Dr. Ruth discovered that there was widespread knowledge of Hitler, the holocaust, and the six million Jews who were killed during the Nazi regime. However, almost nobody knew who Joseph Stalin was, nor had they knowledge of the millions who perished in the gulags spread throughout the northern former Soviet Union nor that it was going on until as recently as 1970!

The evening was inspiring as the packed house paid close attention to all that was said. After the video was done, Joel Stobbe played (cello) two of the favourite hymns from that era and a faint accompaniment was detected as those in attendance reminisced almost silently with their muted humming. By the last stanza of the final hymn, the sound had grown to a beautiful four part harmony as only Mennonites can do. It was an emotional moment and unforgettable. The stories must be kept alive and with endeavors such as "Through the Red Gate" and the book "Remember Us" the coming generations will have no excuse.

Click on the link on the side bar to access the website where books and DVD's can be purchased and you can get more information about the project.