Dear Mr. Trudeau,

My name is David Groen.  Please allow me to tell you a little bit about myself.  I am the son of Holocaust survivors from Holland.  As I am sure you know, Canada and Holland were strong allies in World War II.  In fact, my father, who was an active member of the Dutch resistance, rode into the town where my mother was hiding when the Canadian military liberated it from Nazi occupation.  The most important thing I want you to know about me is that I never knew my grandparents, one uncle, one aunt, and countless cousins, since the Nazis decimated the Dutch Jewish community, murdering 75% of the Jews living in Holland between 1940 and 1945.

So yes, I take what recently happened in your country’s parliament very personally.  As an author and public speaker passionate about making the world aware of the atrocities that took place and keeping alive the memory of what happened under Hitler’s barbaric reign, my reasons for reaching out to you, as important as they may be, are not politically motivated.  In fact, I am reaching out to you specifically to avoid being political, as the more political move would be to reach out to the leader of the opposition.  However, my motivation is not to impact Canadian politics, it is to address and help fight a growing global crisis.  I do not know you, so I am unable to comment on whether you are a good man or a bad man.  I do know that certain Canadian officials, up to the very top, have pleaded ignorance regarding the history of Yaroslav Hunka, the Nazi living in your midst.  I choose to believe that plea as being an honest one.  Nevertheless, that does not make it an acceptable one.  The only thing that will truly make it acceptable is a response in your parliament, preferably from someone who will tell a story of exactly why it is so important that this high level of ignorance be combatted.  The speaker should not be a mere talking head, but someone whose family was impacted by the evils committed by the Nazis.

My public speaking revolves around the story of my uncle, Bram Rodrigues-Lopes.  The younger and only sibling of my late mother, Bram was a violin player and band member when the Nazis invaded Holland.  Through my book and website, Bram’s violin made it back to me and my family a little over 4 years ago.  What makes Bram’s story so powerful and so relevant is the fact that he was murdered by the Nazis just 3 weeks shy of his 19^th birthday.  He never had a chance to build a life and leave behind a legacy.  His story speaks to the reality and to the heart of what the Nazis did to those they wanted to exterminate, the Jewish people being priority number one.  The story also speaks of the decency and bravery of the friend that safeguarded his violin, as well as his son who made the effort to find me. 

Should you choose to bring me to Canada to address your parliament I will provide a powerful message emphasizing the dangers of forgetting the atrocities of the past together with the hope provided by the decency of others.  What took place in your parliament this past week only magnifies the importance of keeping the story alive.  My presentation will not be political as not only have I made a conscious decision to leave politics to those more qualified, but I also feel I have a different mission on this earth besides moving any country’s political needle.  Since I see this as being an apolitical topic, and one of critical importance, I will leave everyone in the room with a message they will carry in their hearts and minds for years to come.

Many of us in the Jewish community use the line, “Never Again”. To work towards that, it is critical for it never to be forgotten.  I believe certain people in Canada need a reminder, and I offer myself as the person to provide that reminder to your parliament.

Sincerely,

David Groen

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