Remembering the Past, Together

Why is it important to remember and memorialize the past?
In societies that have experienced genocide or mass violence, an important aspect of transitional justice is the acknowledgement and remembrance of the past. Creating special days of remembrance institutionalizes this need, and can create a sense of unity and community. For the survivors of genocide or mass violence and their families, such days provide some level of affirmation and validation of the pain and suffering they have experienced. For those who were perpetrators or bystanders, days of remembrance force them to publicly or privately acknowledge the past and provide the opportunity to apologize for past wrongs.

Some memorials come in the form of buildings, sculptures or statues. Others come in the form of eternal flames, trees and street names. Healing Through Remembering, a nonsectarian and nongovernmental organization based in Northern Ireland, initiated a different type of memorial: a Day of Private Reflection as an act of reconciliation. The day took place on June 21, 2007. Healing through remembering delivered this message:

People from Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Republic of Ireland and further afield are invited to reflect, individually and privately, upon the conflict in and about Northern Ireland and the future that is before us.
  • To acknowledge the deep hurt and loss caused by the conflict in and about Northern Ireland,
  • To remember the men, women and children who on a daily basis live with the consequences of the conflict,
  • To reflect on our own attitudes that might have the potential to negatively impact on others and society,
  • To reflect on what more each of use might have done or might still do to uphold and enhance all other people's right to life and quality of life, and
  • To make a personal commitment that, as we begin to move forward as a society, such loss should never be allowed to happen again.
It is hoped that this initial Day of Private Reflection on 21 June 2007 could lead to an annual Day of Reflection, and continue to make a contribution to addressing the hurts of the past and moving forward as a society.1


Connections for the Classroom...

  • Healing Through Remembering created the Day of Private Reflection as "a day for personal, private and individual reflection, for example, at home or at work, within a family, group or organisation. Public events will not be a feature of the Day."2

    Research Northern Ireland and the history of the Troubles through exploration of this website and other resources. Given your understanding of Northern Ireland, why do you think Healing Through Remembering chose to set up the day as one of "personal, private and individual reflection" without "public events?" What are some positive and negative consequences of doing it this way? When are public events necessary to aid the process of healing? When do they become an obstacle towards peaceful coexistence?
  • If a divided society deliberately chooses time to remember the past, a huge challenge is presented: whose version of history is remembered? If you were to write a curriculum in Northern Ireland today to teach the history of the Troubles, what would you include? Can an historical narrative be taught that is both true to the past while helping the effort of transitional justice by bringing people together?
  • Many schools offer assemblies on days of remembrance and invite speakers. Sometimes days of remembrance are public holidays and schools and other institutions are closed. For some, these days are "vacation" days. Think about a day of remembrance in your country or community. What happens on that day? What role do you think that day plays in the larger effort to come to terms with the past?
  • Of course, many religions have special holidays to remember specific events in the past. Many countries also have days of reflection.

    • Memorial Day in the United States is devoted to remembering the men and women who died serving the U.S. military.
    • The 21st of March in South Africa is Human Rights Day, a day created to inspire people to not only remember the abuses of the past but to commit themselves to the development of and protection of human rights.
    • In Australia, there is Sorry Day, which is dedicated to National Healing. Sorry Day was recommended in the Bringing Them Home report that explored the history of the Australian government's forced removal of Aboriginal children in an effort to assimilate them. Sorry Day was intended to be one effort to acknowledge the suffering of this "stolen generation."
    • Holocaust Memorial Day in the UK takes place in January and began in 2001. It is dedicated to remembering the Holocaust as well as to raising awareness about antisemitism, racism and other genocides.

    If you were to suggest a day of remembrance, what would it be dedicated to and why? What do you think people should do on that day?


1 Day of Private Reflection Website. Healing Through Remembering. Source..
2 Ibid.