By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX – "I still believe in the goodness of mankind. I still believe that people want to help when help is needed."
Those were the emotional words of Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) as she brought HCR 211 to the floor of the Senate. The resolution honors Holocaust Remembrance Day, to honor Holocaust victims, survivors, families and liberators.
Shapiro said in addition to being a first generation American, she also is a child of Holocaust survivors. She said in offering the resolution that she honors her family, "many of whom I've never known." Many, she said, were victims of the Holocaust.
Shapiro said Jews and Gentiles lost their lives to evil during the Holocaust, but she described herself as an optimist who believes that her children and grandchildren will know "life without evil, and hatred and prejudice."
"Fanaticism must constantly be fought because it leads to dehumanization and degradation of people," she noted.
Today marked the first-ever celebration of Holocaust Remembrance Day at the State Capitol.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.