If sipping a sangria in the remains of a former concentration camp is a dream of yours, it’s about to come true. The Montenegrin government has approved plans for an island that once imprisoned Holocaust victims to be transformed into a resort, and the locals are outraged.
The small island of Mamula is currently uninhabited, but during World War II, it was used as a concentration camp and was maintained by Italian troops under the rule of Mussolini. Nearly 2,300 local people were held captive here during the Holocaust, and about 130 of them died from killings or starvation.
Like several other former concentration camps in Europe, the island has been left to the elements of nature. It stands alone, crumbling in commemoration of its dark past. But rather than let it deteriorate completely, the Montenegrin government wants to bring people back onto it by turning it into a high-end resort. And by "resort," they are not referring to a calm atmosphere to soak in the solemnity. No, this particular resort will feature DJs and nightclubs, spas, shopping and a marina-jetty. After all, would any concentration camp experience be complete without a place to show off your yacht?
The Montenegrin government believes it will be a huge economic boost and hopes the island will help bring business and tourism into the Adriatic Sea. However, to those truly affected, the decision feels like a slap in the face. Many locals have lost fathers and grandfathers in the history of this island, and knowing it will soon become a mere tourist hub is despicable. The only attempt made to help satisfy the locals was the agreement to feature a memorial room honoring the deceased. Surely tourists will visit it between daiquiris and truly understand the history behind the soil on which they stand.
After the Holocaust, mankind swore that it would never happen again. Yet the ignorance to history travels far beyond the island’s shores. If it truly does become a resort, what does that say to the world? U.S. students learn how Native Americans were mistreated throughout history, yet present ideas will still harm them. The border wall with Mexico, for example, has already divided Native American tribes. Now there is talk of expanding this wall, which will harm both wildlife and the local economy of towns near the border. Like Mamula, the government uses the possibility of small margins of growth at the large expense of those who live locally. It’s important that as citizens we acknowledge the stance of those harmed in the past and do not allow these abuses to repeat.