Hans Haider (83), founder and long-time chairman of the “Erinnern Villach” (Remember Villach) association, was awarded the European Tolerance Prize by the city of Villach and the Denk.Raum.Fresach (Fresach Memorial Space) on Wednesday evening for his life’s work. The Berlin native, Haider, has given a voice and a face to local remembrance culture for decades through his tireless dedication, according to the board of trustees of the European Tolerance Talks. http://www.fresach.org
For Haider, who has lived in Villach since childhood, the appeal “Never Forget” is not an empty phrase. As a former high school teacher, he remains committed to raising awareness and interest in remembrance culture among young people. Tolerance played a central role in this: he advocated for engaging perpetrators of monument damage in an enlightening dialogue rather than punishing them – believing that such discourse would be more productive.
For Haider, who has lived in Villach since childhood, the appeal “Never Forget” is not an empty phrase. “Hans Haider bridged the vast gap between idea and execution, between private remembrance and public commemoration. He recruited activists, inspired them with his enthusiasm, navigated bureaucratic hurdles, and convinced elected officials and opinion leaders,” the jury stated. He tirelessly shared his experiences with young people, broadened their perspectives, organized excursions, and forged networks – constantly developing new ideas for how tolerance, remembrance, and commemoration could be placed on a broader foundation.
“The ‘Monument of Names’ has made it possible to establish a continuous, recurring commemoration as an important ritual, providing us all with a place of power that serves as the starting point for numerous further activities in educational work and beyond. What is troubling, however, is that despite this exemplary culture of remembrance, some ancient patterns of behavior are resurfacing, patterns that are by no means unique to a new nationalism: the singling out of people, portraying their stigmatization as dangerous and a threat.”
“The ‘Monument of Names’ has made it possible to establish a continuous, recurring commemoration as an important ritual, giving us all a place of strength that serves as the starting point for numerous other activities in educational work and beyond. What is troubling, however, is that despite this exemplary culture of remembrance, some behavioral patterns are resurfacing that are ancient and by no means only typical of a new nationalism: the singling out of people, portraying them as dangerous and a threat.”
How a society treats those who are marginalized or marginalized is a measure of its democratic maturity. This, too, can be learned from Hans Haider. “Remembering is also resistance – responsible resistance against all forms of discrimination,” the jury stated. “For his lifelong fight for respectful, democratic, and peaceful coexistence, Hans Haider deserves the European Tolerance Prize for his life’s work.”
More photos from the award ceremony are available for download from the photo service.
