Anne Frank was 15 years old when she died in a Nazi concentration camp. Yet her words outlived her body. Words scribbled in a diary from a secret attic in Amsterdam became one of the world’s most powerful mirrors.
This summer, I found myself in Amsterdam for Mindvalley U. By chance, my Airbnb was on the street next to Anne Frank’s house. Each morning, I’d step outside and see the same canals, the same cobblestones, and the same rooftops Anne may have glimpsed in stolen moments when she dared peek out from her hiding place.
A few mornings later, I opened the news and froze. The Diary of Anne Frank had just been banned in Florida schools under new book-ban laws. Imagine that. In 2025, one of the most important human documents ever written—the testimony of a teenage Jewish girl hiding from Nazi genocide—was deemed “inappropriate” for children to read.
The synchronicity hit me hard. I was standing before the building where those words were written. Words that survived Anne, even though she did not. Words that outlived war, genocide, and cruelty—only to be silenced again today by politicians who fear truth more than hatred.
And this got me thinking.
If Anne Frank were alive today, what would she say about America? About Israel & Gaza?
What I’m about to share may feel uncomfortable—but Anne’s words demand we face discomfort.
Who was Anne Frank
Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt in 1929. When the Nazis rose to power, her family fled to Amsterdam, hoping to escape persecution. In 1942, when deportations began, they went into hiding in a small annex behind her father’s office. For over two years, Anne, her sister Margot, her parents Otto and Edith, and four others lived in silence, relying on the courage of Dutch friends who smuggled them food and news.
Anne wasn’t just a symbol. She was a teenager—funny, sharp, sometimes rebellious, and always observant. She dreamed of being a journalist. She once wrote, “I want to go on living even after my death.” And, tragically, she did—not through her life, but through her words.
In August 1944, they were betrayed. The Gestapo stormed the annex. The Franks were deported to Westerbork, then Auschwitz, and finally Anne and Margot to Bergen-Belsen. In early 1945, both sisters died of typhus—just weeks before liberation. Anne was 15.
Only Otto Frank survived. After the war, Miep Gies, one of the helpers, handed him Anne’s diary. He published it, fulfilling her dream. Today, it has sold over 30 million copies and been translated into more than 70 languages.
Anne’s body was silenced. But her voice became immortal.
Anne’s words in today’s world
Anne once wrote:
“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor, helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.”
She was describing Nazi roundups in Amsterdam.
But doesn’t that sound eerily like ICE raids in America today? Parents taken in the middle of the night. Children left crying, bewildered, abandoned. Different time, different uniforms—but the same cruelty.
Anne also wrote:
“We are chained to one spot, without rights, a thousand obligations… waiting for the inevitable end.”
That could be the voice of Gaza today. Entire families locked in. Starved. Bombed. Denied freedom of movement. Children asking, “Why must we suffer simply because of who we are?”
Her words, written 80 years ago, read like dispatches from the present. History is not past. It is a loop—unless we break it.
A hard, controversial mirror
Anne’s diary teaches us to look at cruelty honestly, no matter where it comes from. And one thing history proves: atrocities don’t start with bullets. They start with words.
Dehumanizing language always comes first.
So let’s talk about Gaza, as uncomfortable as this may seem.
Consider the echoes:
- Nazi leadership (1943): Heinrich Himmler at Posen: “I am referring here to the evacuation of the Jews, the extermination of the Jewish people….”
- Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (2023): On the Palestinian town of Huwara: “[Huwara] should be wiped out. I think the State of Israel should do it.”
- Hitler, Mein Kampf: Jews as “the typical parasite, a sponger who, like an infectious bacillus, keeps spreading.” Nazi propaganda routinely cast Jews as vermin.
- Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (2023): Announcing a siege of Gaza: “There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel… We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.”
- Nazi propaganda (Goebbels echoing Hitler): Jews blamed collectively for war, threatened with “extermination.”
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog (2023): “It is an entire nation out there that is responsible….” — words widely criticized as endorsing collective punishment.
- Nazi euphemisms: “Evacuation” as code for extermination.
- Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu (2023): Suggesting a nuclear strike on Gaza was “one of the options.”
Different contexts. Different scales. But the same pattern.
Dehumanize → Justify → Destroy.
Anne Frank’s words remind us: when we hear this language, it is never “just rhetoric.” It is the runway to cruelty.
You see, cruelty always begins the same way: when leaders tell us to fear “the other.”
Fear the immigrant.
Fear the refugee.
Fear the neighbor who looks different.
Fear the people beyond your border.
That is the oldest political trick in the book. And it works—unless we refuse to buy it.
Anne Frank didn’t write her diary so we could cry in museums. She wrote it so we could recognize her suffering in others—and have the courage to stop it.
Why giving people a chance matters
This message hit me with even greater force because, while in Amsterdam, I also had a chance encounter.
I bumped into a young Syrian man who once worked for me back in 2016. At the time, he was a refugee in Malaysia. He and his friend had escaped a country torn apart by war. One had seen his home blown to rubble. The other had lost a brother when a bomb fell on the very place his brother was resting.
Both had lived through horrors most of us can barely imagine. And yet, when I met them, I didn’t just see refugees. I saw brilliant young minds. I saw hope, determination, and resilience.
That year, I had an idea for a new learning model called Quest and needed someone to build the app. These two young Syrians built it in record time. That app became the Mindvalley app—today used by millions worldwide and even featured in 200,000 Apple stores on the iPad.
Yes, our app was built by Syrians. Yes, it was built by refugees who were given a chance.
Anne never got her chance. But when we give people that chance, look what can happen.
This is why I am so adamant about this message. When politicians tell you to fear refugees, or immigrants, or minorities, they’re not just lying. They are robbing humanity of its future.
The rule we must all live by
If there’s one rule we must all live by, it’s this:
The moment a leader tells you to fear refugees, minorities, or immigrants, you are looking at a tyrant.
Do not believe them. Do not reward their fear with your silence—or your vote.
Because fear divides. And division always leads to cruelty.
What the world needs now is unity.
Unity across stripes, colors, races, and ethnicities. Unity across cultures, religions, and especially across borders.
Because the only way we solve the greatest challenges facing humanity—from climate change to war to poverty—is to remember this truth:
We are one humanity.
And kindness cannot stop at the invisible lines of race, religion, or border.
The higher vision
Anne Frank once wrote:
“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”
That may be the most extraordinary line ever written. She believed it while hiding from people who wanted her dead.
If Anne could believe in human goodness then, we can believe in it now.
Let’s prove her right.
Let’s choose compassion over cruelty.
Let’s stand up for one another across borders.
Let’s silence the voices of fear not by shouting back but by choosing unity again and again.
Because Anne’s diary isn’t just a warning.
It’s a torch.
And it’s in our hands now.
So here’s what we can collectively do.
Stand for unity. Across color. Across race. Across borders. Across religions.
When you hear fear, answer with love.
When you hear division, answer with solidarity.
When a politician uses scapegoating, vote the other way.
The only way to honor Anne is to prove her right—that humanity is good at heart.
And that goodness becomes real when we act.
Because history doesn’t just happen to us. It is written by our choices—and our silence.
I’d like to hear from you: Drop a comment below—let’s create a conversation around unity, compassion, and what it means to stand for humanity in our time.
1,234 Responses
Thank you for this important message. I have always been drawn to Anne Frank’s powerful story. It’s a lesson humanity must learn to be able to progress. We stand united. Taste only way.
Don’t pretend you know what is going on in the world. A wise man once taught me that I do not know what is happening in the house next door. The details, the context, the understanding of things unspoken. Yet you want to believe the brainwashing of social and legacy media that you know with 100% clarity what is going on half way across the world. These ‘supposed’ insights do not help anyone.
What is more troubling is that I encountered you because you spoke well on videos. Some nice ideas. And it peaked an interest that you had something positive to contribute to the world. It is clear now that these initial impressions are not accurate and as genuine as I had hoped. Good luck in the future.
Thank you Vishen, for writing this post. More than ever, we need people to remind us of our collective humanity. Thank you for using your platform to remind us of this.
I love Mind valley because it is a great escape from the crazy political world of America. I understand why you could think that Anne Frank’s story is similar to the ICE deportations, but the immigrant people are being deported not killed. They have come here illegally. Many have done horrible crimes that are not even mentioned in the media for political purposes. The Jews were held in concentration camps. We are sending illegal immigrants back because we can’t afford to pay for them to live here for free. Please don’t judge. I am sure you would not want these people living in your house with your children. Many have raped and trafficked little girls and boys. This has been documented in multiple states. I hope this helps you understand why the deportations are happening in America. We just want to be safe again. I wish you the best and know that your article was written from your heart and appreciate your perspective.
Sincerely,
Erika
Yes! Amazing message! How do we spread this message to those who need to hear it? How do we lift the veil to help the truth be visible? Thank you!
Thank you for speaking out. I fight for unity, compassion, justice, respect and freedom for everybody. Protect who is more vulnerabile!
Thank you for sharing this blog. I joined Mindvalley today and completed my first 20-30 minutes of content. As I read through the blog, it resonated with my thoughts regarding the violence and killing that has occurred since before October 7th. It has opened everyone’s eyes to the situation. The pain and suffering inflicted is beyond anything anyone could imagine, even worse than the Holocaust.
Vishen, thank you for taking this stand and for using your voice and platform to spread kindness, compassion, and courage in a moment when the world needs it most. Your reflection on Anne Frank’s words is powerful because it reminds us that history is not distant; it is a mirror. By connecting her timeless wisdom to today’s struggles, you invite us to recognize the humanity in one another and to refuse silence in the face of cruelty.
Your story about the young Syrian refugees who helped build the Mindvalley app shows exactly what happens when we see people for their potential instead of their labels. It is proof that compassion is not only morally right but also transformative for humanity’s future.
Thank you for reminding us that unity is a choice we make every day. Thank you for carrying Anne’s torch forward, and for challenging us to answer fear with love, division with solidarity, and cruelty with courage. The world is better because you are choosing to lead with conviction and humanity.
You have redeemed yourself for me Vidhen. I had started to think you were focused only on the business of your business and was not recognizing the suffering around us. My question now is what is your call to action?
What actions can your followers take to stop the atrocities that are so pervasive that many are feeling powerless and numb?
When I hit submit I get a message that I’m posting comments too quickly and to slow down. Then my comment is not posted. Why?
I’m really impressed by someone in finally taking advantage of their being in the spotlight to show a radical stance. Thank you for saying out loud what many people are thinking but not daring to share.
Actually, I see no similarity. The individuals ICE is removing are people who have entered the United States of America illegally and have broken laws of this country, they cannot be described as “poor” nor “helpless”. Your comparison is to Nazi regime is what is unacceptable. Just one question, if you truly believe this, how many illegal residents have you opened your home to for permanent residency? Yet, I agree, the book should never be removed from library shelves, it is a wonderful writing.
Amazing essay
Will non renew. I don’t come here to get preached to about your political views.
The war against Gaza began at 6 in the morning on Saturday, when Nochava soldiers broke into Israeli kibbutzim and communities across the fence, broke into the homes of civilians, took women, men and children out of their beds barefoot and kidnapped them from their homes. After some of them were brutally raped and murdered in front of their loved ones. At the same time, young people from the Nova party were brutally raped, murdered and kidnapped. Hamas still holds 50 Israeli hostages, some of them are still alive and held in inhumane conditions.
I think it’s important to show both sides of the equation
Thank you Sima for reminding Vishen & the other misguided souls how the situation in Gaza was created. It was reported shortly after October 7, 2023 that about 75% of Palestinians supported Hamas & the atrocities against the people of Israel. They teach their children to hate Jews in pre-school. The majority of Palestinians are not “Live and Let Live” sort of people. They have been offered a 2-state solution multiple times in the past 80 or so years, but they have rejected those offers. “From the (Jordan) river to the sea” means killing or driving out all the Jews from the Biblical land of Israel. Sadly, a large part of the Palestinian population are really little more than a vicious death cult which welcomes death & destruction wherever & to whoever they can. Their neighboring Arab states won’t take them because of the trouble they cause wherever they go.
The currently popular phrase, F_ Around & Find Out (FAFO), kind of applies to Hamas & the majority of the Palestinian people. Yes, it is a humanitarian tragedy, but don’t forget who started it & how Hamas has a history of using their own Palestinian civilians as human shields to try to get sympathy for their cause from the mush-brained people who get their news from anti-Israel “journalists”. As an American who believes in God, free people, free markets, and “Live & Let Live”, I stand with Israel in their Gaza campaign against Hamas (who the Palestinian people have voted into power).
have beed recieving your messages for years, but this is the one that moved me. I know it is still part of your marketing, but you said it well and it is good to hear someone like you saying it real. Thank you
Beautifully written. A lesson from Anne’s legacy is that behind every statistic is a human story, and every human story deserves to be heard with compassion. Her diary teaches us that even in the darkest times, there’s value in documenting truth and holding onto hope.
Thank you for the reminder that individual voices – then and now – have the power to help us understand complex realities with more humanity. We all need a little hope right now. It was refreshing to read this. It gave me a little hope.
This article will end my subscription with MindValley. Your political propaganda is not why I signed up.
Vishen, I admire your courage and compassion for speaking out— There is nothing to add – I couldn’t agree more. I too have seen and felt all the bad and all the good of the past 80 years and worry about not doing enough to stop history from repeating itself. Love is always the answer. Thank you for all you do to make this a better world.
well done Vishen: as I read your piece today in the background was an Americn news item talking about Donald Trump and his behaviours and his ICE – and all the actions tht are taling place in the UNITED States, and I was moved to tears as I watch my american brothers and sisters being lead in a way so similar to Hitler I cried. My body shook in despair and wonder how wwe can stand by so quietly as the masses allow Trump to do to America what Hitler did in Germany. I am a peacemaker working for Peace and doing the best I can but feeling I am a failure when amercia is falling apart in front of my very eyes.. the only way I can see the future is if we bring back shunning as a technique and to stop the killing . If shunning does not come into favor I do not have an answer for tose that question making peace with the Hamas. They must be shunned we cannot kill them all – it is not the right thing to do – but they are animals. The peacemaker used to say – do not feed the enemy. There was a woman that fed both sides of the people at war and the Peacemaker asked her to stop feeding the warriors as both tribes would stop at her place before going to war. he would come by every month and make the same plea. she said I have to make a living. On the third visit she said to him. OK I will stop feeding the warriiors. He asked what made you change your mind. She replied that many of her sons had been killed in the war and she only had one left – she did not want him to die – so she stopped feeding both sides – the war ended. Such is one stroy of the peacemaker. stop feeding Donald Trump if only a symbol of Peacemakeing,
Thank you for this very thoughtful comparison of Anne Franks message with the messages in today’s world and what they represent. For peace to exist we first need to find peace within ourselves, and if we live with hatred or fear we do not have peace. For those interested you may also want to check the Letters from Westerbork written by Etty Hillesum. She was a jewish women from Amsterdam that wrote letters from the camp. Reading about her experiences and her mindset truely makes you believe that anyone can be enlightened, but only through believing in the good in all humanity.