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.
1,246 Responses
Is so important that people with your level of influence, stands for what ir right. Im glad to read this, thank you!
Agradezco la reflexión de Vishen. Creo que, si viviéramos en el mundo que la mayoría queremos construir, los humanos no necesitarían migrar en masa como lo están haciendo. Soy de Venezuela, y en mi Pais han migrado de 32 millones, unos 6-7 millones esparcidos por toda la America (la mayoría) y otros en Europa (especialmente, Espana). Un Pais que acobijo a muchos inmigrantes en el pasado (entre las décadas de los 50,60 y 70’s), se nos convirtió ahora en uno buscando auxilio para parte de su población. Lo de Gaza u Ucrania son hechos que cuestionan nuestra humanidad. ¿Que nos está pasando como humanidad? ¿Estamos preparado para los que se nos viene encima con esta nueva ola de tecnologías revolucionarias? Es más importante una ideología política obsoleta por la hyper-modernidad, ¿que lo que somos?
Más allá de lo valiente de Ana Frank, es despertarnos de este letargo al que históricamente nos han condenado líderes políticos y gobernantes que siembran el odio y dividen a la humanidad, nos llenan de miedo y asesinan si no se les hace caso. Todo porque detrás de esos líderes está la ambición desmedida de poder y dinero. Es más responsabilidad nuestra de revisar mejor a quién elegimos para que nos gobierne, y en la mayoría de los paises tenemos esa oportunidad, pero nos dejamos engañar fácilmente.
Hagamos la revolución del cambio de conciencia que nos exige la actuaiidad. Somo más los que deseamos sinceramente la paz y la verdadera libertad. Son muy pocos los que nos tienen dominados y acorralados en la desigualdad y la violencia. Es un esfuerzo también individual para salir de la zona de confort y no seguir viendo con indiferencia los atropellos que sufren nuestros hermanos.
El solo permitir que se le quite la vida a un ser humano, no estamos evolucionando como humanidad, estaremos avanzando hacia nuestra autodesaparición.
Vishen, no me cabe duda de tus buenas intensiones, pero partís de lugares erróneos. La lógica y el diálogo en oriente medio no es así, de hecho el pueblo palestino está educado en el odio, les enseñan por ejemplo en matemáticas, si hay 8 judíos y matas 5 cuántos quedan? Desde ese lugar es muy difícil poder conectar; intentar un diálogo o incluso desear la paz. La carta fundacional del grupo terrorista Hamas habla de borrar a los judíos del mapa. Mejor dicho empezar por ellos, ya vimos en la historia que todo lo que comienza con los judíos no termina con ellos….
El 7/10/23, grupos armados de Gaza irrumpieron en Israel y masacraron a jóvenes que bailaban en una fiesta por la paz y personas de todas edades y religiones que estaban en sus casas, la mayoría de ellos en Kibutzim, gente que colaboraba con ellos, les daba trabajo y creían en la convivencia pacífica de dos estados. Desde 1948 cuando la ONU proclamó el estado de Israel también lo hizo con el de Palestina, ellos no lo aceptaron, era más negocio seguir eternamente en la categoría de refugiados y en vez de desarrollarse como nación, invirtieron miles de millones de dinero en túneles y armas.
La verdad te considero un ser sabio, pero es de sabio darse cuenta cuando el tema le queda grande, te sugiero profundices conocimientos, vayas a Israel, y puedas ver con tus propios ojos todo. Y no te guíes por las agencias de noticias financiadas por Qatar.
Agradezco que te tomes el tiempo de leer y reflexionar. No sigamos premiando al terrorismo por qué lo miramos desde la lógica woke.
Hola
Me encantó tu artículo porque personalmente el Diario de Ana Frank es uno de mis libros favoritas, también porque soy judía y nunca pensé posible volver a vivir y sentir tanto odio otra vez.
Lo que me parece que te falto puntualizar son las declaraciones de odio y exterminio de los líderes y políticos gazatis, y por supuesto las de varios líderes europeos.
No puedo estar más de acuerdo con la manipulación a través del miedo y lo diferente.
Saludos
Natali Michan
Me preocupa muchísimo este correo. Me parece terrible.
Primero, están usando el sufrimiento ajeno para promocionar MindValley.
Y segundo, porque “extraer” información para hacer contrastes, es amarillista e inexacto.
Aunque el mensaje final es un llamado a la “humanidad”, están utilizando el sufrimiento como moneda, y eso es denigrante.
Como mujer, judía, nieta de migrantes y humanitaria de profesión tengo la autoridad de señalar y rechazar este discurso. Anne Frank misma estaría en contra de este correo.
¡¿Cómo se atreven a usar la voz de Anne Frank para demandar al país que, de haber existido, ella jamás habría sido asesinada?!
Eliminen este te to lleno de cinismo y falta de respeto a la memoria y la voz de Anne Frank.
ME UNO AL LLAMADO DE PAZ, PERO ESTE APPROACH ES UNA FALTA DE RESPETO A TODAS LAS VICTIMAS DEL HOLOCAUSTO.
Gracias por tu aporte. Estoy totalmente de acuerdo.
Ojalá que todos los seres humanos podamos encontrar la paz y el amor para todos nosotros, para que continuemos avanzando en nuestra evolución y no destruyéndonos.
Te abrazo Vishen
Well done, Vishen, this is the most inspiring words I have read in years. You are absolutely right, even though there are many who will not like hearing the truth. If only people come to their senses, we would have no more wars.
GRACIAS VISHEN…NECESARIAS PALABRAS . LA HUMANIDAD EN SU CICLO DE INVOLUCION… ACONGOJA VER QUE LOS MOMENTOS MAS TERRIBLES DE LA HISTORIA VUELVEN , PESE A LA IA , NOS DESHUMANIZAMOS COMO SI NO ESTUVIERA LA HISTORIA COMO PRECEDENTE.
Gracias, gracias, gracias!!
Por alzar tu voz. Cuesta tanto hablar sin que crean que estamos exagerando, que estamos locos, pero la realidad es tan clara. El amor y compasión para todo ser si tiente sobre esta tierra. Tanto tiempo en silencio de las figuras públicas, nunca es tarde, gracis por alzar tu voz de forma clara y masiva.
GRACIAS!!!! POR ALZAR TU VOZ.
Mentes despiertas. Corazones atentos.
Basta!!!!
I’m very happy you took this time to make a comment about evildoers in our world. There are a couple more. But the most chaotic, cruel and corrupt today, in my opinion, are Netanyahu and Donald Trump. Fear mongers, chaos and division creators and liars. They believe they are all powerful and unfortunately no one has stopped them. Putin needs to be in there too with his abducting Ukranian children and his illegal war on a democratic nation. Nonetheless, your comments are heartfelt and to me, in line with what you are trying to build. Unity, love, equality, and so many of your speakers/experts are inclined toward the spiritual, working to renew that light within all of us to create, and share with love, respect and kindness. Or as I like to say, be the best me I can be: emotional, mental, physical and spiritual. And Mind Valley has been there to provide the world with those programs and speakers and events that strive for the best in these areas.
Thank you so much for talking about love vs hate and that we, together, can overcome.
I’ve been waiting for some words from You Vishen, a long time ago. I think that something is starting to shake the basements of many influential people. I read some comments that do not attach to the message of unity. I believe that politics have divided us all. I can’t see or read people’s comments on what Israel is doing is ok. Or that US Will kick You out. But honestly, is what I’ve been observing in people’s behavior from a long time. I hope that people who call themselves spiritual and loving everybody start seeing that it has to be no matter the color of the skin, the religion or any other human divide. There is a spiritual war going on too. And that spiritual war is going to define how we share our lives in the future.
I thank You for speaking up for Gaza, the inmigrants, the helpless people. Silence is complicity.
Good morning Vishen,
Thank you for your most eloquent email to your Mindvalley Tribe. Thank you for standing up and speaking out, it took courage, we are proud of you. As a group may each of us help to bring back peace, kindness, trust, empathy and love of our fellow man.
Well spoken Vishen, I agree. The world needs unity and the loop being stopped, so we can evolve as a new humanity. There is goodness in the hearts of people. For me it is the fear of speaking up, being silenced again that is still preventing me to speak out like you just did. That is something I believe lots of people struggle with. I don’t know how to change that, but I know I want to break the cycle. Thank you for your courage of speaking your truth and being an example to thousands of people. 💖
Gracias por compartir, encuentro tanta razón en tus palabras, ojalá más personas vean lo que está pasando
I don’t believe it’s an eye for an eye in Israel/ Gaza conflict. It’s about survival of the Israeli state and the Jews. For me this blog appeared as media propaganda against the Jews, using Anne Franks diary to try and hide the antisemitic nature of this article. I didn’t find this unifying, if that was the intent. it was divisive.
Thank you for framing the reality so softly. I am shocked to see here the depth that propaganda has leached acid into the minds of (assumingly) good people replying here. Wow.. So here we have the answer clear as day to
“Why didn’t the Germans stop the Nazis?”
The propaganda had justified genocide to its people.
Why do we have to repeat history?
Compasión antes que prejuicio, admito que a veces es difícil en un país como México, en donde la inseguridad y la violencia está a la orden del día, pero realmente confío en que me ha salvado la vida, hasta ahora. Bendiciones a todos.
Gracias Vishen por hacer visible y sensible lo que a veces se busca invisibilizar y hacer pasar como normal.
Hi Vishen, thank you for your message on Ann Frank. Unless, however, you include God ( Allah, Krishna or Jehovah
or etc.) in your message it will always be incomplete. We are brothers and sisters only because we have a common Father.
Peace and Blessings.