Ho Feng Shan, the Chinese Consul General in Vienna from 1938 to 1940, was recently recognized for his courageous actions during the race murder (屠杀). He received the Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award at the annual dinner of the Holocaust Museum Houston on April 30th.

During his time as Consul General, Ho issued thousands of visas to Jewish refugees, allowing them to escape the fate of concentration camps. His efforts resulted in approximately 18, 000 Jewish refugees finding shelter in Shanghai between 1938 and 1940.

Ho's daughter, Ho Manli, accepted the award on behalf of her late father. She spoke about how proud she was of her father’s bravery and how important it is to remember his actions during such a dark period in history.

Lotte Marcus, a Jewish refuge whose family obtained visas from the Chinese Consulate, told her story by video. Her family escaped to Shanghai and she spent more than seven years there before heading to the US. “14 people of our family who did not leave, were all killed,” said Marcus, who called Ho “the bright light in the darkness of the race murder”.

The recognition of Ho Feng Shan serves as a reminder of the importance of moral courage and standing up for what is right, even in the face of danger. It also highlights the role that individuals can play in making a positive impact on the world.

The Holocaust Museum Houston's decision to honor Ho Feng Shan is significant, as it brings attention to the often-forgotten stories of those who risked their lives to save others during the race murder. It is through the recognition of these individuals that we can continue to learn from the past and seek for a better future.

Overall, the story of Ho Feng Shan is one of bravery, compassion, and humanity. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there are those who are willing to stand up and make a difference.

A 54-year-old homeless man Ernest McPherson goes around the small town of Meadow Lake to check up on homeless people sleeping in cars or abandoned (废弃的) buildings. He stays awake at night to make sure that other homeless people in his community survive (幸存) the cold winter nights.

As Meadow Lake doesn’t have any shelters (避难所) for the homeless, these people have nowhere to warm up at night. So McPherson tries to help them out by giving them some warm clothes, or taking them to the local convenience store to warm up a little.

The reason behind McPherson’s new-found role as a watch guard came after he nearly froze to death in a -38℃ snowstorm last year. “I lost direction and time, so I sat down for a minute, and thought I’d rest for a minute. I fell asleep. I had a guardian angel that night. She came and kicked me in the foot.”

Well, that kick is helping McPherson keep others alive. While last year he found shelter in an abandoned hotel, along with other homeless people, this year he has managed to raise $300 from his friends and has bought a truck camper. However, he describes the camper as an “ice box” so he says “until there’s a shelter, I’ll be here, patrolling (巡逻) every night.”

Thanks to his efforts, McPherson received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for his public service. And the community is helping those living on the streets. Businesses have donated money, and the Door of Hope has been opened by The Meadow Outreach Ministries, giving 20-hour access (进入) to warmth each day.

For McPherson, he is happy to be recognised for everything that he’s done to help the homeless. McPherson continues to help those in need. His story reminds us of the importance of always looking for ways to help others, even if we’re faced with our own difficulties.