Member Joshua Holzer was busy on Esperanto Day in July: he had articles about the language published in no less than three magazines. First, an article he wrote for The Conversation was also picked up by Smithsonian Magazine. Titled Why Hitler and Stalin Hated Esperanto, the 135-Year-Old Language of Peace, the article provides a brief overview of the language and its history, concluding with the link between Esperanto and pacifism:

… the word “Esperanto” means “one who hopes.” Some may argue that it is idealistic to believe that Esperanto could unite humanity, especially in the midst of another major war.

But even the most violent wars don’t end without peace talks, which often require translators to interpret the languages of the opposing parties. Zamenhof wondered whether violence itself might be less common if a neutral language could help people bridge their divides.