It’s
frightening to know that the Nazis had many willing accomplices during their
cruel reign of terror. It’s horrific enough that they decided to systematically
exterminate a huge chunk of the population, it’s even worse when one reads
accounts of how many low-level people performed their ghastly duties with zeal
and pleasure. The human potential for evil is heartbreaking. It makes one
wonder who could be trusted in a moment of crisis. However, before plunging
into utter despair, one’s heart is lifted by the human capacity for courage and
compassion displayed by a few brave people driven to do the right thing despite
its danger and unpopularity. While I pray that nothing like this ever happens
where I live, I hope that I will be fearless and courageous enough to help my
fellow humans.
To anyone who
has the slightest urge to say, “Why do you care about the holocaust? You’re not
a Jew. Other genocides have happened since,” I am well aware that other, more
recent, genocides have taken place in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.
However, that’s not the topic of this book. I will write a review about those
atrocities, when I do read a book that covers them. Besides, it’s not about
Jews, it’s about humans. Also, be reminded that Jews were not the Nazi’s only
victims----they were merely the largest group. Among others, The Nazis also
targeted Jehova’s Witnesses, members of the LGBT community, mentally and/or
physically disabled people, political prisoners, race defilers (Aryans who
married/had sex with Jews), rescuers of Jews, Roma people, Seventh-day
Adventists and trade unionists. If you or anyone you know can be categorized
into one of the above groups and was alive in Europe during WWII, you could
have ended up in a concentration camp. I happen to fit into several of the
above groups.
November 24, 2018
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