I just got home from taking the 10th graders on the annual field trip to the US Holocaust Museum in
Washington DC. Every year, different themes jump out at me. This year, it was courage.
Washington DC. Every year, different themes jump out at me. This year, it was courage.
The extreme courage that countless people on both large and small scales exhibited was breathtaking.
For every Raoul Wallenberg there were 10s of thousands ordinary people that hid, sheltered, fed
ordinary Jews, Jehovah Witnesses, Catholics, LGBTQs, Trade Unionists, and other political foes of
Nazism. Many of these people paid for their courage with their lives.
For every Raoul Wallenberg there were 10s of thousands ordinary people that hid, sheltered, fed
ordinary Jews, Jehovah Witnesses, Catholics, LGBTQs, Trade Unionists, and other political foes of
Nazism. Many of these people paid for their courage with their lives.
The other side to this coin is the extreme cowardice of so many that were “just following orders”, or
in the case of many in the US Government at that time, dismissed their inaction as necessary to do
something that would be helpful. Sorry, not sorry.
in the case of many in the US Government at that time, dismissed their inaction as necessary to do
something that would be helpful. Sorry, not sorry.
Walking through the museum, reading the plaques, looking at the pictures, watching the videos, one
gets the sense of the vibrancy of the Jewish people in the face of racism that had existed along a
spectrum for thousands of years in Europe.
gets the sense of the vibrancy of the Jewish people in the face of racism that had existed along a
spectrum for thousands of years in Europe.
History is important on its own, but that is not its sole import. It should inform what we do today.
We are living history, right now. At present, there are those who wish to use fear to divide us and
to push their agenda to seize power. I will not name names not only because these individuals and
groups are too numerous to name but also because, in truth, no person is an enemy of mine.
Ignorance, apathy, and sloth are my enemies, and I will confront them wherever I find them especially
when they are in my own person.
We are living history, right now. At present, there are those who wish to use fear to divide us and
to push their agenda to seize power. I will not name names not only because these individuals and
groups are too numerous to name but also because, in truth, no person is an enemy of mine.
Ignorance, apathy, and sloth are my enemies, and I will confront them wherever I find them especially
when they are in my own person.
I have no illusions that anybody other than some possible future grandchild of mine will remember my
name or my actions. Still, the question remains. What is the proper way to live. Do I want to live the
life of a craven, or do I want to live a life of courage? We Americans fancy ourselves as the “home of
the brave”, but what is that? Does it mean that we have no fear, or does it mean that we act with
courage in the face of fear?
name or my actions. Still, the question remains. What is the proper way to live. Do I want to live the
life of a craven, or do I want to live a life of courage? We Americans fancy ourselves as the “home of
the brave”, but what is that? Does it mean that we have no fear, or does it mean that we act with
courage in the face of fear?
I am not sure about my possible, future grandchildren, but I know this for sure. My boys are watching.
