Thank God my great grandparents left Eastern Europe at the turn of the century. Undoubtedly, relatives they left behind perished at the hands of the Nazis. Today what galls me the most is the notion that Americans cannot study the history of those atrocities or dig deep into the history of American slavery and other crimes without ignorant people crying that it makes them feel bad. We need to study the past and present, warts and all, if we're to better ourselves.
"First they came for the African Americans and I spoke up because I am my sisters' and my brothers' keeper. And then they came for the women and I spoke up because women hold up half the sky. And then they came for the immigrants and I spoke up because I remember the ideals of our democracy. And then they came for the Muslims and I spoke up because they are my cousins and we are one human family. And then they came for the Native Americans and Mother Earth and I spoke up because the blood-soaked land cries and the mountains weep. They keep coming. We keep rising up. Because we Jews know the cost of silence. We remember where we came from and we will link arms because when you come for our neighbors, you come for us and that just won't stand." (Rabbi Michael Latz)
Thanks Kareem. Like others on here, I am a first generation son of parents that survived the Holocaust. My father wrote his memoir that he finished around 1975. His was a story of escape from a camp. Along with my mother, who was the only women amongst the escapees. Two thirds of the escapees were recaptured. His story was penned originally in Yiddish, and I had the book masterfully translated in the early 2000's so my daughter could also know the first hand account of her grandparents. It was meant to be a family record, but late last year I actually opened up his story to the world. Currently I have it published on Amazon books for ease of production and ordering. The current world events that have rekindled the fires of antisemitism have also kindled a fire in me to get his story out, and into the hands and minds of future generations. His book is titled Before My Eyes... By Leon Klott. I would love to send you a copy for review as well. Those that have read it have been both touched, and sometimes speechless over the acts that took place. They are also amazed at his resiliency in surviving this dark moment in history. This has been an amazing journey for me as well, as I never expected to be involved in getting the word out to others...especially Holocaust deniers. At any rate, please keep up your writing, I find that our thinking aligns on over 95% of the stories and takes that you have. You are a great human!
Dear Kareem. I did not respond to your video & message because I had friends and neighbors who were so damaged by the German monster that I couldn't even deal with some stories they told me . In college I met & dated a young man who was born in a concentration camp. He always wore long-sleeved shirts regardless of the weather because of his tattoo. He was embarrassed. I told him to wear it openly as a brave & fortunate survivor. His father, grandfather, uncle & grandmother were gassed by the Nazis. He, his aunt, & mother were liberated by American soldiers. He was 3 years old. There were others. It's difficult to keep reminding family & friends about the ghastly doings of these monsters & it's happening all over again. They tell me to be quiet that they are tired of hearing about it. Sad. Thank you for the reminder.
Thank you Kareem - I will never forget the first person I knew with a number tattoo on her wrist and sadly I met many more in my life. It is a horrible reminder of the devastation that happened to so many - too many. I can never forget the stories I heard and the books I've read about the atrocities that took place and it sickens me today to see people treating it so lightly. I shall never forget.
Thank you Kareem for remembering. I am the child of a Holocaust survivor. My mother was one of fourteen siblings and only one of four to survive. I addition she lost both her parents. Unfortunately I have the feeling remembrance of the Nazi and their abettors genocide is fading into the backwaters of our conscience.
Thank God my great grandparents left Eastern Europe at the turn of the century. Undoubtedly, relatives they left behind perished at the hands of the Nazis. Today what galls me the most is the notion that Americans cannot study the history of those atrocities or dig deep into the history of American slavery and other crimes without ignorant people crying that it makes them feel bad. We need to study the past and present, warts and all, if we're to better ourselves.
Thank you.
"First they came for the African Americans and I spoke up because I am my sisters' and my brothers' keeper. And then they came for the women and I spoke up because women hold up half the sky. And then they came for the immigrants and I spoke up because I remember the ideals of our democracy. And then they came for the Muslims and I spoke up because they are my cousins and we are one human family. And then they came for the Native Americans and Mother Earth and I spoke up because the blood-soaked land cries and the mountains weep. They keep coming. We keep rising up. Because we Jews know the cost of silence. We remember where we came from and we will link arms because when you come for our neighbors, you come for us and that just won't stand." (Rabbi Michael Latz)
“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” - Thurgood Marshall
Thank you.
Thanks Kareem. Like others on here, I am a first generation son of parents that survived the Holocaust. My father wrote his memoir that he finished around 1975. His was a story of escape from a camp. Along with my mother, who was the only women amongst the escapees. Two thirds of the escapees were recaptured. His story was penned originally in Yiddish, and I had the book masterfully translated in the early 2000's so my daughter could also know the first hand account of her grandparents. It was meant to be a family record, but late last year I actually opened up his story to the world. Currently I have it published on Amazon books for ease of production and ordering. The current world events that have rekindled the fires of antisemitism have also kindled a fire in me to get his story out, and into the hands and minds of future generations. His book is titled Before My Eyes... By Leon Klott. I would love to send you a copy for review as well. Those that have read it have been both touched, and sometimes speechless over the acts that took place. They are also amazed at his resiliency in surviving this dark moment in history. This has been an amazing journey for me as well, as I never expected to be involved in getting the word out to others...especially Holocaust deniers. At any rate, please keep up your writing, I find that our thinking aligns on over 95% of the stories and takes that you have. You are a great human!
Dear Kareem. I did not respond to your video & message because I had friends and neighbors who were so damaged by the German monster that I couldn't even deal with some stories they told me . In college I met & dated a young man who was born in a concentration camp. He always wore long-sleeved shirts regardless of the weather because of his tattoo. He was embarrassed. I told him to wear it openly as a brave & fortunate survivor. His father, grandfather, uncle & grandmother were gassed by the Nazis. He, his aunt, & mother were liberated by American soldiers. He was 3 years old. There were others. It's difficult to keep reminding family & friends about the ghastly doings of these monsters & it's happening all over again. They tell me to be quiet that they are tired of hearing about it. Sad. Thank you for the reminder.
Thank you Kareem - I will never forget the first person I knew with a number tattoo on her wrist and sadly I met many more in my life. It is a horrible reminder of the devastation that happened to so many - too many. I can never forget the stories I heard and the books I've read about the atrocities that took place and it sickens me today to see people treating it so lightly. I shall never forget.
Thank you Kareem for remembering. I am the child of a Holocaust survivor. My mother was one of fourteen siblings and only one of four to survive. I addition she lost both her parents. Unfortunately I have the feeling remembrance of the Nazi and their abettors genocide is fading into the backwaters of our conscience.