After Charlottesville, remembering the lessons of the Holocaust

“What would Gene Amole write about Charlottesville?” Aug. 19 guest commentary.

After a very bizarre week of news filled with so much hatred and confusion, Tustin Amole’s column last Saturday recounting the wartime experiences of her father, Gene Amole, brought clarity to what is at stake here.

One could easily visualize the horrors he and many others have encountered in defending this country from terrorists. For anyone left in doubt about standing up for our freedoms, a visit to the United States Holocaust Museum or New York’s 9/11 memorial is in order. ●●● I never knew that Tustin Amole’s father was a liberator of Buchenwald, but it does make perfect sense. His wit and wisdom always held a deeper aspect.

I have been a bit surprised that even in this jaded time, we haven’t heard about the Holocaust after the terrible events in Charlottesville. Have people forgotten? Or do they feel powerless as I do?

Hopefully, Tustin Amole’s words will have an effect on someone who can do something. They certainly had an effect on me. ●●●

Much appreciation to Tustin Amole for focusing on the important issues in her guest commentary about Nazism and violence.

Despite attempts by people to build support for particular viewpoints by appealing to particular interests, despite denials by some that we all bear responsibility for one another, there is a common good. All of us are vested in working toward that, whether we accept the charge or not.