Chicago Sun-Times: Jewish Groups Wary of Expanded Study of Genocide

[DrGonzoLives]

Link

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois students would have to study all acts of genocide, not just the Holocaust as state law currently requires, under a proposal being pushed by two Chicago area legislators.

But some Jewish groups blasted the proposed legislation Monday, saying the plan would minimize the mass murder of European Jews and other groups by Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s.

"The Holocaust -- that's capital-letter-H Holocaust -- stands as a singularly unique tragedy in the course of human history," said Richard Hirschhaut, executive director of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation in Skokie. "It represents the first instance of a highly sophisticated and technologically advanced society applying all of its resources toward the elimination of an entire people."

The 1990 Illinois Holocaust Education Mandate, championed by the foundation, was the first law in the United States to require all schools to include instruction about the Holocaust.

Yes, it is important to keep the Holocaust alive so that we not forget it. But what the hell is wrong with requiring students to learn about Rwanda and Cambodia and Armenia? Those were tragedies too, and I think it equally important that students understand that the Holocaust was not the only instance of genocide in human history, and that it continues today.

[xchrom]

1. singularly unique

the rape of africa and africans was singularly unique.
the near extermination of native people in the new world was singularly unique.

i dislike anyone owning the definition of genocide like this.

how about cambodia?

[Can o Beans]

2. As a Cherokee indian

I would have two comments:

1. What happened to my tribe and others in the late 1800's was very similar to what happened to the Jews in the 1930's.

2. I don't have to forget it, but it IS in my best interest to get over something that happened in another day and time to a group of people that were very different back then.

[DELUSIONAL]

3. Cherokee also

It took me a long time to track down the links -- but the verbal history has been part of my family history.

The trail of Tears was a death march.

In his book -- Hitler credited the American's expertise with dealing with the "Indian problem" as having influenced him. Hitler was influenced by history and learned evil lessons from the past.

The book "American Holocaust" deals with the slaughter of the indigenous people.

It isn't a wise idea to say that genocide only happened in our parents or great great grand parents time -- because we are in denial that genocide is still possible. Rwanda is very recent -- Cambodia -- that was OUR lifetime. Iraq is happening right now.

[seventythree]

4. not sure I agree with Iraq

being an example of genocide, but I agree with all the posters that the term can't belong to one atrocity. I did not know that Hitler had cited the American Indian "problem" has having influenced him -- thanks for the info. I think I need to get American Holocaust at the library.

[Radical Activist]

5. Or something that only happens in other nations

It would be such a mistake to study the Holocaust and leave the impression that it is something that could never have happened in America.

[Paula Sims]

6. Stalin starved over 10mil Ukrainians in the 1930's

and the Amerikan press covered it up. In addition, there were also Georgians and Belorussians starved during the same time (although the 10 mil is for the Ukrainian population only. In total there were over 20mil). In fact, Walter Durant got a Pulitzer for saying that there was NO genocide and then it was discovered that Durant was on Stalin's propaganda payroll (Sound familiar? The more things change . . .).

I mean no disrespect but Jews weren't the ONLY ones killed during Hitler's Genocide. If memory serves me right (and I could be very wrong), there was a total of 7 mil killed in the death camps, and that included Gypsies, Slaves, Germans who opposed the regime, intellectuals, and yes Jews. I'm not trying to minimize the situation or be disrespectful, but let's look at the whole situation in context. In addition, there were several million killed in the streets and in make-shift firing squads that were Jewish and non-Jewish. Extermination was for all anti-Nazis, Jews were on top of that list.


Paula