Genocide Is Everyone’s Problem

To the Editor:

Many people today fail to realize that history is repeating itself. There are acts of genocide going on all around the world, yet people always have the excuse, “It’s not my problem.”

This is exactly what some of the German citizens said during the Holocaust. It didn’t have to do with them, in their opinion, and they wanted to live their life. They didn’t want the Holocaust messing up their plans for the future. Instead of remaining neutral, they should have helped the innocent people that died for an evil cause. There were so many ways to help. They chose not to. They could have stopped the propaganda that led to the Holocaust and took millions of lives. Early on, they could have done this, but they chose to ignore what was happening.

And yes, the Holocaust was bad. Judith Altman and Jules Wallerstein experienced this first hand. Judith experienced the brutality of the concentration camps, while Jules attempted to flee from Germany with his family, but was turned around by Cuba and the United States. Judith said that when she smelled a very foul stench and questioned what the cause of it was, a woman told her that that smell was of her burning parents. Jules was turned around from Cuba because a ransom was demanded at the last second, which was unaffordable for Jules. Even the United States didn’t take Jules. He was sent back to Europe despite his efforts. These two people had very different views of this event. The similarity? Both of them were involved with injustice.

The point that is trying to be drawn is that we should do what the neutral German citizens failed to do. They didn’t act when the time was right, but we can.

Genocide is occurring this moment in Darfur, Sudan, and many other places that haven’t even been recognized by the public. Now is the time for action to be taken. We must help victims of genocide. Even donating basic supplies or food is a big step towards preventing further Holocaust. We have to stand as one and not let racism, stereotypes, and prejudice lead into a massacre. War is usually based on selfishness. It is meant for the benefit of a certain nation, or it wouldn’t happen at all. Genocide is based on man’s inhumanity to man.

Amar Agashe

10 Botsford Lane, Newtown        January 16, 2006