The dangers of hatred, prejudice | Opinion – The Baytown Sun

There are people who say it never happened. I visited the Houston Holocaust Museum last week and it boggles the mind how anyone could think that. There, as in many other similar museums, was a preponderance of proof otherwise.

The museum was very well done and informative albeit disturbing. How could such a thing happen? In the late 19th century, many scientists and intellectuals began to apply the Darwinian concepts of evolution to the problems of society. It was known as eugenics and racial scientism. In the aftermath of World War I, many were willing to believe in it. The Nazi ideas that promoted German racial superiority were a more radical expression of that.

I once visited Dachau, one of the concentration camps in Germany. There, on a gray day, I set foot where so many suffered and died. A restless wind was blowing and the tall trees along the perimeter swayed to its rhythm. Later, I learned that the inmates had planted those trees. It was as if their spirits were stirring among us. As I peered into one of the dorms, an old German man beside me said, I come here to remember that men are just animals. Perhaps he had been there. I was afraid to ask.

From 1933 to 1945, Nazi Germany carried out a campaign to cleanse Germany of those viewed as biological threats to the nations well being. Any movement such as this has to begin with a leader-Hitler-who could convince people that a person can be a criminal by their birth and must be destroyed. Since that person was deemed less than human, some had no problem in killing them. It was a way to justify the madness.

In 1941, Hitler implemented the final solution. Killing centers were built and millions were put to death in gas chambers loaded with Zyclon B. Exhibits in the museum showed photos of the gas chambers and piles of emaciated bodies. The walls held maps of the locations of where all the many concentration camps had been.

As disturbing as this was to see, there were also photos and information about all those who helped hide Jewish families or help them escape at the risk of death to themselves and their families. Although many were caught, tortured and then put to death, they saved thousands. That gave an element of hope to the exhibitions of death and despair.

I would like to think that I would have been brave enough to do that. But when faced with it, would I? That was bravery beyond measure. Many gave their lives to resist this insanity. They are the heroes-ordinary people who did extraordinary things.

After the museum, our group went to lunch at Cleburnes Cafeteria, an icon in Houston known for their humongous portions. As I looked at the piles of food from which to choose, my mind went back to thoughts of the millions of people who were starved to death during the Holocaust. I offered up a prayer of thankfulness for all that God has blessed us with here in this country.

We should never take that for granted and so be ever vigilant to the dangers of hatred, prejudice, and apathy to our fellow man.

A former longtime Baytown resident, Ginger Stripling now lives in Mont Belvieu. Contact her at viewpoints@baytownsun.com, Attention: Ginger Stripling.

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The dangers of hatred, prejudice | Opinion - The Baytown Sun