Anybody who knows me well knows that I am an unapologetically huge history nerd. This love for the subject that a lot of people seem to hate led me to register for a class titled “Hitler, Germany, and the Holocaust” this past semester, which I can safely say has been my favorite class so far. As the title suggests, the class focuses on Hitler and the National Socialist party’s rise to power, the increased persecution of minorities (specifically the Jews), and the events that led to the Final Solution and the creation of death camps.
The most interesting and disturbing part of this time was not that the Nazi’s implemented these laws and rules-rather, it was the degree to which the seemingly “normal” citizens of German rule accepted and carried out these laws, turning on their neighbors, life long friends, and respected business owners in a split second. It wasn’t just the oppressive leaders carrying out the atrocities---the Nazi party relied heavily on informants and citizen power to do the dirty work and allow the party’s rule to grow stronger.
The reason I mention the Holocaust and the extent to which the normal citizens perpetrated these acts of violence have to do with recent events we are experiencing today. Unfortunately, terrorism has become extremely prominent in our society, most recently in regards to the Paris, Beirut, and Lebanon ISIS attacks and the San Bernardino shooting, among countless others. With these attacks comes fear, and with fear comes the desire to act in the attempt to protect oneself and prevent something like it from occurring again.
Sadly, this desire has manifested itself in increased Islamiphobia and narrowing our tolerance for refugee assistance. Instead of focusing on the one radical group, we are directing our anger and fear at the entirety of Islam, leading us to suggest anything from only permitting Christian refugees into the U.S., or not accepting any at all, to making Muslims have to wear I.D. badges. Sound familiar?
We need to remember that the actions of a few do not reflect the thoughts of many. Do not perpetrate hatred for an entire religion based on fear. Do not vote for political leaders suggesting these ideas. Do not become one of the ordinary people who help oppress those in need and lead to their potential demise. The Holocaust did not start with death camps and gassing, but was the result of increased persecution and increased legalization of anti-Semitic behavior. Do not repeat the past with a different group of people.
