by Suzi George

Created on: April 02, 2009

Unfortunately, Hitler has had more than his fair share of fifteen minutes. Sadly, I share his birthday to which my husband, upon discovering this responded, that explains a lot. I can say from firsthand knowledge that his evil man is over emphasized, however, the lessons learned from his horrific acts are a part of our history that will never be forgotten nor should they be.

My father used to work in a nursing home specifically for Jewish people. It was called The Hebrew Home for the Aged and although I was only nine years old, I will never forget my experiences there with many, many Holocaust survivors. Let me say first the one common denominator with all of them was compassion. After all they had been through, they still had compassion and tenderness for everyone. I was a very lucky child to have been with them for the three years we lived in the area. My father took me to work with him each weekend. During my stay with the survivors, I never heard nor saw a negative remark or any signs of bitterness. When I saw a number tattooed on one resident's forearm, with childlike innocence I asked her what it was. She rubbed it softly with her free hand, thumbing it over and over before responding with a soft smile and a thick accent, "My child, it's a reminder that God never leaves us. He is always there in good and bad times. Always remember that." I shrugged and said okay then watched as her eyes misted somewhat but her tears remained unshed. That was a life lesson I'll forever be grateful for.

As I grew older and became more aware of history, I realized that the victim's stories were never told really, not in the right way. The atrocities were told, the horrific pictures shared and eventually, too many years later, a few of the evil men were prosecuted but the true severity of what went on will never be known save for the ones that experienced and inflicted it. There will never be enough said about the survivor's that can do justice and relate to what they went through. They watched as family members were tortured, raped, starved and gassed. Children watched as parents died, parents watched as children died and newfound friends in the camps who bonded watched helplessly while their friends were tortured and killed. I find it hard to wrap my head around the fact that Hitler's army enjoyed doing these things to other humans and felt their suffering was justified. Religious persecution is wrong on so many levels. Even today, persecution lives on amongst many people but the Holocaust has yet to be matched and I personally hope that never happens again.

At one time, the powers that be tried to push back the severity of what Hilter ordered and what was carried out. Many historians tried to say that some of the camps never existed. This was later proven to be untrue. We have memorials to the Holocaust victims but it's not enough. Still, the history books speak of Hitler, the charismatic leader that was destined for greatness before losing his mind.

What about the dead and gone? What of the artists, doctors, lawyers, mothers, fathers and future leaders that were murdered for no reason other than their heritage? How often is it publicized that Hitler himself was of Jewish descent? The facts are muddled and a man who deserves nothing has the last laugh. We give him the fame he so desperately sought while forgetting those who put him there, his victims.

It is a necessary evil that we teach our children about Hitler, however, there are still those out there full of prejudice and ignorance just like Hitler. We use his evil to try and change the world and to teach the next generations being a man such as he will only end up in death either by your own hand or someone else's.

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