Holocaust museum had ominous message

Not long ago, my wife and I visited the Holocaust Museum in Skokie. While long aware of the many atrocities perpetrated, it was extremely harrowing to actually see the pictures, films and artifacts from this evil part of the world's history.

Walking through the museum in deep, quiet thought, I couldn't help but compare the many bits and pieces of this tragic time to current events in the world today.

I viewed and read of Hitler's rise in German politics, using nationalistic pride in his demands for a better Germany and accusing other nations of being beneath the German heritage, unworthy of trust and "out to get them" in any and all military and economic agreements.

I saw where Hitler blamed the Jews for all that was wrong with the German economy and society. This despite the fact that they had fought and died in WW1, defending their homeland, and were more integrated in German society than Jews in many other parts of Europe. This brought to mind the rapid escalation of bigotry, and even fanatical hatred, toward Muslims in this country today; to the point where even a Gold Star mother is criticized and harassed.

We talk today of building walls, patrolling Muslim places of worship and breaking up immigrant families.

I could not help but think of the Syrian refugees trying to find their way to safety and seeing the news accounts of so many dead floating to shore. What kept eating away at me was how could the German population allow such an openly hateful person come to power? Where were they as this all unfurled? And then last night I dreamed our elections were over and I was shocked by the results. I awoke wondering - where were we?

Alan Galant

Grayslake