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Holocaust exhibit is a must see

An important traveling exhibit is coming to a limited number of locations throughout America during 2022. The Marshalltown Public Library is the one site in Iowa where it can be viewed and experienced. It is entitled, “Americans and The Holocaust — What did Americans know? What more could have been done?” It will be in town March 26 through May 6 and is sponsored by The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.

As a member of our Public Library’s Board of Trustees, and a retired member of the clergy, living in comfortable retirement in Marshalltown, I would like to stress to all citizens, and particularly persons of faith, the great importance and deep relevance of this exhibit.

I was born Dec. 7, 1931, just as an extremist politician in Germany, Adolf Hitler, was beginning to grasp for popular acclaim in Germany. Then, on my tenth birthday, Pearl Harbor Day, 1941, the United States became fully involved in World War II, joining with many other nations to defeat Japan and Germany and their oppressive ideologies.

Hitler and Naziism sought to coopt the churches and clergy, enticing them to believe the hyper-nationalism and murderous racism of their “make Germany great again” philosophy. The resulting complicity of individuals and institutions in Germany allowed wholesale arrests, concentration camps, and murderous extermination centers. Many, determined to be undesirable, especially the Jews, were put to death in the millions.

Too few church leaders and members resisted Nazism. We know of such as The Rev. Martin Niemoller who, following WWII, became known for his famous statement: “First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out–because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out–because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out–because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me–and there was no one left to speak for me.”

The exhibit that we will welcome to Marshalltown comes not just to remind us of the oppression and the terrible villainy of the historic past. It reminds us of the importance of guarding democracy here and now. Free citizens, not least those of faith, are called to be on guard to preserve liberty, justice, equality and democracy in 2022. Your Library continues to be a resource to assist you in this effort.

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