To the editor: It took me a few years to know why “bizarre” individuals allowed the Nazis to homicide their fellow countrymen. Lastly it turned apparent to me: In international locations the place nearly all of Jews had been rescued or escaped, residents banded collectively and stated “no.” (“My grandfather’s teacher, murdered for resisting Nazis, has lessons for Americans today,” Opinion, Oct. 26)
Just like the Norwegian schoolteacher in Paul Thornton’s story, these people typically took nice dangers and misplaced their livelihoods and even their lives. Sure, they feared a lack of revenue and safety, however they acknowledged that some issues are extra necessary than others, comparable to defending lives and freedom.
Since World Battle II, the USA has not confronted a severe risk to its primary freedoms. Now we’re confronted with fascism: the rise of nationalism, the concentrating on of sure teams of individuals, authoritarianism, interference with our elections and the co-mingling of faith and authorities.
Just like the circumstances surrounding the heroic instructor Lars Nødtvedt, generally individuals should put fealty to the beliefs of their nation forward of non-public desires and desires. For the USA, that point is now.
Linda Mele Johnson, Lengthy Seaside
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To the editor: I used to be impressed by the heroism of the lecturers in Nazi-occupied Norway who refused the Nazi curriculum. Thornton’s story of Nødtvedt’s demise after torture, murdered for resisting fascists, presents us a lesson within the significance of understanding who’re the true “enemies inside” a society: not the devoted civil servants who protect our communities and democracy, however the fascists who search to rule by edict and concern.
With all of the proof of present efforts to derail our personal democracy, why has the Los Angeles Instances not proven the braveness to comply with the data in its personal reporting, which might result in an endorsement of Kamala Harris for president?
Why has the Washington Publish equally not adopted its personal reporting to endorse Harris? Are our main information organizations afraid of the threats made by the opposite candidate, that he’ll goal information organizations he doesn’t like?
My neighbors dropped their subscription to this newspaper. Maybe I ought to as properly.
Ellen Gruenbaum, Redlands
