FORT SILL, Okla. (April 30, 2015) -- The community heard a poignant history lesson from a Cameron University chairman during its Days of Remembrance commemoration April 23, at the Patriot Club.
Dr. Lance Janda, CU history professor and History and Government Department chairman, spoke about Hitler's rise to power, the isolationist attitudes of countries, and how people can act from what was learned from the Holocaust.
The luncheon was co-sponsored by the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade and Installation Equal Opportunity Office, and hosted by the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general.
In his invocation, Chaplain (Maj.) Mark Perkins, 31st ADA Brigade chaplain, said: "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as Nehemiah observed the broken down walls of Jerusalem, the hopelessness of your captive people, so we observe this day-- the suffering of your people, and their liberation. Lord, heal the wounds of the past."
Master of ceremonies Sgt. 1st Class Scott Rapach said holocaust is a word of Greek origin meaning sacrifice by fire. Every year, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Muse-um leads the nation in commemorating the Days of Remembrance. This year's theme is: "Learning from the Holocaust: Choosing to Act."
"Today, we come together as a community to remember and honor the millions who lost their lives, and pay tribute to those who took action to fight against the atrocities that took place during this dark period in our history," Rapach said.
During the ceremony, Marilyn Rumsey, Fort Sill Distinguished Jewish Faith Group leader, led the audience in the Mourners' Kaddish -- a Jewish prayer which is recited in memory of loved ones.
Col. Kevin Ciocca, 31st ADA Brigade commander, said by reflecting on one of the most horrific events in human history, "we attempt to shape our attitudes in the present, and thus strive for a world free of these kind of atrocities in the future."
Janda said that it is the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of concentration camps. He said there is a local tie because the 45th Infantry Division, which liberated Dachau, had many Soldiers from Oklahoma.
"There is a wonderful 45th Infantry Division Museum in Oklahoma City," he said.
A unique thing about the basis for the Holocaust genocide was that it was not for territorial, religious or historical ethnic disputes, Janda said.
"Hitler made up this conspiracy. He said there was a conspiracy of international Jews. Sometimes he linked Catholics into it, sometimes he linked Protestant religious groups into it," said Janda, who has been teaching at CU since 1999.
Hitler's solution to Germany's problems was not to drive Jews out, but to eliminate them, Janda said. When he was elected chancellor he was able to put his ideas into policies.
The Nazis began promoting rearmament of the military, and state-sanctioned systematic persecution of Jews, he said.
"There is rape, torture, beatings in the street, destruction of businesses," he said. "What's disturbing is no one in Germany speaks out against it."
By 1935, the Nazis passed the Nuremberg Laws, which barred Jews from specific types of employment and limited their civil rights.
The United States, was in the midst of the Great Depression, and had an isolationist attitude, Janda said. Further, its National Origins Act set specific limits on the number of immigrants who could enter the country, and Congress failed to increase the numbers.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt extended the visas of 15,000 Germans and Austrians already in the United States, Janda said. "That's how we got to keep Albert Einstein."
Janda suggested three ways people can act from what was learned from the Holocaust.
"We should talk about it. Remembering can be kind of a passive thing people do just for a moment or don't share, so it's important to talk and share this knowledge, especially with young people," he said.
Borrowing from the 31st ADA Brigade's motto, Janda said nations need to be "ready-and-vigilant" for any signs of intolerance and bigotry and racism.
And third, Janda said people should have hope and he quoted young writer and Holocaust victim Anne Frank: "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart."
Social Sharing