HREI: Speak out or risk all

This is a letter in response to your editorial regarding the HREI and the KCTFHR. Perhaps you are too young or not well read or haven't traveled enough to know the importance of keeping the past alive when it comes to hate. Hitler, like Butler, also started out as a "pathetic little empire."

I recently toured Dachau Concentration/Death Camp in Germany. Our extremely well educated guide remarked that while at Dachau there are still survivors that talk to him and tell him of the atrocities. Our guide once asked one survivor why didn't he speak up as groups of people were being taken from their homes. The survivor responded that first he saw politicians that opposed Hitler being taken. He thought, I am not a politician. That doesn't affect me. Then Jews of many countries were taken. He thought, I am not a Jew. That doesn't affect me. Then trade unionists, Masons, other religious groups, disabled, ill, gays were taken. Once again he thought, I am not that group. I am not affected. No reason to speak out.

Then they came for him and there was no one to speak for him. He survived the camp to tell the horror stories. Dachau was preserved by survivors, for the world to see and keep reminding us that we have to speak out for those who are being victimized. If not, who will speak out for us when we become a victim? The KCTFHR must keep a watchful eye and remind us of what pathetic little empires can become. The KCTFHR is a powerful voice and do so much good for this community, much of which goes unpublished. We need the KCTFHR. Otherwise, who will speak out for you, Mike, when they come for The Press?

GAYLE HUGHES

Coeur d'Alene