All genocide is evil

The April 20 edition of the Spokesman-Review reports on a state bill to encourage Holocaust education (“Unanimously approved Holocaust education bill signed,” April 20), a worthy and important topic. Hitler was evil; he earned his infamy. A Holocaust Museum, and now curriculum, urge us to never forget.

Hitler is perceived to be on the political right, even though his Nazi party was socialist. On the political left, Stalin slaughtered about 30 million, Mao about 60 million. America’s abortion industry — a mainstay of liberal ideology — adds another 60 million. Include the victims of Pol Pot (Cambodia), Ceausescu (Romania), and whatever number from African and Latin American communist dictatorships. The shocking total should horrify everyone. Stalin, Mao, or abortion overshadows Hitler.

Why no holocaust museum or curriculum for left-wing atrocities? Perhaps these genocides were nondiscriminatory, one’s own people. Hitler murdered from bigotry.

Want to be fair and equal, as so many today demand? Then teach balance, that all genocide, from whatever political or ideological source, is evil and to be condemned. Always pointing at the “right” lets the left slip out the back, unnoticed and thus unexamined.

Rod Foss

Spokane