In particular, her helping people discover more about their own personal family histories was an achievement in itself. We in Kansas City were so fortunate to have had such a giant of good deeds in our midst.
Donald L. Cohen, D.O.
Overland Park, Kansas
Appalling comparisons
The board of directors of the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education strongly condemns recent statements by Kansas Sen. Steve Fitzgeraldwho alleges that Planned Parenthood is “more insidious than [the Nazis]” and that “the Nazis ought to be incensed by the comparison.” Having been notified of a donation made in his honor to Great Plains Planned Parenthood, Fitzgerald, a strong opponent of abortion rights, wrote that being associated with Planned Parenthood “is as bad, or worse, as having one’s name associated with Dachau.”
In fact, we are incensed by the senator’s appalling and ill-informed comparisons that trivialize and misappropriate the memory of the Holocaust. While we respect his right to express personal opinions regarding abortion, it is unconscionable and misguided to equate abortion and genocide. In doing so, he distorts history and offends those victimized by the Nazis. In their names, we call upon all caring Kansans to inform Sen. Fitzgerald that his remarks are an embarassment to our state and do not reflect the views of the majority of his constituents. Please contact him at or leave a message at 785-296-7357.
The mission of the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education is to teach the history of the Holocaust applying its lessons to counter indifference, intolerance, and genocide. For more information, visit mchekc.org.
Joyce Hess
President, MCHE board of directors
