This proposal and information were introduced by students and teachers from Moscow, Russia, under the direction of the coordinator of iEARN in Russia, Victor Minachin.
During the last teachers' meeting in Chattanooga we proposed starting a subproject of the Holocaust/Genocide Project (HGP), The Danger of Nazism in Our Countries Today. Now our kids and teachers have been working on it for about two months and we are ready to coordinate the work in iEARN on this subject which -- unfortunately -- is very important for our country.
The formal project proposal follows below. As first responses, I am posting the following:
Because we want this proposal to be a part of the iEARN HGP project, we are posting identical messages to both <iearn.ideas> and <iearn.hgp> conferences.
Project Idea: The Danger of Fascism in our Countries Today
Subject: Social Studies and Actions
Participants: Groups of Students, as Well as Individuals, and Teachers
Ages: 13-17
Languages: English, Russian, and Any Others
Time Frame: Ongoing
Description: Extreme nationalism is on the rise in many areas of the world, including iEARN countries. In some countries neo-Nazi groups and even parties openly declare, as their goal, the seizure of power and destruction of foreign nationals. The purpose of the project is to:
Result: The most interesting factual and creative works of students will be presented and published as a booklet for the sixth iEARN conference in Puerto Rico, July 1999.
By Kate Hughes andAmelia Homewood
The following article appeared in the Russian national newspaper Izvestia on 9 June 1998:
Brown Russia By Dmitry Filimonov (With special thanks to the Moscow Antifascist Center, the analytical group "Panorama," and, the Russian Antifascist Foundation) The technique of "cleaning up the blacks" is simple and well rehearsed. In the center of Moscow on the last day of May (a Sunday evening) at the subway stop, Lenin Library, the subway car is entered by a dozen of teenagers in black jackets, with shaven heads. There are three black people in this car. The teenagers have noticed them from the platform. The train gets under way. The teenagers enclose the blacks by a dense ring, pushing the other passengers back. It is a two-minute ride to the next subway stop, Okhotny Riad. The passengers are looking with fright in the direction of the skinheads, who are 14-16 years old. Each of them -- as an individual -- is a child. Together, they are like a pack of wolves. At the next stop, teenagers open up. The blacks are in blood. Pushing each other, the pack takes off from the car. One of teenagers almost cries: He did not get a chance to punch any of the blacks in their faces. The teenager complains to his "friends," and the kid's lips are twisted from the insult. No problem; he will do it next time -- on the other subway stop, in a train, on a bus, in a passage -- to a black, a Jew, an Arab, or an Azerbaijani. Publicity Is the Driving Force of Nazism Early this year the editors of Izvestia and other Russian national newspapers started to receive packs of letters from their readers with the requests to tell more about patriots of Russia and, in particular, about the organization called Russian National Unity (RNE). The letters came from different cities, from the different people; however, all of them were surprisingly similar in style as if they were all written under one instruction. Such mass inquisitiveness of the readers produced an impression of the action organized by RNE itself. And as Izvestia does not publish free political advertising, we have not responded to the numerous requests of "workers." Our colleagues in other newspapers have proved to be more inquisitive and discovered that all letters either gave nonexistent return addresses or used false author names. The Russian National Unity requires publicity and advertising. Domestic Nazis are getting ready for parliamentary elections next year. All their previous attempts to get seats in the Russian parliament (Duma) failed. Their symbols are not attractive: swastikas on their banners; the slogan "Kill the Jew" are not very suitable for Russia. The strong fascist spirit does not add sympathy, but, on the contrary deters the voters. Therefore, the Nazis now require not just any publicity, but positive publicity only. They need the reputation of a noble and powerful organization. Brown in Pink Tones The RNE leaders claim that today their organization operates in 64 regions of Russia. At a local level, 32 organizations are registered. In addition, there are RNE groups in the Ukraine, in Bylorussia, Kazakhstan and an underground branch in Estonia. The organization numbers 70 thousand members -- according to their own publicity-oriented estimates. In reality there are no more than 12,000 "comrades-in-arms", "supporters" and "helpers" in RNE. The Nazis carefully cultivate the young generation. The RNE branch in the city of Vladimir has a children's organization, which boys between six and sixteen years of age can join. Their parents must declare in writing that they approve. The parents are happy, because it is much better than having their kids out in the streets. The children receive training in shooting and hand-to-hand combat. The ideological preparation is compulsory. To the most diligent boys are given a paramilitary uniform, an armband with the swastika, and a certificate of membership in the organization. The boys also participate in the "real" work -- by putting up the leaflets. In the city of Samara young stormtroopers, apart from conventional combat training, practice scuba diving and parachute jumping. Practically in all cities of the Stavropol Province the RNE has created "military-patriotic" clubs, which, in the words of the leader of local RNE organization Andrei Dudinov, have almost completely replaced former Soviet paramilitary organization DOSAAF (The Society of Voluntary Support to the Army, Navy, and Air Force). As a rule, the Nazi activities on educating the young generation receive support from the local authorities. On April 25, the municipal authorities in the city of Kostroma have allowed RNE to hold its regional Nazi party conference in the building of the local district administration. In the city of Vladimir, two representatives of RNE are full members of the political consultative council to the Governor. In the city of Tver, the youth committee of the municipal government partially finances activities of the local RNE branch, for it considers that "some activities of this organization are very beneficial for the young generation". Especially warm relations the Nazis have with the law enforcement organizations. In the city of Krasnodar, the premises for RNE headquarters were provided by the local office of the Ministry of Interior. In the city of Stavropol, the RNE fighters are trained by the instructors of the ranger battalion of the 101st brigade of the Ministry of the Interior stationed in this city. The RNE stormtroopers help the police to patrol the streets of Russian cities. Evgeny Enshin, one of the leaders of RNE Voronezh organization says that in the period of 6 months last year local stormtrooper detachments have apprehended 600 non-Russian persons who were breaking the order. In old days Nazis and police patrolled the streets of Voronezh separately, but from June of the last year they work together -- arm-in-arm -- a policeman and a uniformed stormtrooper with swastika-decorated insignia. Moscow Nazis do not yet patrol the streets, but they do guard the railway depot Ramenskoye, control the boating safety services in Sosnovy Bor and Kuzminky, and the Terletsky Park, where their headquarters are located. Patriotic Modesty and Charm In the autumn of last year, Boris Korobov, the head of the local government in the city of Kostroma, had to disband the group of RNE stormtroopers who assisted the police in protecting the public order. During their patrols, the Nazis imposed their own "order" on the streets of city. Patrolmen with swastikas have imposed a "tax" of $200 a month on the private vendors "of non-Russian nationality for the right to live on Russian soil." In addition, the "stormtroopers" (shouting "Kill blacks!") tried to make a "pogrom" in the municipal market. When state security intervened, they have discovered that one of assailants was armed with a submachine gun, which was confiscated. Three RNE "fighters" from the Saratov organization have attempted to rob the bank, which they were supposed to protect. One of them was killed in the ensuing shootout; the other two face 15-year prison sentences. In the city of Ekaterinburg, RNE "fighters" helped the police in the fight against narcotics and prostitution. They received information from police about the whereabouts of the hideouts. Bursting inside, they confiscated all valuables, money, and narcotics. Those who protested were turned over to the police. The money so acquired was deposited to the bank accounts and used for the needs of the organization. They have destroyed 30 hideouts, apprehended 40 narcotics dealers, until they made a mistake -- used a wrong address and beat up innocent people. The 'fighters' were arrested, and the local RNE organization disbanded. Last year, in the town of Balashikha near Moscow, a warrant officer Kuzmenko, commandant of the local military base and, at the same time, the RNE instructor was arrested. The search conducted by police in his office and in his car revealed plastic explosives, AKM submachine guns, 210 explosive devices, pistols of various models and silencers to them, 7000 cartridges, 33 electric detonators and many other items useful for RNE party activities. In the warrant officer's office, police found a large photograph of the RNE leader Alexander Barkashov with the inscription: "To my best friend with thanks." "Prepaid" murders and pogroms, racket and banditry, robbery and threat of murders on racial ground -- this is incomplete list of law suits against RNE members during the seven year of its existence. With such a record, it is difficult to hope for a victory, even partial, in forthcoming elections. The leadership of the Russian National Unity today, as never before, badly needs a noble, modest and innocent facade. Therefore each time they receive information about a new crime committed by their "comrade-in-arms," the leadership immediately disassociates from him. The "comrades-in-arms" are not happy with this. They are not happy with many things going on in the leadership. Sergei Nikolaev, former leader of the RNE branch on the Kamchatka peninsula (located close to Alaska) has accused the Führer Alexander Barkashov of "excessive idealism" and the "lack of profascist drive." Many "comrades-in-arms" have broken away from RNE back in October 1993, when the armed group of RNE "fighters", took part of the Russian parliament in its conflict with President Yeltsin. The Führer was accused of supporting the "Jewish-Communist" parliament. Nevertheless, Barkashov continues to make advances to the Red, which, in the judgment of his colleagues, discredits the purity of the Nazi idea. They can not agree that on the way to power their Führer has to act against his principles and pretend to be a meek "brown lamb." This is required by the current political situation. However, each Nazi when he infiltrates the ranks of the Red must remember one of RNE commandments: "...Communists are the people following the dogmas of foreign Satanist philosophy, created by the international Satanist Karl Marx and introduced into Russia by Vladimit Ulyanov-Lenin-Blanc, a syphilitic and agent of the World Zionism." Russian National Swastika The Nazis have just recently, this spring, won their first victory on the way to elections. A district court in the city of Stavropol has decreed: "Neither the program of the Stavropol RNE branch, nor other materials presented to this court imply that activities or philosophy of RNE has a German fascist or Hitlerite character. On the opposite, the evidence presented testify to the patriotic character of RNE activities. As to the symbols used by RNE (left-sided swastika with an eight-pointed star in the background), this swastika ornament appears on some historic items found in Russia. The statements that the swastika symbol is only fascist are absolutely ungrounded in fact. This court has to legally react against the attempts to undermine the public image on the (RNE) organization because such attempts may result in jeopardizing its work to attain its goals." One can note that the main goal of the Russian National Union is clearly expressed in the text of the "Right March" -- the sacred song of RNE "fighters": "Our path is straight: To believe, to want, to be brave. To the cosmopolitan dogs, Jews and freemasons -- Death!" The court ruling looks only natural, if we take into account, that more than half of the members of the antifascist committee in the city of Stavropol, created by the decree of President Yeltsin, are either RNE members or their supporters." "Old" and "New" Right The young people do not understand much of the political games played. They do not like Barkashov's bashful denial of the fascist nature of his organization. There is an exclusively youth organization Russian National Union (RNS). "We are fascists," proudly declare the RNS "comrades-in-arms" in their newspaper, The Stormtrooper. RNS members call themselves "new right" and insist that they not be confused with "old right," who in their view, are too conservative. More than that, in the judgment of Konstantin Kasimovsky, the RNS leader, the "old right philosophy" represents no less danger to new Russia, than the philosophy of democrats and communists." The motto of young Nazis is "purity of a faith and purity of blood." As any respectable party, RNS has its own program and declaration. Together with such trivial goals as coming to power and establishing a dictatorship, the declaration proclaims euthanasia, i.e. "voluntary and compulsory removal of defective citizens, even if they are Russians." RNS has a storm troop, which is divided in platoons and sections -- eight persons in each. There are RNS branches in the town of Lubertsy near Moscow, in the cities of Nizhny Novgorod, Odessa, Rostov, St. Petersburg and others. The Moscow branch of RNS has an out of the city camp for training stormtroopers. Hand-to-hand combat training and ideological preparation is done by the Führer himself. He is 24 years old. In their training, the "fighters" use the text of The German Youth Reading Book, published in 1938 for Hitlerjugend. One of their manuals says, "the masses unconsciously grieve for primeval barbarity." RNS works mostly among young people in factories and in high schools. They have access to Internet. The kids section of RNS has a skinhead department. Each Sunday the groups of these skinheads, consisting of fifteen to thirty persons, carry out raids in the Moscow underground and in the streets of the city. One of such raids was witnessed by the Izvestia correspondent and described at the beginning of this article. In Contrast to the Rest of the World In Austria, Nazi activity is forbidden since 1945. Any attempt of revive Nazism or disseminate its ideas is punished by the law -- up to life imprisonment. In Germany, Nazi propaganda or propaganda of Nazi symbols is punished by up to three years in prison. In France, any call to violence on racial grounds or instigation to racial discrimination can lead to a prison sentence for the term of 1 year or more and a 300.000 Fr fine. In Italy, in 1973, in accordance with the law forbidding neo-fascist activities, the neo-Nazi organization "New Order " was disbanded and thirty of its leaders received various prison sentences. In Portugal, an attempt to create a neo-fascist party can result in prison term of two to eight years. The State Duma (Parliament) of the Russian Federation has three times debated and three times rejected the law forbidding the propaganda of fascism. Last time it happened on March 21, 1997. National deputies have found the draft law ill-timed and even harmful, since it was pressed on Russia by World Zionist centers. The optimists believe, that there can be no fascism in Russia, for the people who survived the war with Nazi Germany and Hitler's genocide, are generically against fascism. However, the human memory is short. The first neo-fascist organization appeared in Russia soon after war, in 1956. Today there are dozens of them. And they already have victories. Shall we see more of such victories?
Students and Teachers Present HGP andFascism Project at iEARN Conference
Students from around the world have exchanged e-mail on the subject of fascism.
My name is Maxim Sumin and I am in the seventh grade at School 689 in Moscow. We know well what modern fascism is and what is RNE (Russian National Unity) under the leadership of A.P. Barkashov. We know how bad is fascism for society. And what is interesting, our authorities and police do not stop the spreading of fascism, but sometimes do the contrary. For example, in the city of Novosibirsk, the local authorities have provided a special hall for the Russian fascists to hold their meetings. Many walls and light posts are plastered with RNE leaflets calling on Russians, Ukrainians, and Bylorussians to join their organizations. Anyone willing to join should come to the Semyonovskaya subway station at 12:45 PM. It is most important to know that if one has joined RNE, he or she has no way to leave; if one tries, one can get killed. For example, a Barkashov's aide killed an eighteen-year-old boy, cut off his ears, and said, "This will happen to anyone who leaves RNE." I think that if fascists come to power in our country, it will be the end of Russia.
Hello, Maxim. My name is Briohney North and I come from Australia. My country seems so distant from the fascist movements that Russia receives, and yet because this is such a serious issue, it affects the whole world. Up until this year, I never knew the neo-Nazi problems still existed. I thought they were dead and buried with the end of World War II. I guess that was ignorance and naivety on my part, but I wish newspapers in Australia would alert us to these issues that are occurring overseas. It seems that you don't need to read the newspapers to tell you what is happening, for you can already see it on the posters and leaflets in Russia. It is amazing that this is so well known and such an aboveground operation. I would think that, after all the horrors we've seen, this sort of practice would be outlawed. It amazes me to think authorities can just stand back and let such things happen. Are there any laws to keep this wave of prejudice in check? Do the authorities agree to what's going on? Are the authorities afraid of what the RNE will do to them if they oppose Nazism, or do the authorities just allow their operations because they don't care? If someone was to openly and actively speak out against the RNE, would they be in danger of an attack from its members? I don't understand why decent people of Russia obviously know what's going on, but I am yet to hear of news of moves to legally ban such activities! I agree, if the RNE do generate enough support and then use the threat of violence against members who consider desertion, the body of members would become big enough for the organization to gain parliamentary power and this could turn Russia into hell on earth.
Hello, Maxim. This is Matt London; I am a student of Cold Spring Harbor High School, in New York, USA. I am also a member of the Holocaust/Genocide Project, and I am very interested in topic you proposed. While reading the articles you cited, concerning the rise of Nazism in Russia, I could not help make the obvious connections between modern day Russia and Germany before the rise of Hitler. Both countries were in a state of chaos. In Germany, the Treaty of Versailles caused great resentment and discontent after World War I. And this sentiment was what Hitler used in order to establish a political foundation for himself. In modern day Russia, these current Nazi groups are using the current economic and political strife in Russia to incite people and create hatred between people. The most frightening thing is that these groups have been able to establish political support. Hate groups are always in society. They use the downfalls of society to gain support for their cause, and they benefit from the ignorance and resentment of the people. Such groups exist in the United States and other countries around the world. Every legal action must be used to oppose these groups. Once these groups commit any illegal actions they must be prosecuted. They must never be able to establish themselves politically. I would like to read some more of your opinions. Please write back.
Train Tracks at Auchwitz II (Birkenau)
Hi, Matt and Maxim. It's Briohney here. I, too, felt that scary sense that what is happening with modern Nazism is a similar reflection of the events that paved the way to Hitler's rise in Germany. Of course, political discord and public discontent breeds extremist actions. We saw this in the wake of the signing of the Versailles Treaty; a nation of low morale, a disintegrated political system and a state of economic collapse is more eager to adopt extreme views and, in this case communism and fascism were both strong and equally popular with the German people. I know that in Russia there is economic and political strife but, forgive my ignorance, I should, but don't know all that much about Russia's situation. What I do know is natural human behavior. When we feel the world is in upheaval, when we're desperate, disenchanted and disappointed, it's easy for us to grasp crazy ideas, to hate other people, to blame others and to search for something that will restore comfort, order, morale and unity -- the solution appears in the form of RNE type organizations, and a person who's in the midst of a plunging society isn't going to take so much time to ponder what they're jumping into. I think that the only thing Australia can relate this to is Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party. This party was nowhere near as extreme as other things I've heard of, but it still held some very controversial racist views. Now, as a political party, campaigning in an election, One Nation had no platform, and no good or feasible policies. Yet, somehow, they generated support through exploiting social ills, old prejudices and fears, and the discontent and frustration quite a number of Australians feel towards our Government and Opposition party. Now, we're a stable, multicultural country. I'd like to even think some of our voters are informed so it doesn't surprise me and, to tell you the truth, it thrills me to see that the One Nation Party completely crumpled in our October Federal Election. Nevertheless, it just goes to show, a group such as this can get support in a country like ours and, had Australia not been so strong economically, socially and politically, the outcome could have been disastrous. Lastly, I wanted to ask you about the situation in America, Matt. Now we don't have such a thing as the Bill of Rights but we do have laws to protect the rights of all human beings especially from persecution and discrimination of any kind. Do you ever hear of groups of people being legally prosecuted for crimes based in racial intolerance? Do you ever hear about such crimes? Have you seen the film "Higher Learning" that showed a neo-Nazi youth group in an American college? Do you know of things like that happening? I think we should think of ways to combat this kind of intolerance. Not just sitting around talking about it but trying to get laws made and enforced to stop these things from going on and getting the message across to other youth that groups like RNE are dangerous and not what they should be involving themselves with. Talk to you soon.
Hi, my name is Adam Cathcart, and I go to the International School of Bangkok. I have often heard about Nazism in places that I have lived. I have never actually seen any such organization personally, but I am well aware that they do exist. People often feel that neo-Nazis should all be imprisoned or should all be shot or something, but what good would that do? I personally do not agree with the idea of Nazism but what can you do? You can't change someone's beliefs especially if they really do believe in what their cause is. I basically say just let a person believe in what they want to believe in. I don't think that Nazis are bad, as long as nobody is hurt, or killed, which has been the case in the past. If the cause is a peaceful cause, everything is cool. I come from a place were the issue of religion is a very delicate matter. In northern Ireland sometimes your religion determines whether you will get beaten up or not. For a Nazi, the case is whether you are Jewish, in perfect mental health, your skin, color and some other things, but, what is the problem with being a Jew, with being Black, being mentally ill? The most damage here is being done by the haters, not the hated as a Nazi would say. It is ok as long as it is of peaceful intent
Adam, When you say that you feel that it's okay for Nazis to exist and for them to be allowed to believe what they want to believe, and you can't change them, it's a bit disturbing to me. I understand the fact that people are allowed to believe in what they want to believe and you can't change that, but by educating people of certain things, you will be able to get across that hatred is a horrible thing. Not only does hatred hurt others; it hurts yourself even more. All the built up anger is not healthy at all, especially when its unjustifiable. I personally feel sorry for anyone who has a hatred towards people of a different religion or ethnic group. One reason is the fact that the person with the hatred, is missing out on many things. I have many friends who are different religions, and if I was against them in any way because of their religion, I would have missed out on some great times, and all the memories that I have would never have even been possible. Life isn't about hating; it's about caring, giving and helping. Life isn't always going great, people do have a down time, but you know who is there to pick you up, probably the person that cares about you. I know that by my being openminded and unprejudiced, I live a happy life and get along with everyone. I never am angry or hold resentments or hatred towards people because it hurts yourself more than that other person, plus, why would you want to hurt someone else? Life is so short. Every minute, hour, day, year, it's all so significant when you think about it. If you even miss a day, you're missing those memories that could have been. You're missing those great times and laughs you could have. You're not being fair to yourself, because when you're fair to yourself, you do not fall so low as to wanting and enjoying to hurt others. Thank you. Laurie Cherpock
Hello, Adam. OK. I admit I do not know much about Nazi movements. We don't hear a lot about it in the big isolated island of Australia. I did watch a movie about 18 months ago called "Higher Learning". Have you ever seen it? I hope you do try to. In this movie, a young man was encouraged to join a Nazi group. What was predominantly evident was that this boy lost his happiness and mental health with the more contact he had with this group. Basically, it was not good or healthy for him to be brainwashed with words of hatred, racism and intolerance. I felt sorry for this boy and I know that, although he began to believe in the principles of Nazism, his humane instincts were repelled by it. We are not born with fear of other races; we are not born with hatred; we are not born with a thirst for violence or thinking that we are superior. A belief in these things develops when a vulnerable mind is taught (brainwashed) to believe such garbage. And, once you have the hatred of years of racial tension in your blood, you can be a very dangerous person. So I think these people with Nazi beliefs are very wrong in teaching their ignorant and dangerous ideas to others and, as a result, destroying young people's characters and goodness and fueling human misery and injustice. You mention not being able to change someone's beliefs? Well, what I just said before points out that people are born without belief in racial prejudice but that they are taught it, and that is changing someone's beliefs. And, just as we can manipulate a person's mind to accept Nazi poison, so to can we educate a person to realize his human instincts for peace, acceptance and human kindness to solidify into a belief. We have the power of education on our side!!! How can we let young minds be attacked and filled with rage and hate!? Youth don't involve themselves in Nazi groups because they were born with their minds programmed to persecute particular people!!! This is not their belief; this is the belief that is cleverly, subtly forced on them when they have entered a Nazi organization. They may enter this group to belong somewhere, to feel a part of something with a person, to feel empowered or superior but we must make these kids realize, before it's too late, that their yearning for these things will have them sacrificing a peaceful, happy, unified world. Nazism isn't peaceful. Nazism isn't cool. Any set of ideas based on discriminating and trying to eliminate particular groups of human beings must not ever be accepted! Briohney North
Dear Friends, There is a threat of fascism in Russia. The examples are numerous. The speech of the State Duma member General Makashov was full of antisemitism, which was approved by the communists. There are youngsters who are celebrating Hitler's birthday. There are attacks on people with non-Slovenian appearance. Near the Kremlin, a great member of Nazi newspapers, magazines, posters, and cassettes with Hitler's speeches are sold. The leaflets are being stuck all over Moscow. The Prosecutor is keeping silent and makes no comments on things that cause national conflicts and intolerance. We are very concerned with the situation and are preparing now for the conference "The Face of Modern Fascism." We would be very thankful for any reply on the problem from other countries. Eugene Immerman, School 444, Moscow
Dear Eugene Immerman, I am very sad to read your message about the latest threat of fascism in Russia. How terrible it is that young people are celebrating Hitler's birthday and that Nazi propaganda is being sold and posted up around Moscow. It is even worse that people are being attacked. You must be frightened and angry. What can we do to help with your work for "The Face of Modern Fascism"? Just this week in the USA, the Ku Klux Klan, a hate group that preaches "white supremacy" has tried to buy advertising time on Public Radio here for their hate propaganda. We need to help each other fight these groups. Let us know what we can do together. Students at Cold Spring Harbor High School, New York, USA
Dear Eugene Immerman, My name is Chris Lackert and I am a new member on the Holocaust/Genocide Project. I am fifteen years old and in tenth grade. I just read your letter, which says that there is a threat of fascism in Russia. Overall, I find this pretty shocking that near the Kremlin a great number of Nazi newspapers, magazines, posters, and cassettes with Hitler's speeches are sold and that leaflets are being stuck all over Moscow. Even attacks on people with non-Slovenian appearance is very bad, and I think this should be stopped as soon as possible before this grows into something a lot bigger. I think that we should do something about this, but I don't know what we could do and if it would work at all. You should ask them at the conference about the whole situation and ask for suggestions or ideas on how to reduce the growing threat of fascism in Russia. When young children ask about why it is so important to learn about the past, their elders often respond that it is so that we can learn to be better people today. They say that by reading Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl or Elie Wiesel's Night, the atrocities that were once committed during the Holocaust will not happen again. But unfortunately, this is not the case as we approach the new millennium. You would think that we would have learned by now. In every stage of history, there has been a holocaust of some group for some petty, superficial reason long before that of World War II and as is evident today around the globe, long after. These letters, which concern the neo-Nazism that is occurring in Russia right now, just goes to prove this fact. But perhaps what our elders and teachers have told us is true; we must keep informing people about this hate. We must do our best to stop it.