After reading the letter, Mother Russia Unkind (July 3), I felt compelled to make some additional comments.
The letter writer highlights the deservedly well documented evil atrocities committed by Hitler and Stalin against the Jews, Poles and Ukrainians.
I wish to mention two other minority populations, rarely mentioned it seems, who were particularly despised by the Nazis and thus were vigorously hunted down for torture, pseudo- medical experiments and extermination.
The first group were people with disabilities whom the Nazis considered a barrier to their hoped-for creation of a pure, unblemished Aryan race.
The campaign targeted people of all disabilities: physical, developmental and mental health. These people were adjudged “defectives” and as such were labelled as subhuman by Hitler and his henchmen.
Edwin Black’s book: War Against the Weak, describes the Nazi campaign against the disabled minority and how they developed their vile theories and resultant policies.
The second minority, equally worthy of mention, was the homosexual population. SS Chief Heinrich Himmler possessed a fanatic hatred of homosexuals and made it his special mission to exterminate them.
Most homosexuals suffered horrible atrocities and early death in the concentration camps because they were reviled, not only by the guards, but by other camp inmates who hated them.
Richard Plant’s book The Pink Triangle provides an in-depth discussion of the Nazi war against homosexuals.
I mention these populations because, even today, they still experience stigma and prejudice or, at worst, hatred and state-sponsored repression in many areas of the world.
Despite positive laws and safeguards, the situation for both minorities is not ideal, even in Canada, and the struggle goes on here for equality based on respect and inclusion.
We must not forget the atrocities against these minorities, either, lest they be repeated in the future.
Joseph Parker, Port Williams