If the Nazis really did exterminate 6,000,000 in ga chambers "disguised" as showers, incinerating the bodies in 12 minutes time, we wouldn't need laws prohibiting critical discussion of said events.

I remember being taught that the Nazis made lampshades out of human skin, and melted Jews' fat down to make soap. This has since been admitted to be a fabrication, but the magical ovens that incinerate ten times faster than modern techniques are illegal to question.

Michael, San Francisco, California, U.S.

To give an accurate description of what has never occurred is not merely the proper occupation of the historian, but the inalienable privilege of any man of parts and culture.

Oscar Wilde

Bosie, St Andrews, UK

I am in my 1st year at university, and as someone who has just come through the current education system I can not emphasise enough the importance of teaching future generations about genocides such as the Holocaust. The old adage of how forgetting history makes us more likely to repeat our mistakes, rings true now more than ever. Our school took us on a subsided trip to Sommes and Ypres and a number of students (most without any diret familial connection with the War) cried. Even those who didnt experience emotional upheaval, understood the magnitude of the situation and the sheer numbers of lifes sacrificed, to a far greater degree than learning about the strategic political interplay and reading meaningless statistics from the pages of a history book. Standing in those graveyards was an unforgettable experience and avoiding teaching about such events which shaped the world we live in today for the sake of political correctness is appalling.

Shruti, London, UK

"If you have visited Auschwitz, it is hard to deny the Holocaust while standing in a gas chamber"

In fact, the Auschwitz authorities have admitted that their gas chambers are 'reconstructions'. There are no original gas chambers there, nor any evidence that they were ever there.

andrew spencer, london,

Its ashame that only south park can get away with doing a show on the hollacost we need to learn from our mistakes in order to not make them again. If this trend is allowed to continue for fear of repercussions what is next editing history. if the hollacost is to be lost in time then will WW2 be next as a lot of people died there and to that extent probaly even WW1 as a lot more people died there.

Andy, St.Helens,

The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.

Friedrich Hegel.

G B Shaw, Ayot St Lawrence, UK

I wonder how long it will be until 9/11 isn't taught in schools because it portrays Muslims in a bad light.

Rob, Lambertville, MI,

Our history and particularly European Christian indulgence in genocide didn't end with the Holocaust so why this fixation with it as if its the salve of all ills. The Bosnians were subjected to genocide, Britain and the US sat on its hands. Rwandans were also massacred. The Iraqis are being now. Abuse and depridation in Palestine by the Israelis is 'tolerated' as Arab-Muslims are barely human so they can't be victims, only the Israelis are. Oh dear I've said something anti-semitic. What's the point if nothing is learned and racist policies continue.

Pete, Brentford,

For Jane - China,

The problems the world is facing today isn't just riots, lol, there is much much more than that. I am originally from Brazil and to be honest with you corruption in your country much worse than what happens in Brazil. We see the goverment in Britain working hard to give an extra 4.5 million to NHS, when goverment officials are making billions with their private companies. I love South Park but somehow we should stop laughing and actually do some thing about it.

Tiago, London, UK

This is typical of the P.C. culture that pervades our society; if the truth is going to engender controversy, then politicians try to avoid the truth. I would suggest that Political Cowardess is a more apt interpretation of the term P.C.

Adam, London ,

The Danish cartoons were poor, which unfortunately gave the British press and easy way out of not publishing them, but would the The Times put its money where its mouth is and publish stills from South Park? It's easy to talk, but the press has shied away from defending freedom of speech in the past (Jerry Springer The Opera) and has often fanned the flames by making such a big deal out of those cartoons. As you pointed out, South Park had already done cartoons of Muhammed, and there was little controversy. Suddenly a worse work of satire is made and a frenzy is whipped up to sell newspapers, while pundits sit on their hands and analyse what's going on. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it, so the saying goes. I hope this means The Times will stand up for an individual's right to free speech the next time it is threatened.

Adam, Middlesbrough,

South Park eh?

Not having a TV I have only seen one whole episode and a few scraps of others, but enough to have some appreciation of the nature of the beast. A tradition which goes back to Aristophanes, through such ne'er-do-wells as Baudelaire, Swift, (Ebenezer) Cooke, (Ben) Franklin (honest, read some) and Spitting Image.

Satire uses humour to question and expose, to encourage free thought untrammelled by the rigid constraints of the socially acceptable habits of behaviour which are imposed arbitrarily by society. Exactly the kind of thinking which schools should be encouraging, else how will societies evolve from the Stygian depths which we have inhabited for the last few thousand years into something which will justify the use of Homo sapiens to describe the species.

Perhaps South Park should be on the curriculum?

Self-delusion can lead to the mass delusions of the nazis and their ilk. Belief that this country still has an education system stems from such. WAKE UP.

Kidd Garrett, Bristol, UK

I feel the main point being raised is the enforced political correctness on the educational system. It is highlighted by comparing the current situation to a very funny and at times highly politically charged piece of animated satire. Luckily for Stone and Parker they are able to express their opinions intelligently and in the most part uncensored due to the nature of their media. Teachers dealing with an over full school with a wide range of political and cultural backgrounds do not have that luxury and as such are forced to bow to this country's suffocating need to appease everyone. It is unfortunately the nature of the beast. Until this country and likewise many of its larger 'buddies' undergo fundemental attitude changes articles like this could be two a penny -Well written though it was.

Niall, London, UK

History shouldn't be forgotten!!!!!!!!

Jane, China,

I can't agree with D MCMgregor any more, history shouldn't be forgotten, especially those holocausts. We should learn something from these terrible disaster. Now we are living in a relatively peacfeul world, we should cherish present conditions and try our best to make the world a happy family which will make the people in different colors of skin feel happy and comfortable. Indeed there are some riots in some countries, I think what we should do is to help their people live a peaceful as soon as possible.
The lesson we can learn from history is that, we need a peaceful world.

Jane, China,

As a 'bolshie' sub-sixth former in the mid-1960s, I remember being strongly criticized by classmates and teachers for supporting the unpopular Palestinian cause and, by implication but not intention, being anti-jewish. I was also in a minority of one for being rabidly atheist.

My views have since changed. I now believe that Hitler (in 'Mein Kampf') was right to suggest sending the (Israeli) Jews to Madagascar but believe that, God willing, all the Palestinians, Arabs, Iranians and other followers of Semitic religions, including militant Christians, should be sent along with them. Good riddance to the lot. Relocate the Madagascans (and lemurs) to Florida or some other 'bawn agin' paradise.

My point is that, despite my somewhat extreme views, I was never censored or subjected to 'ad hominem' or physical attacks. at school. In the liberal-humanist , politically-correct Britain of today, under the aegis of the religious maniac Blair, it seems that I would not have had the same luck.

L. Waring, Montevideo, Uruguay

This is bizarre; I never thought educational quality had become so low in schools. Surely the people who decide to withdraw Holocaust teaching can't see the wood for the trees? The extreme responses they are hoping to avoid exist in the first place because of ignorance, but that ignorance will only be compounded by their not being enlightened. I'm currently doing a depth study on the Holocaust in college, and some the teaching isn’t ideal, such as the obsession over who to blame (the goal seems to be to implicate as many people as possible), but it seems to me that, whatever conclusions you draw from learning about the Holocaust, it is required knowledge that everyone needs to know. It seems that, despite truly extreme Muslims still being a tiny minority, extremely bigoted and ignorant sentiments, such as the old chestnut of Holocaust deaths being exaggerated, is pretty much a commonly accepted view for most practicing Muslims (judging from the Muslims I know and the ones I debate wit)

Rory Considine, Liverpool, UK

I am with Michael in Pueblo.!!!

Moral outrage over a cartoon.????????????? Oh dear me.!!! This from a paper that defended freedom of speech over an anti Islamic cartoon that caused a near riot.

Double standards..typical.

D MCMgregor, Tunbridge Wells, UK

Michael, Pueblo, CO. USA well said!
Great article, events like the holocaust must never be forgotten! Maybe one day we will all learn from past mistakes!

AS, Malta,

Children do not need to go to Auschwitz, as high school seniors could view "Night and Fog" a truly outstanding documentary on the Holocaust. Society should teach children about HItler, but also about Stalin who killed three times as many people as Hitler. Unless children learn what happens when you do not protect human and political rights, how will they know how to protect them, or even to recognize danger, if democracy and human rights are ever at risk?

Emma Hawthorne, London, UK

To the assorted commenters on here who saw this article as nothing but an opportunity to vent spleen on the Israeli-Palestinian question:

The holocaust HAPPENED
The exile of the Palestinians HAPPENED
The slaughter of Israeli athletes HAPPENED
The persecution of Palestinians in their homes HAPPENED
The suicide bombings of innocent Israelis by Palestinians HAPPENED
The driving of still more Palestinians from their homes HAPPENED

You can add any number of additional HAPPENED (or IS HAPPENING) you like. The point is, deny the evil of one, and you risk denying the evil of all. Instead of this never-ending round of who-did-what-to-whom, you should watch SOUTH PARK, have a gigglefest, then figure out what YOU should be doing to end the cycle of destruction?

Michael, Pueblo, CO. USA

As a 44 year old, I watch South Park with my kids. It is very funny. I hope they are paying attention in school because South Park is not my ideal of their educational experience. The social commentary is something to think about. Now, I will go see what their curriculum is and if they need to do some outside reading.

Jim, Honolulu, USA

Regarding the posting of Perrin Ehlinger of Huntsville: I appreciate the comments; I also enjoy visitng the UK and would not like to see Sharia law, but I am wondering what is meant by advocating "declaring our belief system to be 'correct'". This sounds intolerant; and an intolerant belief system that denies historical facts is precisely the problem we are discussing. Respect and tolerance for others ideas and beliefs (all is tolerated except intolerance) is commendable and is the ideal of our western liberal tradition. If this is what was meant by our "belief system" I am in full agreement.

Michael Crawford, Hanford, CA

We in the United States have become so "politically correct" that we are now hamstrung and incapable of communicating any unvarnished truths. The need to be socially "correct" in how we describe or complain about anything containing the smallest iota of gender, religion, race or sexual orientation has rendered us completely ineffective as communicators. South Park is the only port in this storm I know of in our media anymore. Its the only outlet I have to laugh at situations that would normally make me cry.

Of course, my wife won't let me watch it.

James P, Sacramento, California

The Holocaust is part of the XXth century history and Europe still has many of these camps restorated for historical reasons. This Memorials act as quiet witnesses that remind us what once happened and make us think about how wicked man can be.
School should be a place not only to learn but also to debate some topics and prepare our children for adult life.
What kind of education will they get when some historical truths are denied in order not to irritate some extremists?

David, Madrid , Spain

The Times, thank you for this article.

Michal, London,

Perhaps the school has actually has a point. There are such enormous pressures on diversity in the UK already. Intolerance to attitude whether it be about age, sex, religion or race. In the overcrowded land in which we live, we already see intolerance to difference. The Jews in Germany are not much different than any ethnic minority living in Britain today. The political difference in the UK, being that no one in their right mind would accept an attitude of ethnic cleansing the Nazi's had. One can hope, but with a reduction in resources and an increase in immigration, where will we be then? It was need for social and economic reform that gave Hitler the influence he had to start with. It’s sad to see people are accepting terror, rather than rising above it. Can any Western society really claim to be wining a war against terror, when its population is influenced in such a dramatic way? Public institutions and authorities need to get a grip.

Nick, London, Essex

"Are we to justify our capitulation by now suggesting a majority of Muslim youth believe the Holocaust to be an exaggeration? Surely not."

This is nothing new. Sadly there were plenty of bright young muslim women at my high school who thought that exact the same thing. That it was an exaggeration or even lies. These girls weren't even fanatical in the stereotyopical sense- they didn't want to wear headress or veils or any other kind of religious garments. But they still believed that the holocaust hadn't really happened. That was only 6 years ago - I dread to think how much worse it's got.

Charlie, London,

This is to Isaiah in Texas about his problem with now Auschwitz comedy: Check out the episode "Death Camp of Tolerance". Hopefully that is enough "Auschwitz" humor for you.

Trevor, Winona, MN

South Park is not only the funniest and bravest show on the planet right now (kicking the ass off all those comedians who backslap each other for ripping into Christianity only), it is, in its own bizarre way, a highly political show. The point is these are four very normal eight-year old boys. It's the adults all around who are screwed up. The sensible kids usually have a point to make at the end of each show - grounded in the politics of common sense. A brilliant example is the NAMBLA episode - ostensibly highly offensive, though a thorough nod for decency and how to treat paedophiles. The same goes with religion, including Islam. The show never baulks at saying it how it is. To anyone who doesn't know South Park, just go watch it. Be offended. Laugh a little. Then admire the sincerity, the inventive writing, the brilliant execution, yet most of all the plain-speak of the show. No-one else pulls the same stuff off with such aplomb.

Daniel Clee, London,

Let us not forget that the UK and US governments (and the Israeli government) deny the genocide of the Christian Armenians so as to 'appease' the Turkish government.

Charles, London, England

The famous last line from the Nazi era....and I paraphrase it here....there was no one left to speak up when they came for me. If we do not know and/or understand history then we are "doomed" to repeat it....as we seem to be doing with the Holocaust. Depressing isn't it.

Linda, Santa Fe, USA

I have a lot sympathy with the teachers - I couldn't imagine trying to imbue the average inner-city schoolroom with empathy on these complex and controversial topics.

It's easy to take a strong moral stance on this, but when you're faced with a crowd of disaffected school kids, who's parents fill their heads with their own dubious ideological & nationalistic rhetoric from day one, it's a different story.

Mark, Woking, UK

Looking for Guidance from South Park??? Stone pushes the neocon agenda. The french are wimps, catholics are evil and the jews have their faults but they are wonderful. Stone never lampoons things that are near and dear to the jews. No Auschwitz comedy, no wailing wall that would spew sewerage. and definetly no lampooning of their failed messiah Rebbe Schneerson, whose baleful countenance is posted all over NYC..
All Stone cares about is the greater glory of Israel. And the Muhammad controversy??? As the London Times has pointed out dont even think of criticising Israel in the United States or backing Palestinian rights as Barack Obama did or the jewish media mafia will be attacking you ad infinitum.

Isaiah, Dallas, TX

It is essential that children are taught about this holocaust and, indeed, centuries of oppression suffered by Jews. Otherwise, how are we to appreciate the context of the murderous inhumanity shown by Israel today? And don't bother saying it's the only democracy in the Middle East. I'd rather judge them by our standards. And by "our", I don't the scum who used to bury Aborigine children up to their necks in sand before kicking their heads like footballs any more than I mean those stuffing black babies down wells in Darfur. It seems like anyone can be evil.

That's why it is probably a good idea to show children examples of intolerance and try to make them learn to be more tolerant (or may less tolerant of intolerance). If Moslem teachers or pupils don't like it, tough. Same goes for anyone fighting "with God on our side".

Jem, London, UK

Wonderful article. These times are too reflective of pre-WW2 Europe - appeasement, propaganda and willful ignorance are ruling the day. Until people are willing to declare their belief system as "correct", and push aside moral relativity, things will only get worse. I do hope it happens soon; I love visiting the UK and I'd hate to have to learn sharia law for my next visit.

Perrin Ehlinger, Huntsville, Alabama, USA

"Peace in our time"

Pretty much all of Europe is playing the appeasement game towards muslims, afraid of upsetting them while hoping that our lifestyle will turn them away from having a hateful religion rule their lives. After all, Islam is a religion of peace, and whoever says anything else will be killed.

We need to stand firmly by our western ideals such as freedom of speech and emancipation, only by doing so can muslims integrate into the west. If we give any religion special treatment for any reason, we are ourselves segregating society, and everyone will lose in the process.

Stian, Oslo, Norway

Erick Blair, you're missing the point of the article. That being that a cartoon program isn't afraid to talk about such truths, yet a school feels the need to not talk about such things for the fear they might offend. As mentioned South Park uses satire to point out the glaring obvious in these events. Not, i'm gonna preach about something, South Park isn't that. See the picture now?

Simon, lincoln,

Mocking Christ and Satan is only mocking "both sides" if one accepts the Christian theology, which, if that were the case, would mean that one ought not to mock Christ. In the contemporary Western world, the "other side" to Christianity is probably not explicit Satanism but rather anti-Christianity. An "equal opportunities" satire would therefore also mock the anti-Christian propaganda inherent in attempting to create a mental association between Christ's Passion (Gibson's film is barely distinguishable from the Gospel accounts) and the Nazi Holocaust. Somehow, however, I don't think satire is a zero sum game.

Kevin, London,

South Park says the things that everyone else is scared to say! They're allowed to to some extent because it's a cartoon and fictional. However, the point still remains in their message. So, while being told by your parents to stop watching such drivel, maybe the parents should look what's being taught in school. Seems to me, the kids of today that watch South Park might just turn out alright after all. Personally i love South Park, it's refreshing, i'm bored senseless with the all to "PC" culture of today. It's also got funnier with time as well.

Simon, lincoln,

Fsutaria, there is a significant difference between death by 'ineptitude' and pre-meditated mass genocide and this, rather than embarrassment, will explain the reasons for teaching one ahead of the other.

Luke, Manchester,

You're absolutely right. There's a saying out there somewhere that says (sic) "If you try to please everyone, then you please no one." It appears that British society has reached the depths of American society when it comes to debating the difficult issues of the day (i.e., the Holocaust, religious extremism, etc.)- it's easier not to discuss it at all than to discuss it in a civil manner. Even worse is choosing to argue about it and "sling mud," as we call it here, than to have a civil discussion.

I've been watching South Park for years. You watch it, laugh hysterically at who Parker & Stone have satirized this week, tell your friends, and move on. It's humor- that's what you're supposed to do with it!

Russell, Ft. Lauderdale, USA

I like South Park, but anyone who uses South Park and "the truth" in the same sentence has totally missed the point. South Park doesn't tell the truth they make fun of the truth. And that's fine. But the implicit suggestion, which definately unlies this article, that someone is going to learn about the truth by watching South Park is nuts.

Erick Blair, LA, CA, USA

James, you are right it is funny, but if you are not taking its message serious as well as laughing at it then you are missing the point!
If Matt and Trey only wanted to make us laugh then i am sure they would just have every episode a Terrence & Phillip one.

"INSERT YOUR OWN SAVIOUR HERE" help Great Britain.

GM, London, UK

The Holocaust is undeniably the defining example of man's inhumanity to man, but like other posters here, I blanch at its continued use as a justification for radical Zionism (in itself, often a racist, nihilistic, murderous ideology). Yet denying the Holocaust is a crime, denying other genocides is a matter of historical debate, or in the cases of Darfur, Bosnia or Rwanda, political expediency. We shouldn't blame the Jews for consistently "banging on" about the Holocaust, we should laud their "we shall never forget" attitude, and extend it to other genocides, especially those occurring currently. The lesson of the Holocaust was supposed to be "it could never happen again", yet in Sudan, Chad, Myanmar, Indonesian Papua, and countless others, it happens right now, unhindered and unmourned by the outside world.

James, London, UK

forgot "the chef's" refusal to tolerate Scientologist Mickey-taking and leaving the cartoon?

tilovsky, Leipzig,

The trouble with teaching "the holocaust" is that the anglocentric world identifies just one event by this label -- the cruel extermination of jewish people by the Nazi regime. The curriculum ignores or glosses over, the great Bengal famine (almost entirely brought about by British ineptitude and causing upto 2 million deaths), the Armenian holocaust, the extermination of the Tasmanian people and indeed any other event which shows Britian and/or it's allies in a very poor light. If "the holocaust" is to be taught in schools (and I think it should be) then do the right thing and teach without bais about all of the other events, irrespective of how badly they show you up.

fsutaria, Calcutta, India

South Park is funny, probably the funniest programme in the world at the moment, but if you take it seriously you've missed the point....

James, London, England

The true facts only remain "the truth" so long as they are told- which is why it is essential that they are.

Maybe it should be a requirement for anyone seeking to be elected or appointed to, or employed in, any position of authority that they demonstrate that they have read and understood 1984.

Eric Arthur Blair would, I fancy, have something to say about the state of Anthony Charles Lynton Blair's Britain.

JR, London,

It's not teaching of the holocaust that i object to it's the endless banging on about it as though it were the only act of attempted genocide in history. This means it is a useful weapon for the Israelis and helps the rest of the world to feel morally superior to the Germans.

Paul Gray, London, England

Long live South Park , however the greatest travesty in all this is if we continue to allow historical events to be airbrushed out of our times , or continue to apply modern day standards and sensitivities to past deeds , decide it was barbaric and never mention them again for fear of upsetting the minority , then the day will come when events like the holocaust will be forgotten . Our courageous men and women and children who sacrificed so much to allow this generation to live as we do , forgotten . the phrase " lest we forget " is now more prevelant then ever . If we do not remember the past as it was , what's the point ?

Dave Tole, Liverpool, Uk

I have been a long time fan of South Park and have always taken it as a tongue in cheek satire of mid and deep southern american state stereotypes, as I suppose comes from the influence of the two creators' backgrounds. The fact that it is teaching more history than our schools should be the warning shot that sends us all to our MPs with fervent demands that your children are not brought up in a bubble wrapped society that this is fast becoming. GET UP OFF YOUR BACKSIDES, BRITAIN, AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY!

Alistair Kipling, Birmingham,

I was already high-school aged when the local channels started to air South Park in my country (meaning Finland about ten years ago). It was THE series to watch, and I have to say that I've grown out of it since. However, then it was the main thing to make us to speak about politics and other "big issues". I can't really tell if we would have had all those conversations without this show.

Therefore, from my experience, I think this is exactly what the teens are needing. When your head is buzzing with the ideas of how to party next we and who likes who, a bit stronger ways are definately needed to get the people talking about something more than makeup and girls. And thats the thing, even the non-smart kids were participating and we didn't need any grown ups to start the thing!

päivi, Luxembourg,

School trips to the death camps are not impossible, as my daughter's school ran one. I think that the effect on her was profound, and I would recommend such a visit to anyone.

Mark Browne, Farnborough, UK

The truth is the truth, is the truth.
There was a holocaust and there are people in the world now who are little more than 'oxygen thieves'; we should never stop telling our children about the truth - 'by ye silence ye condone'.

Geoff Corner, Brisbane, Australia

It is lunacy to remove the history of the Holocaust from the school curriculum in the attempt to avoid further religious bigotry. The only way that we can avoid a similar genocide is to teach the young people about the true horror and suffering of those murdered in the Holocaust.
The South Park programme will be seen, in years to come, as the one show that truly stood up against the pervasive political correctness which now afflicts, not only our nation but, the majority of the world. I am a fan of the show but I think it is a sad indictment of our society that we need such controversial subjects to be lampooned and addressed by an animated serial to soften the blow.

Anthony Sharpe, Bournemouth,

We have always been censored, our news and media filtering what we should know or shouldn't know. A famous example is the relationship between Edward and Mrs Simpson was barely commented on in the press prior to his abdication.
Security Minions have used National Security to blanket out the news on government activities.
Social Do Gooders want to engineer a homegenous society .
We should all demand the truth, we should demand to be told the facts, we should be capable of forming our own opinions.
Once you start to censor the truth on the grounds of protecting society you are really saying lies and mistruths are okay as they don't harm anyone and we know that's never true

mark carter, perth, australia/WA

You totaly spoke for me.
I really was speechless (and still am) when i heared about the northern english school ( in german media it sounded like all the english schools act like this , thank good this seems to be not true).
Why do we start to act like cowards ?
Why do we fake our history and our cultural live just to please every extremist around ?
F.e. in the german town hannover they started to close the public (!!) swimming bath once a week for man to guarantee a "strictly women" swimming day for muslim women. Why that ?
or here comes my favourite , the school that renamed "three little piggies" not to offend muslims. AAARGH
I think this bending for political correctness and tolerance prevents real integration of foreigners as they are never forced to take part in and accept our way of live. Treat them as you would treat everyone else, we are all the same , arent we ?

Florian, Cologne, Germany

My God, you have said everything i have ever wanted to say... ever i have seen every episode of South Park, many many many times and I still learn something and laugh every time. as a college student I must say we need south park.

Jesse, Murfreesboro, Tn

South Park addresses many controversial topics and “gets away with it” because it’s an animated comedy series. Anyone offended is told, “Where’s your sense of humour?” Big fan, you can tell.
The Holocaust is a very complicated subject, but Holocaust denial laws are counterproductive in trying to grasp the full scope. However, talk of making Holocaust denial an offence in UK is borderline insanity. The truth doesn't need laws to protect it. What are the government trying to do, empty the country of indigenous Brits? Don't answer that.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

Wonderful Article.

Elphaba, Toronto, Canada

I have never been so angry at the written word as at this news from a school in Northern England about not teaching the Holocaust. These teachers have somehow concluded that NOT teaching the Holocaust will somehow benefit both the Muslim and Jewish communities around this school? The obvious imbecility of that position can only be explained by the fact that the teachers do not believe that they have within themselves the teaching competence or courage to frame the Holocaust in the appropriate way for the ethnic mix of their audience, in which case they should not be teachers at all. The solution is for all schools to be obliged by the government to teach specific topics such as this, the understanding and confronting of which are a)
fundamental to the progress of the human race, and b) what millions of people gave their lives to defeat.

Hugh, London,

It is so obvious. Where are we going? Which religious despot are we going to kneel to, and why?

harold brown, albany, ny, usa

Well said. Why should anyone get a pass at facing up to human cruelty? Why is the enlightenment good only for white people? It's another example of the soft bigotry of low expectations.

Fred Scuttle, San Francsco, USA