Forgotten histories?

Editorial

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire took place 100 years ago today, on March 25, 1911. The fire cost the lives of 146 garment workers, mostly recent Jewish immigrant girls and women aged 16 to 23. Many of the victims died because management had locked the doors to prevent workers from taking breaks. Jumping from the eighth, ninth and 10th floors, the tragedy presaged by 90 years the fatal choices made by victims of the greatest New York disaster of the early 21st century. Reports from the time recounted how the falling women tried to maintain uprightness (in both senses of modesty and attempts to land feet-first) while plummeting to their deaths.

The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, one of the great “Jewish unions” of the era, was emboldened by the fire to advocate for better conditions. Workers’ rights would improve and safety requirements were implemented in the next decades, in what is often seen as a tiny lining of silver in this historical dark cloud.
This week, the U.S. Congress is arguing over how to cut $4 trillion in deficit spending by the end of the decade. In balancing the imperative to slash all range of spending, it would be wise to remember that government, whatever its limitations, has as a duty, at least, the protection of its citizens. Regulation may not be popular, or always effective, but the memory of the Triangle fire is a testament to the least government can do.

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If historical memory seems short in considering something like the Triangle fire, on a far greater scale is the memory of the Holocaust. A public opinion poll was released this week on European attitudes toward Israel – and by explicit extension, Jews – revealing some frightening attitudes.

Among Poles, 63 percent concurred with the view that Israel is “conducting a war of extermination against the Palestinians.” In Germany, almost half agreed.
Respondents – 1,000 in each of six countries – were asked to respond to the following statement: “Considering Israel’s policy, I can understand why people do not like Jews.” More than one in three – 35.6 percent – of Germans concurred, as did 35.9 percent of British respondents, 41.1 percent of Dutch, 55.2 percent of Poles, 45.6 percent of Hungarians and 48.8 percent of Portuguese. In short, huge numbers of Europeans can justify antisemitism based on utterly false perceptions of what is happening in the Middle East.

The ability for scape-goating and myth-making to mobilize millions to complicity in evil acts is a primary lesson from the Holocaust. If this lesson has not been learned, what has?

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