Tom Lantos (San Francisco: house, transfer, event)

[gizmo980]

I wasn't sure whether to post this in California, Politics, or San Francisco... but since he represented our fine city, I thought it was most appropriate here. I just got news that Congressman Tom Lantos passed away today, at age 80. He was a Holocaust survivor, and I remember him speaking to my Sunday School class about his experiences - what an amazing speaker he was! Lantos was a truly good man, who overcame incredible hardships & turned them into something positive, serving his new country with honor. Anyway, just thought I'd post this little tribute, in memory of a great man's life. We're losing more Holocaust survivors every day, and must continue to tell their stories once they're all gone.

Rep. Tom Lantos of California dies at 80 - CNN.com

Oh, and here's the statement released by my Synagogue, which is how I found out:

"It is with sadness that we advise you of the death of Congressman Tom Lantos. Tom Lantos was Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the House of Representatives. He was the only Holocaust survivor in Congress; He was a forceful and passionate advocate for civil liberties and human rights. He was a good friend to PTS (my Temple).
May his memory be a blessing."

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

I wasn't sure whether to post this in California, Politics, or San Francisco... but since he represented our fine city, I thought it was most appropriate here. I just got news that Congressman Tom Lantos passed away today, at age 80. He was a Holocaust survivor, and I remember him speaking to my Sunday School class about his experiences - what an amazing speaker he was! Lantos was a truly good man, who overcame incredible hardships & turned them into something positive, serving his new country with honor. Anyway, just thought I'd post this little tribute, in memory of a great man's life. We're losing more Holocaust survivors every day, and must continue to tell their stories once they're all gone.

Rep. Tom Lantos of California dies at 80 - CNN.com

Oh, and here's the statement released by my Synagogue, which is how I found out:

"It is with sadness that we advise you of the death of Congressman Tom Lantos. Tom Lantos was Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the House of Representatives. He was the only Holocaust survivor in Congress; He was a forceful and passionate advocate for civil liberties and human rights. He was a good friend to PTS (my Temple).
May his memory be a blessing."

God rest his soul and and all those who perished in the Holocaust!:-'( I knew a man who was part of the group of soldiers who liberated Dachau and he told me of what he saw there. I clearly remember him saying that any films I had seen of Dachau showed just a mere fraction of what he saw!:'-(

God rest all the souls that have persished in genocides before and since the Holocaust.

[gizmo980]

Amen.

My sister & mother took a tour of the concentration camps (mostly in Poland), and said it was beyond words... I would also like to do that one day, just to see it with my own eyes. I have a great-Aunt who survived Auschwitz, and she's still alive today, but has never talked about the experience. This is a good time to remember them, as we say goodbye to another survivor... RIP Tom Lantos.

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Amen.

My sister & mother took a tour of the concentration camps (mostly in Poland), and said it was beyond words... I would also like to do that one day, just to see it with my own eyes. I have a great-Aunt who survived Auschwitz, and she's still alive today, but has never talked about the experience. This is a good time to remember them, as we say goodbye to another survivor... RIP Tom Lantos.

Well thank God she survived!:'-) I remember when I was in Munich back in 2000, I tried to convince myself to visit Dachau but just could not. I don't think I could have bared it. Strange, I am not even Jewish.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by CamaroGuy

Well thank God she survived!:'-) I remember when I was in Munich back in 2000, I tried to convince myself to visit Dachau but just could not. I don't think I could have bared it. Strange, I am not even Jewish.

I don't think you have to be Jewish to be horrified by what happened there... unfortunately, most non-Jews were silent while it was happening, but at least it's in the open now. Oh, and yes it's a blessing my great-Aunt survived! She was first in the Lodz ghetto in Poland, until her family was transferred to Auschwitz - all of her family was killed there, with the exception of 1 younger brother (who's since died). She then met my grandmother's brother (my great-Uncle by blood) at the liberation camp, where he was serving with the US Army... he sponsored her & married her when they returned to the US, which is how she became my great-Aunt. Just one of many stories we could share about survivors, which I plan to pass along to my children & grandchildren.

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

I don't think you have to be Jewish to be horrified by what happened there... unfortunately, most non-Jews were silent while it was happening, but at least it's in the open now. Oh, and yes it's a blessing my great-Aunt survived! She was first in the Lodz ghetto in Poland, until her family was transferred to Auschwitz - all of her family was killed there, with the exception of 1 younger brother (who's since died). She then met my grandmother's brother (my great-Uncle by blood) at the liberation camp, where he was serving with the US Army... he sponsored her & married her when they returned to the US, which is how she became my great-Aunt. Just one of many stories we could share about survivors, which I plan to pass along to my children & grandchildren.

Very interesting gizmo. Yes, you definately have to pass it on to your children and grandchildren. It was indeed a very tragic event in history. The rest of the world could and should have done more to stop it too. I am sure that both Churchill and Roosevelt knew about what was going on. I mean they could bomb cities into rubble but they could not bomb the camps or at least the rail lines that led to the camps!:-( Absolutely shamefull.