February 20, 2011

Genocide's Toxic Legacy

This, We Forget at Our Peril 1

Win McNamee, Getty Images

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum remained closed the day after a gunman shot and killed a security officer at the main entrance in June 2009.

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close This, We Forget at Our Peril 1

Win McNamee, Getty Images

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum remained closed the day after a gunman shot and killed a security officer at the main entrance in June 2009.

By Deborah E. Lipstadt

In 2009 I was awarded a research fellowship at the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. I anticipated a quiet six months during which I would be surrounded by outstanding colleagues and extensive scholarly resources. Relieved of all teaching and administrative responsibilities, I planned to use the time to work on my book on the Adolf Eichmann trial, which took place 50 years ago in April.

But something happened that summer that brought