The recent Trump administration policy of separating asylum-seeking families at the U.S. border invoked the ire of liberals and humanitarian-minded conservatives alike. Yet, in some circles, it seems that there is only one issue here: comparing this policy to the Holocaust. Certainly, these comparisons can go too far. It has been rightly pointed out that there are no gas chambers or crematoria at these concentration camps (and yes, they are concentration camps—look up the actual definition, not the one we associate with the Holocaust). However, the same people who so detest these comparisons seem to have no concern whatsoever for the actual problem at hand.

Let’s get this straight: the policy, halted for the time being, is a humanitarian disaster. While we’re on the topic of concentration camps, as George Takei pointed out, even during the Japanese internment families were kept intact. Through all of America’s often horrific history there are few precedents for this cruel and inhumane policy. As a result, political commentators have been forced to look elsewhere for analogies. The Holocaust simply proved to be an easy one.

Instead of joining these commentators in condemning this policy, many have simply taken issue with the Holocaust reference. It is as if somehow invoking the sacred memory of the Holocaust is worse than ripping crying children from their parents’ arms in the name of national security. No comparison, no matter how outrageous, should be allowed to detract from the true problem here.

Oren Nesher

Fair Lawn