Tom Lantos, Congressman, died

My mother's family, Hungarian Jews, was basically wiped out in the holocaust. Not unique, but a fact.

It is interesting how members of the same "community" react differently to the same conditions. Among those Jews who identify with Israel in some way, the distinctions are pronounced, often rigid.

Some Jews find a comfortable home supporting Israel in all things; kind of like "my country right or wrong". "Never again", in its most militant form. One can imagine such a reaction from such a history.

Others have chosen a different, I won't say "transcending", path that derives from the holocaust the meaning that nations, Israel equally or even more, must attempt to exemplify everything that the Nazis transgressed. "Never again" would evoke a more universal, reflective, challenge.

It is possible, to analyze the differences further, but I'm not sure it helps much. Each would think they are honoring and actualizing the memory of their martyred relatives and friends.

There are no doubt many in between. And there is the Zionist movement that seeks to manipulate, Jews and non-Jews alike, for political ends, finding in this sad history fertile ground for their cynicism. They have their lackeys among the neocons, and politicians who are either too credulous, lazy, corrupt, or lack the conscience to think and speak for themselves.

I don't know much about Tom Lantos but, if he had an active conscience, he may well have struggled with these questions. That’s the best construction I can put on it.