Lessons of ‘Schindler’s List’

How glad I am that everyone in America with a television set had the opportunity to watch “Schindler’s List” sans commercial breaks (“NBC Makes Impact With ‘Schindler’s List,’ ‘Asteroid,’ ” Feb. 26). The message implied in the movie--”never forget”--has unfortunately already been wasted on almost all of us. Ask any American what they thought about our involvement in Bosnia. Ask any American if they think there was anything we should have done to prevent the genocide orchestrated by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. And how many of us were there in Rwanda? No, we just glared angrily at our TVs when the footage was aired on CNN.

This has not happened on our shores. None of us believe this could ever happen on our shores. So, while we all remember with heavy hearts the unfathomable Holocaust, we choose not to get involved with the monstrosities occurring right now. It is much easier to mourn the past than to take control of the present.

SUSANNE WHITTOCK

Thousand Oaks

Howard Rosenberg is probably correct in saying that to modify “Schindler’s List” for TV would have been “obscene” (“NBC Just Can’t Rest on Laurels,” Feb. 26). But as he laments what Don Ohlmeyer may do to NBC, he should be concerned with what Fox and UPN will do with the license granted by this airing. When he complains about the titillation in future episodes of “Melrose Place” et al, who will listen?

STEWART M. HARRIS

Sun Valley