Other Victims of Holocaust

“Fighting for ‘Other’ Victims of Holocaust” (Jan. 19)--the “disabled”--is a timely reminder that we need to make our memorials universal rather than singular and parochial. The number for Holocaust victims is 11 million. All Holocaust memorial museums need to enlarge their programs and exhibits to recognize the scope of the 11 million dead. It in no way demeans our memorial to the 6 million Jewish victims.

We are signatories to the United Nations Genocide Convention treaty. It seeks to end genocidal killings. Yet, forces that seek to devour others because of differences remain on the march. In our country, we have laws to enhance penalties for hate crimes, but fail to deal with the speech that produced them. And because Yitzhak Rabin said, “Enough killing! Enough!” zealots killed him.

The Holocaust memorials are to “remember” and a pledge, “Never again.” But without law to protect this ideal, it’s but a promise. With Internet and Web sites, hate speech endangers all of us. We need to enact laws that will stand the test of constitutionality.

HYMAN H. HAVES

Pacific Palisades