New Battles Over WWII Memorial

Re Paul Conrad’s editorial cartoon (Commentary, July 9), “Lincoln overlooking the proposed WWII memorial designed and built by a German contractor”:

I am one of the few surviving slaves of Holzmann AG, the German company that has been given [part of] the $56-million contract to build the World War II memorial in Washington. I was liberated at the age of 14. My father died 20 days before liberation, worked to death by Holzmann.

The issue is not the nationality of the company that will build the memorial. I would have no objection if a German company builds roads, makes cars or constructs buildings here. I do object if it is paid to honor the memory of U.S. soldiers who gave me my freedom and some of whom gave their lives, killed by weapons produced by Holzmann and other companies working for Hitler’s war effort. It is a travesty and an insult to the memory of our fighting men.

Only if a German company were willing to construct the monument in recognition of its past, as a gift to the United States, would its participation be acceptable. I doubt that this is in the cards--Holzmann has come out of the war as one of the largest construction companies in Germany, able to buy up U.S. subsidiaries. It is not inclined to be charitable.

I am grateful to Conrad for the picture of a weeping Lincoln as he looks at the monument. He does not weep alone. We, the ex-slaves, weep with him.

Si Frumkin

Studio City

Conrad’s jingoistic cartoon poisons rather than informs and is a compelling example of why cynics are certain that we Homo sapiens will ultimately destroy ourselves. Perhaps Conrad might permit himself a more cosmic view of the selection if the German contractor had been found to be black, disabled, gay, an ex-smoker or Palestinian refugee. The retching irony in Conrad’s drawing is his brazen use of Abraham Lincoln, our beloved icon for gentleness, forgiveness and compassion, as poster boy.

Stuart Weiss

Beverly Hills

Conrad and I disagree sometimes. Many times. But his cartoon of Lincoln reacting to the World War II memorial fiasco was right on. As a WWII veteran, I congratulate Conrad for expressing our outrage at the very idea that a German company known for profiting from Nazi-era slave labor should now profit from constructing this memorial. This obscene contract must be canceled.

Barry Cohon

Los Angeles