Anne Frank in the Heartland

This week I attended a performance of The Diary of Anne Frank produced at the Lyceum Theatre in the little village of Arrow Rock, Missouri, located about forty miles northwest of the university town of Columbia. It is hard to imagine a more beautiful spot than Arrow Rock. The town is spacious, hilly and green, filled with fine restaurants and beautifully appointed bed and breakfast establishments. At first it might seem an unlikely locale in which to reflect upon the Holocaust, yet I found it perhaps a perfect place for thought. Far from the distractions of urban life, it was possible to ruminate in silence upon our achievements as human beings, and our tragic failures. We are capable of such good, yet also of such evil. What can be so disarming is when evil arrives cloaked in beauty and deception. The Nazis were capable of living outward lives of great refinement, and often displayed a great intelligence. Today there is so much "spin" in our world that it can be difficult to determine which side to support on many issues.

Countless people ask themselves how the Holocaust could have happened. What brought "ordinary" people to behave with such savagery? My own theory is that the Holocaust simply crept up into the hearts of its perpetrators. We grow accustomed to evil best when it is administered to us in small doses, little by little. When the guillotine first appeared during the French Revolution, its use was limited. But as the revolution progressed, the thirst for the blood of tyrants--real or imagined--grew more and more difficult to quench. By the close of World War II, the Nazis' devotion to the Holocaust was becoming the tail that wagged the dog of their aggression.

Missouri is one of our most beautiful states, and its citizens are blessed in many ways. But the meditative, tranquil hills, forests, valleys and farms were witness across the generations to the horrors of slavery and violence to groups such as Mormons and others. As we enjoy the beauty here and across our entire planet, we need to remember that, as the familiar saying reminds us, the price of freedom truly is eternal vigilance--of others, and of ourselves.

The Lyceum Theatre in Arrow Rock is a wonderful, professional venue that helps make a visit to Arrow Rock so inviting. The staff is warm and welcoming. I would heartily recommend the trip.

Thanks,
Gary