Jewish Group

You posted in this in the Jewish Group. Many, if not most, of the responses aren't even from Jews. Jewish pain, suffering, and fears are fodder for both sides of the political spectrum. I will credit the ones who aren't Jewish and made note of it. Kudos.

Is the term offensive? Yes. It makes light of two situations, the actual horrors of Auschwitz and the horrors of the current encampment. Is it a "concentration camp"? In my view, yes, it is. When one brings in Nazi references, especially those of DEATH CAMPS, like Auschwitz, then one starts to traffic in something else altogether. In a country, a world, where anti-Semitism is rising, continues to rise, and has a cadre, a loud one, defending, excusing, and mocking anti-Semitism, this is just salt on the wound.

The US has a history of concentration camps, including what were called "Indian reservations", some are marginally better, most are not, to full-fledged concentration camps, the most famous were the ones that held Japanese Americans during WWII, as well as other that held German- and Italian Americans during the same time period.

It is profoundly disappointing to have a question like this posed in a group whose history is related to the question, only to be talked over or around, but it is par for the course now.

All death camps were concentration camps, but not all concentration camps were death camps, so why use "Auschwitz" and not the name of a labor camp? Why? Because most wouldn't recognize the name or the significance, so use the one that many will know, despite the GLARING differences. Again, Jewish history and pain are inconsequential to the majority, if not an outright punchline.

What is happening in this country is horrific. Is it a prelude to worse things? Likely. But in calling out the outrage, one needn't dehumanize the Jew by casually using terms which are significant to our community.