I moved to South Salt Lake last summer, and I live in a rodent-infested community. Rats are a part of nature and, with new building in Salt Lake County, rats have been displaced.

But I would not accuse my Mormon neighbors of attracting rats, or claim that no one wants to live here, any more than I would say that of my former New York neighbors or the people of Baltimore.

Attacks against people of color is appalling. The silence from the GOP is unacceptable. Do a morality check and call out such horrible talk.

My father served in World War II, as well as the Korean War. I was born in Germany. I also returned to Germany for five years, including one year of college. During those later years, I visited the death camp at Dachau, near Munich. I witnessed the silence of German nationalists and neighbors who did not speak up. I traveled by train from Munich to Dachau, past decades-old apartment buildings. Within earshot of the tracks we could hear kids playing. They heard Jews and Gypsies, the disabled and “others” being transported in cattle cars to certain death, in silence.

I am a witness to history. This must not be repeated.