Ep 674: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Susanne Seperson P3 on hmTv

Send us Fan MailThe Fog of War and Humanity | Ep. 674: Auschwitz, America’s Silence and Antisemitism (Part 3) | HMTCSusanne Bleiberg Seperson once asked her mother why she never removed the number tattooed on her arm at Auschwitz. Her mother replied, “It doesn’t matter. I will always know where I was.” The physical mark was visible, but the deeper wounds of persecution, imprisonment, and loss remained within her.In Episode 674 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli concludes his three-part conversation with Dr. Susanne Bleiberg Seperson about inherited trauma, refugee policy, Holocaust documentation, individual accountability, education, and the continuing fight against antisemitism.Susanne recalls growing up in New York without understanding that her parents’ nightmares, security concerns, work ethic, and constant preparation were connected to their Holocaust experiences. To her, they were simply part of everyday family life. Only later did she recognize how trauma had shaped both her parents and her own childhood.Although her parents carried physical and emotional reminders of persecution, they also passed down resilience, self-reliance, honesty, family loyalty, and a profound respect for education. Susanne’s father, who had been denied educational opportunities, urged her to complete her doctorate. One of his final requests was that she finish her dissertation.The conversation explores Susanne’s first visit to Auschwitz with her mother and teenage daughter. Surrounded by rooms filled with eyeglasses, children’s toys, and other stolen possessions, she felt emotionally numb. She understood that she had to remain strong for three generations while confronting evidence of what her mother had endured.Susanne also examines America’s failure to provide refuge to more European Jews. She discusses restrictive State Department policies, the Évian Conference, the rejection of the passengers aboard the MS St. Louis, and the decision not to bomb the railroad tracks leading to Auschwitz. Although reports of mass murder reached Allied governments, meaningful action came far too slowly.Richard and Susanne discuss the Bergson Group’s pageant We Will Never Die, American antisemitism, and disagreements among Jewish leaders over how forcefully to respond. They also recognize General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s insistence that the liberated concentration camps be photographed and witnessed, understanding that future generations would attempt to deny or minimize the crimes.During a return to Poland, Susanne saw the man who had betrayed her father’s sister for a small payment. She wanted to confront him, but one of the local rescuers stopped her, explaining that she would still have to live in the same town after Susanne left. The encounter reinforced Susanne’s belief that responsibility belongs to the individuals who commit crimes, not to their children, relatives, or an entire population.Susanne’s commitment to education eventually led to work with nongovernmental organizations at the United Nations. She helped establish a recognized committee within CoNGO focused on eliminating antisemitism and promoting peace. The committee is now pursuing international recognition and condemnation of antisemitism while building educational partnerships with other NGOs.The episode concludes with a warning and a challenge. Nazi ideology took hold in one of Europe’s most educated and technologically advanced societies. Education alone is therefore not enough. Young people must receive quality education that encourages independent thought, challenges dehumanization, and teaches them to recognize the humanity of others.For Susanne, the essential lesson can be found in every major religion: treat others as you wish to be treated. Without that foundation, knowledge can inform people, but it cannot make them humane.The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv | Host: Richard Acritelli | Guest: Dr. Susanne Bleiberg SepersonExecutive Producer and Director: Bernie FurshpanA production of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County🌐 hmtcli.org🎙 buzzsprout.com/2449781▶️ youtube.com/@hmTv-hmtc─── CHAPTERS ───0:00 Opening0:19 Welcome and Part 3 introduction1:12 Trust, survival, and a person’s word2:17 The different ways her parents carried trauma2:38 Growing up without the language of PTSD3:41 Security, self-reliance, and family values4:53 Physical reminders of extreme cold5:39 A mysterious gold tooth and an Auschwitz tattoo6:31 European traditions and American life7:21 Creating a beautiful home in the Bronx8:59 Her parents’ meaningful journey to Israel10:00 A father’s final request to finish her doctorate11:15 Education as the path out of poverty12:07 The only wartime object preserved by the family13:23 Choosing comfort after years of survival14:14 Visiting Auschwitz with three generations15:03 Confronting the evidence of mass murder16:00 America’s failure to admit more Jewish refugees16:41 The Évian Conference and international rejection17:25 The tragedy of the MS St. Louis17:58 The debate over bombing Auschwitz19:34 The Bergson Group and We Will Never Die20:28 Eisenhower preserves evidence of the camps21:20 Confronting the man who betrayed her aunt22:22 Individual responsibility and the Nuremberg principle22:34 Building an intergenerational mission at the United Nations23:25 Seeking international condemnation of antisemitism24:15 Why education alone cannot prevent hatred25:10 Teaching independent thought and human dignity26:22 Returning to the Golden Rule26:40 Closing reflections27:17 hmTv outro──────────────────#FogOfWarAndHumanity #SusanneSeperson #HolocaustSurvivors #Auschwitz #HolocaustEducation #Antisemitism #MSStLouis #Eisenhower #UnitedNations #InheritedTrauma #SurvivorTestimony #HMTCSupport the show