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More thoughts on "Sticks and stones and Teletubbies" Dear Mr. Lemon, I logged on to WHYY's Web page today looking for more information about today's first hour of Radio Times, of interest to me as a Philadelphia-area Priestess and Witch. I also saw your Community Education piece "On Sticks and Stones and Teletubbies." As a lesbian, I appreciated this, but - especially since yesterday was Holocaust Remembrance Day - I'd like to point out that you missed an important historical fact when you said, "As far as we know, a purple triangle symbolizes nothing, but a pink triangle is full of meaning." There were 18 separate symbols used in Nazi concentration camps. Just as Jews were identified by overlapping yellow triangles that formed the Star of David, just as gay and bisexual men were identified by pink triangles and many women, including lesbian and bisexual women, were forced to wear black triangles, so were Jehovah's Witnesses identified by purple triangles I learned this years ago from some of my neighbors, who were Jehovah's Witnesses. We had several interesting, bridge-building conversations. We were united in our conviction that what can be done to one of us, can be done to all of us. We can't afford to forget any of the Holocaust's victims or survivors. Very truly yours, Stasa Morgan-Appel

Dear Stasa Morgan-Appel, Thank you for writing. In regards to your feelings about my recent article, I'd like to point out an important qualifier: "As far as we know, a purple triangle symbolizes nothing." The phrase, "As far as we know," is an important one. It means the author is willing to accept that there may well be pertinent information of which he is not aware - as you correctly pointed out. According to the Teletubbies' creators, the purple triangle on Tinky Winky has no symbolic meaning - any more than do the other shapes on the heads of the other Teletubbies. So while your point is well taken, remember that this was in the context of the article, rather than a definitive examination of the practice of designations within Nazi Germany. I firmly agree with your statement that "we can't afford to forget any of the Holocaust's victims or survivors." But it also troubles me that when the word "holocaust" is used, the general public typically thinks only in terms of Nazi concentration camps. As a descendant of African Americans and Native Americans, considering the holocausts that my ancestors experienced, it is somewhat of a miracle that I exist. According to the scholar John Hope Franklin, 20 million Africans were kidnapped and shipped west across the Atlantic. Only 10 million arrived here. Simple mathematics tells us that the other 10 million people are still at the bottom of the ocean. Correspondingly, of the 20 million or so Native Americans who lived here prior to the European invasion, 95% had died from war and Old World diseases by the 1600s. There are no remembrance days dedicated to either of these groups. Many women also suffered a holocaust during the Middle Ages, when they were tortured and killed as witches. At that time, being an "old hag" or "old crone" simply meant an older woman who was wise or had the gift of healing. In those days, men were often jealous of such women's knowledge, independence and skill. I relate all this not in any way to diminish the importance of Holocaust Remembrance Day, nor to minimize what happened to millions of people from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, social, sexual or cultural groups during the Nazi reign of terror. But whenever we start making lists regarding suffering, someone is bound to be left out. Perhaps more important than attempting to create exhaustive lists is remembering that many have suffered and died - both known and unknown. Even better, we can ask ourselves how can we work together to say "never again" for all. -Samuel M. Lemon, M.S. Manager, Community Education Services Click here to Return to Sticks and Stones and Teletubbies