facebook-pixel

Letter: Silence of Republicans is unacceptable

(Lauren Victoria Burke | AP file photo)  House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, right, talks to the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, during a committee hearing.

(Lauren Victoria Burke | AP file photo) House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, right, talks to the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, during a committee hearing.

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.

Susan Jarvis, South Salt Lake

Submit a letter to the editor

Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.