I remember the first time my classmates and I learned about the Nazi atrocities during World War II. It was a life-changing experience. How could humans be capable of such horrific acts? We lost our innocence as we watched documentaries of concentration camps and saw the mass graves. I had nightmares, and I'm sure I wasn't alone.

After the initial horror subsided, we had so many questions. Were all the Germans really Nazis? How could the people stand by and allow their government to do this? How could those who lived near the camps claim they did not know what was happening there? The answers never seemed satisfying, at least not to a bunch of optimistic children.

I remember hearing about the Nuremberg Trials for the first time. How dare anyone try to defend themselves by claiming that they were just following orders! Being a member of the military does not absolve one of one's basic humanity. These German soldiers were making a mockery of their service. I was glad to see that the defense failed. I was reassured to learn that the U.S. military taught their soldiers not to follow orders they knew to be criminal.

Bush authorized war crimes, actions that were prohibited by both U.S. and international law. He has confessed his crimes. Not only has he still not been held accountable for these crimes, but the public outrage that once fueled talk of impeachment and war crimes trials has all but disappeared. Those of us on the political left who still discuss the subject are considered crazy. Now that I see the widespread apathy over the war crimes committed by the Bush administration, I find the experience of the Germans who "didn't know" a bit easier to understand.

I'm certainly not trying to equate Bush's crimes with those of the Nazis. Similarities aside, Bush is no Nazi. I'm just noting that apathy really can enable evil. I do not envy those who will someday be faced with explaining to classes of wide-eyes school children why the American people sat by and did nothing when it was our turn to confront evil.

Subscribe to Red State Progressive