In his book Ordinary Men, Christopher R. Browning creates a vivid and heartbreaking depiction of the genocide of the Jewish population living in Poland during the 1940s. Approx. six million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. Thousands of Nazi soldiers, under the command of their platoon leaders and ultimately Adolph Hitler, were responsible for the fateful disappearance of the Jews. The group of soldiers Browning focused on was the Reserve Police Battalion 101. Much of the population will not admit it, but genocide in this day and age is not a ridiculous idea; education, protection and appreciation of opposing viewpoints and common moral ideals will protect us from genocide in America. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original EssayThe right and ability to obtain an education in America is a privilege that should not be taken for granted. An ordinary person living in European countries in the early 1900s could obtain a primary-level education and then acquire a trade that allowed them to earn a living. The men of Battalion 101, as described by Browning, “…came from the lower strata of German society. Except for apprenticeship or vocational training, virtually none had any education…”. Education increases thought processes, makes everyone a critical thinker and gives them the confidence to make sound and rational decisions based on logic. Many people still question the validity of the Holocaust and claim that it never happened. Parents must teach their children that the Holocaust was real and did happen. We Americans must always keep in mind the events that took place during the Holocaust to ensure that a tragedy similar to the Nazis' attempt to eradicate the Jews never occurs on American soil. The learned man will rely on his own understanding of the truth and will not care about the thoughts and opinions of his fellow men. Civil liberties were created to protect Americans' fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Activist groups are fighting to retain the rights to free speech, freedom of religion and the right to vote. The popular view today is to feel free to think and say what you feel, as long as it fits with the dominant culture. Browning wrote in his book Ordinary Men that many men assigned to Battalion 101 were too afraid to speak out against the destruction of the Jews and instead joined the Nazis in killing them in order to gain space. Browning writes: “As important as the lack of time to think was the pressure to conform – the basic identification of the men in uniform with their comrades and the strong urge not to separate themselves from the group by withdrawing. » The men of Battalion 101 were all given the opportunity to step out of the ranks and identify themselves if they felt incapable of carrying out the task of murdering the Jews in Jozefow. Only a dozen men out of approximately 500 assigned to Battalion 101 had apologized for participating in the genocide. Americans must allow each other to express themselves freely. There must be strong opposition to conformity and we must encourage opposing views. The right to have a different point of view than the rest of society is one of the civil liberties that humanity has fought and died for. This nation is evolving towards.