re: #2 Bob Levin

It sounds as if there is some controversy, not much, but some. I don’t think the issue is whether or not the pageant was about life and survival, but rather, how tastefully was this done. Was the cosmetic company commercializing the history? I’d have to see the pageant, and of course, the final word is with the survivors. See? I’m hesitant to call them ‘contestants’.

From my perspective, it doesn’t matter. I take the view that those of us who have been fortunate to not have to survive a Shoah have no right to question, much less criticize, the decision of those that choose to mark their survival in whatever way they choose.

I am reminded of the YouTube video of a Survivor dancing at Auschwitz, where the media tried to create a controversy out of it. My father, who is a Survivor, would never do that, but all the power to those who chose to celebrate life that way.

Either way, I have no standing to criticize.

And either way, the media have no business trying to stoke controversy here.