International Holocaust Remembrance Day Summary

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day was on January 27 but the article did not only recite the mention of the day, it also included a tribute about the 300,000 people who had been either disabled or ill that were killed under the Nazis’ “euthanasia” program. Many people during the 1940s or even today know nothing about the forgotten victims before the Holocaust. The euthanasia program was used for people that were considered “not worth saving.” The article even mentions that because of the “success” of the euthanasia program many believe it to be considered the trial run for the Holocaust. Through the killings, the Nazi’s learned and developed quicker and cheaper ways to kill people, ultimately making it much easier for the Holocaust to come to light. Doctors and scientists took part in “exterminating” the sick and physically and mentally disabled. The public was appalled by this and their displeasure ultimately led to the end of the multitude of killing. Countless ill or disabled people still died across Europe though because of starvation, neglect or calculated overdoses

The Utilitarian belief is that every person suffers and when they do suffer they should be able to make the decision to live or to have someone kill them. When no one else is harmed and it is the decision of the person in pain then it is acceptable. If a Utilitarian read the article they would view the euthanasia program as nauseating. A utilitarian is only supporting of euthanasia when it helps end the agony of living anymore as determined or requested by the person in affliction. However, the victims of the euthanasia program had no say in whether they wanted to live or die, they just were killed. People that were disabled or ill were automatically determined to die because they were viewed as extra costs for the problems they had or that they were already “damaged”