We in the United States should be all the more thankful for the

Hear the words of Charlie Dent: “We in the United States should be all the more thankful for the freedom and religious tolerance we enjoy. And we should always remember the lessons learned from the Holocaust, in hopes we stay vigilant against such inhumanity now and in the future.” These words are not only a reminder of gratitude, but also a solemn call to vigilance. For freedom is not a gift that remains unguarded; it must be protected, nourished, and remembered through the lessons of history.

The origin of this reflection is twofold. First, it comes from the unique inheritance of the United States—a land built upon ideals of liberty and the right of every person to worship freely. Second, it arises from the shadow of the Holocaust, one of humanity’s darkest hours, when hatred and tyranny stripped millions of their lives and dignity. Dent’s words remind us that freedom and tolerance are not to be taken for granted; they are precious because we have seen the abyss that unfolds when they are destroyed.

Consider the people of Germany in the 1930s, when propaganda and fear slowly eroded tolerance. At first, the small restrictions seemed harmless, even justified by the rhetoric of power. But those small steps led to ghettos, to camps, to the industrial slaughter of millions. The lesson is eternal: inhumanity begins with the failure to guard freedom in its smallest details. To remember the Holocaust is to remember that vigilance must never sleep.

There is also in these words the spirit of gratitude. Dent calls upon his nation to be thankful for the blessings of liberty and tolerance. Gratitude is not passive—it sharpens the mind to see what is precious and therefore worth defending. Without gratitude, freedom becomes invisible, and what is invisible is easily lost. To give thanks for freedom is to remember that it was purchased by sacrifice, and that its survival demands responsibility.

The teaching is also one of shared humanity. Religious tolerance is not merely about allowing diversity; it is about recognizing the divine dignity within every person, regardless of creed. The Holocaust was possible only because humanity was denied to its victims. To remain vigilant, then, is to guard the humanity of others as fiercely as one’s own. The wise know that when one group is stripped of dignity, all stand in danger.

What lesson, then, do we carry? That thankfulness must walk hand in hand with vigilance. Freedom is not self-sustaining; it decays when neglected and perishes when hatred goes unchecked. To honor the memory of the Holocaust is to keep watch over our own hearts and societies, ensuring that intolerance, bigotry, and division never gain root.

Practical actions flow from this wisdom. Give thanks often for the liberties you enjoy—freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom to live without fear. Teach the lessons of the Holocaust to new generations, so that memory does not fade into dust. Speak against hatred, even in small forms, for small seeds grow into towering evils. Build bridges of understanding in your community, and defend the dignity of those who differ from you. In this way, gratitude becomes not only a sentiment but a shield, and vigilance becomes the guardian of peace.

Thus, let the words of Charlie Dent echo through the ages: be thankful for freedom, guard religious tolerance, and never forget the lessons of history. For to remember is to protect, to be grateful is to strengthen, and to stay vigilant is to ensure that humanity’s darkest night is never allowed to fall again.