About the publisher: I was struck by the contrast between Germany’s handling of the Holocaust and how many places in the US experienced slavery. (“Kids deserve to know the truth about America’s racist past. Even if it hurts,” Opinion, April 2)

In Germany, it is mandatory to educate schoolchildren about the Holocaust. Germans are honest about their past and realize that the best way to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again is to never forget it.

There is a strong movement here to condone or even ignore our shameful slavery past.

Some call it the critical race theory. I prefer to call it by its other name: American history.

Richard Shafarman, Santa Clarita

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About the publisher: Robin Abcarian’s column, which mentions reparations and teaches racism, is interesting. Can you still let “over is over”?

What if everyone on this planet asked for a solution? I should be paid for the loss of my father in World War II, right? My mother received only a meager war widower’s pension.

Christine Peterson, Woodland Hills

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About the publisher: So many Americans live in an irrational fear of something or someone else. This unfounded fear creates a stage on which slavery can be condoned, inequality between men and women rejected and the rule of law destroyed.

The crux of the truth is that we should respect differences as we learn and grow from what happened in our past and present.

Letting go of our fears and respecting differences is the foundation of what America should be about.

Rex Altman, Los Angeles