My mother was a very young girl when Hitler rose to power.
Living in a small town — Augusta, Kansas — she tried to make sense of the bits and pieces she heard adults talking about.
Finally, she went to my grandfather with a world map.
Where is the United States, she asked?
My grandfather circled it with his finger.
And where is Canada?
Russia?
Britain?
France?
My grandfather circled each in turn.
And where is Germany?
My grandfather circled it.
My mother grew silent.
Finally, she asked in a very quiet voice, “Do you think Hitler has a map too?”
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