Very, Very Thinky

I just talked to my mom, a pretty well educated and informed woman of 60 years who I just found out, knew nothing of the eugenics movement in America until this week.  It took me aback, but, now, I guess it makes sense, weirdly.  And it helps to explain a thing or two about teabaggers, most of whom seem to be in her age cohort or a little older.

Still. 

I'll admit, I might not have known but for my racist-but-I-still-love-him Uncle Howard... But still.  I forget people don't know this shit.  I forget that smart people I love and respect don't know this shit.  And realizing that bugs me.  Kind of a lot.  The generation that was adult enough to take part in that is largely gone.  Their kids, who saw where it led are dying (and a growing squirming terror over what happens when no on alive remembers the Holocaust first-hand... is squirming and growing), and now I think that a lot of their kids never got told, unless it was part of their family and history. 

I'm going to be over here, bothered for a bit.  Seems like I might ought to be involved in doing something about it.