This Is Not Good: 1 in 5 in U.S. Adults Under The Age of 30 Think The Holocaust Is a Myth While Nearly 25% Think It Is Exaggerated

This isn't good.

A recent poll conducted by The Economist/You Gov found that 20% of American adults between the age of 18 and 29 believe The Holocaust is a myth. By comparison, that figure falls to 8% among adults between 30 and 44. Only 2% of U.S. adults between 45 and 64 believe the Holocaust is a myth while 0% of people over the age of 65 thinks the Holocaust is a myth.

When asked if the Holocaust is exaggerated, 23% of those between 18 and 29 agree. That figure goes down to 9% among those between the ages of 30 to 44. Only 4% of those between the age of 45 and 64 believe the Holocaust is exaggerated while only 2% of U.S. adults over the age of 65 concur with that statement. 

So, it's not surprising that younger adults are more sympathetic to the Palestinians than to Israel with 26% of adults between the ages 18-29 being more sympathetic to the Palestinians as compared to 19% to Israel. Whereas 22% of adults between the age of 30-44 sympathize with Israel as compared to 18% with the Palestinians. Among adults between the 45-64 and 65 +, only 6% sympathize with the Palestinians as compared to 44% and 60% for Israel among 45-64 and 65 +, respectively. 

A bipartisan group of Senators led by Nevada Democrat Jacky Rosen is trying to reauthorize the Never Again Education Act to provide federal funding for Holocaust education. The question remains if it will be able to reach young people. Especially if high schools in Oakland, California fly Palestinian flags, high school kids in Queens hunt down a teacher because she stood with Israel, or high school students in both Minnesota and in San Francisco chanting, "From the river to the sea."

If that is happening in our high schools, then we can hardly be surprised by what happens on college campuses such as vandalism targeting a Jewish fraternity at UPenn with the slogan "Jews R Nazis". It's the sort of thing Liz Magill didn't take seriously enough. 

What I fear is as the attitudes of these 18–29-year-olds will be further entrenched into adulthood with their even younger cohorts being even more receptive to the idea that the Holocaust is a myth and an exaggeration. As those over the age of 65 die off there might come a day in the not-too-distant future where the majority of American adults believe the Holocaust is a myth and an exaggeration. That is an America in which I do not want to live.

The question now is how to stop that from happening. My guess is that there would have to be a grassroots effort on social media that would resonate with teenagers and young adults. But the work would have to start yesterday as there is a lot of catching up to do especially if young Tik Tok users sympathize not only with Hamas but with Osama bin Laden. If teenagers and young adults find cause with Hamas and al Qaeda then it is not surprising that they would think the Holocaust is a myth and an exaggeration.

Attitudes can change, but it will be an uphill battle likely to take two steps back with every step forward.