Dave,

Can't get back to your response re the young woman seeing her Jewish doctor with toothbrush.

As a very young man 1972, I went to yad vashem in Jerusalem.

As one entered there was a large sunken map of Europe. Black Onyx I think. On the map were single candle flames, each to represent a camp, with the numbers killed.

I remember pausing at that and then making a turn to my right.

I almost walked into a five foot high dais. The last foot of which was a glass encased hermetically sealed lamp and shade.

The shade was made out of human skin. The chest I presumed.

The tattoo depicted was of two swallows holding onto a scroll which entered a faded red heart and across the middle was written a name.

Sophia.

I remembered my first year history prof, a Brit, who intoned, "Philosophy ladies and gentlemen, from the Greek, Philos or love, and Sophia or wisdom.

Ergo philosophy...love of wisdom.

It stunned me. Someone was 'reading' using I presumed the light cast from a human skin.

I understood irony then.

Which brings me back to your article.

Irony, just like the lessons of history, is lost on those ill educated enough to not harken to its calls.