April 16, 2013 12:17 PM UTC

Video: Sens. Renfroe, Lundberg on "Holocaust Awareness Week"

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• by: Colorado Pols

A video clip we wanted to be sure got noted in the record, from last Thursday's discussion of Senate Joint Resolution 026, designating last week "Holocaust Awareness Week" in Colorado. The resolution passed unanimously, of course, but not before these…memorable statements from GOP Senators Scott Renfroe of Greeley and Kevin Lundberg of Loveland.

RENFROE: The question is, do we learn from history, or do we allow it to repeat itself on many fronts within this. For me, what comes to my mind, this is my personal beliefs, when we have this day and what–and I'll be honest with you what comes to my mind first, and this is going to offend some, but it's me being honest and blunt and truthful with you. In my opinion, abortion is a Holocaust. [Pols emphasis] (Brief applause)

And I can't stop but think of that every day, every time we have this resolution, of what we are doing within our backyard, down the block, in our communities, with life and not respecting life in my opinion…

History repeats itself. And I pray that we can learn from our history and from this history and not allow that to happen.

LUNDBERG: It doesn't happen all at once. Respect for human rights, respect for life, respect for those who we as a legislature are charged with securing their rights isn't always there…

I cannot remain silent after this person, this American patriot, who spoke to me–warned me–that what I see today is far too close to what I saw in Germany growing up before the Holocaust. [Pols emphasis]

With Sen. Renfroe's comments, it's a pretty clear statement: "abortion equals Holocaust." We're a little less sure what Sen. Lundberg is getting at, seemingly going beyond the one issue of "protecting life" into a bunch of other "rights," human and, well, otherwise. He doesn't actually enumerate the "rights" he is referring to. We're going to go out on a limb here and suggest that one of them probably involves guns.

It's a common problem with historical events that the farther back in history they become, and as those who actually witnessed said events pass on, they tend to become, well, cheapened, we guess, by politically opportunistic or just plain irresponsible members of subsequent generations.

We wish that our elected Colorado legislators would not be the ones to do this.