In Defence of Truth

Every morning when Jerry Kovac wakes up, he knows all is not right in his life. For seventeen years since the end of World War II, he cannot purge himself of daily ruminations about what happened when his homeland Slovakia entered a shameful collaborative alliance with Nazi Germany. He worked on the production of Panzer tanks for the mass killings of innocents. In the streets of his town, he watched in silence as “undesirables” were rounded up and transported to camps while he and his compatriots remained in their thick shell of impenetrable complacency.

For Jerry, the security and comfort of marriage acts as a succor against the oppression of war. He met his wife Anna, a petite blonde, in the munitions factory and together as victims of circumstances, they did what they were told, kept their heads down, and remained safe until Victory in Europe Day. After the war, the truth about World War II became crystal clear through photographs and eyewitness accounts. Documentaries telling the stories of war heroes risking their lives for the chance of saving innocent victims rub salt every day into Jerry’s wounded conscience.

In 1962, Jerry immigrates to Canada from Slovakia and, with his experience in Panzer production, qualifies for work as a mechanic with a union wage. He settles in a small community, buys a modest bungalow, furnishes it with secondhand furniture from thrift shops, and buys secondhand household necessities. He deserves nothing better, and views his small sacrifices as penitence for his apathy toward those who suffered as he remained silent.

Anna never speaks about the war. She resents Jerry’s fixation on the past and the constraint he puts over their new life in Canada. “Jerry can’t we go out once in a while and have a bit of fun?”

He resists her undeserving appeals. “Going out for dinner or buying flowers is a waste of money. I will aways provide for you. You will never have to go out to work.” Why can’t she understand her good luck after she had witnessed how others lost everything during the war?

Anna despises her frugal existence: checking the sales flyers for bargains, mending broken cups and dishes, darning socks, making her own curtains, and never wasting a penny. She wants to scream, “The war is over! It’s time to move forward!” Her blonde hair is greying while Jerry wallows in guilt. She sees no point in living life as martyrs.

Sometimes, her neighbours ask, “What was it like in Slovakia during the war?”

Anna forces a smile, “We never talk about the war. Jerry has too many bad memories. For me, it’s all in the past.”

“What part did Slovakia play in the war?” some ask Jerry at church gatherings or during coffee breaks at work.

He wishes they wouldn’t ask such questions. “I really don’t know. We just did what we were told. No one talked about the war.” Jerry turns pale and looks away, and the questions stop.

Their three sons grow up and start school, where they learn about World War II and soon begin to ask questions. “Dad, what did you do during the war? We were told that all over Europe, some people who were named as enemies got taken away. You must have known some of them.”

Jerry’s answers are careful. “People were on the move all the time during the war. I couldn’t say where they went. We did what we were told and never knew what happened to others. They kept us in the dark.”

“But Dad, weren’t some taken away from your neighbourhood? You must have seen something.”

On Sunday they dress in their best secondhand clothing and Jerry, with his head bowed, leads them in single file down the narrow sidewalk to St. Paul’s Apostle Church. The priest tells his congregation, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth,” or “Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jerry closes his eyes and prays for forgiveness. I never suffered for justice’s sake. I did nothing about the suffering of others. God forgive me for I am an unworthy sinner.

Jerry’s two oldest sons’ questions about the war could be answered, but Jerry’s youngest son, Jacob, has questions about what Mr. Caldwell, his history teacher, is telling him.

“Dad, Mr. Caldwell is teaching us about World War II. He says the Holocaust is a fraud. The Jews were bad people. They were trying to destroy Christianity and they made everything up.”

Jerry feels sick. “What do you mean the Holocaust is a fraud?”

Jacob says, “Didn’t you know the Jews made it all up just to get some sympathy? It was all a conspiracy.”

Jerry’s mouth is open but words do not come. Later he asks Anna, “Did Jacob tell you about his history teacher? Why didn’t the other two kids ever talk about him when they were in high school?”

“Maybe they paid no attention or maybe he wasn’t their teacher. I mean this history teacher could be right. It could be that none of it did happen. We were too busy in the factory to know.” Anna does not look at Jerry as she tosses some potatoes to soak in a pot of cold water.

That night Jerry lies awake. He can see his neighbour in Slovakia. She’s a middle-aged widow getting her house spic-and-span for an important general. She feels proud cleaning her house for such a powerful man. Within a week, the general takes over the house. Jerry watches him parade along the street in full military regalia with an iron cross pinned to his chest. He never sees his neighbour again. Maybe they put her up somewhere else. But then he would have seen her. It is only a small town. No one could just disappear like that. Jerry cannot erase her proud happy face from his mind.

Others had disappeared. Could it have been a hoax? If only he could believe the Holocaust was made up, but he knows the truth. He should have done something for her even if it was to offer her a safe home. But then he would have had to hide her, and hiding Jews was a big risk during the war.

He talks to a coworker in the shop about his son’s teacher. “Oh, him,” they say, “He’s been denying the Holocaust for years. He is running for mayor and will probably win. Lots of people around here like Jack Caldwell. Careful not to mess with Jack!”

Jack Caldwell is teaching his son that the Holocaust is a made-up Jewish conspiracy to destroy the Christian way of life. What is he going to do about it?

Jerry’s nights are sleepless hell, and every day when first light comes, he gets up. Careful not to wake Anna, he packs a small lunch and leaves for the shop. The workers at the shop ask Jerry if he’s lost weight and tell him he looks tired.

“Hey, Jerry, sit down and rest a while. You don’t look so good. Are you not well?” his coworkers ask. “Don’t smoke, you need some food.” He sits down and lights up a cigarette.

Anna worries. She makes his favorite soups and goulash but after a few spoonsful, he pushes his dish away. “Jerry, stop worrying about that teacher. He means no harm. He is free to say whatever he wants. Canada is a free country.”

Jerry sits and covers his face with his hands, but all he can see are the horrific images of the war. He sees people stacked like cord wood. Starved to skeletons in Nazi camps. Innocent people gassed with Zyklon B. Crematoria belching smoke. All through this, he put his head down and manufactured weapons of war. During it all, he did what he was told.

A few weeks later, after dinner, Jerry is in the living room mulling over his memories when Jacob asks him, “Dad, can you read my assignment for history? Mr. Caldwell asked us to write an essay about Europe during World War II.”

“Sure, Jacob, bring it to me and I’ll read it.” Jerry’s hands tremble and his heart is pounding but his son wants his opinion. He wants his children to get a good education and not suffer the humiliation he had when told by Canadian immigration that his education was less than high school.

When Jacob comes back with his paper Jerry says, “You go and finish your homework. In the meantime, I’ll read your assignment.”

He opens the paper and reads:

During the ’30s, countries in Europe were concerned about the rising power of the Nazi Party under the control of Adolf Hitler. In Germany, economic hardships and fear of worse times in the future were blamed on the existing government of the Weimar Republic.

Much of this misery came from Germany’s financial trouble after their crushing defeat in the first World War. Germany did not lose this war on the battlefield but lost because of betrayal at home from Jews, Social Democrats, and Communists. The Jews had stabbed Germany in the back.

After World War II, the Jews developed a conspiracy in which they claimed that during the war they were imprisoned and murdered in camps. The conspiracy was propagated to gain sympathy for the Jews. Unfortunately, most of the world has been led to believe that millions of Jews were murdered by Germans in concentration camps. If such a notion is to be believed, why did the Germans have no knowledge of it during the war? When asked, most knew nothing of the boxcars carrying Jews to their death in concentration camps. Everyone would know if such a mass murder was really going on!

Jerry puts down the paper. He is sweating. He will have to act. He’ll talk to Anna first, but he cannot disregard Mr. Caldwell’s indoctrination of his son.

“Well, Dad, do you think Mr. Caldwell will like my paper? I packed in everything we learned in class.”

Jerry looks at Jacob’s innocent face and thinks about the Hitler Youth who stood and swallowed all the lies of Nazism.

He says, “Mr. Caldwell is telling you how he sees history, but you must be aware that history can be told in many different ways.”

“But Mr. Caldwell wouldn’t lie to us. You always tell everyone about how you never knew what happened. You and Mom just did what you were told. But Mr. Caldwell is a teacher and he knows what happened in the war.”

Later that night, Jerry tells Anna about Jacob’s paper. “Jacob is being taught a bunch of lies about the war. Have you heard him talk about the Jews making up the story about the concentration camps? This has gone way too far.”

“Listen, you don’t want any trouble for Jacob. Once this year is over, he will move on to new ideas.”

Jerry stares at her. “We can’t let this go. We stood by while innocent people were dragged off, but now I have to stop this guy from filling our boy’s head with ignorant lies.”

Anna shouts, “Jerry, stop it! You’re an immigrant and this teacher has every right in a free country to say what he thinks. You need to stop your fixation about the war. Start eating properly and let go of the past. It’s over.”

Jerry doesn’t listen to Anna. Caldwell is the new Hitler and Jerry must stop him.

A few weeks later, Jacob comes home from school with news. “A district superintendent visited our school today and held a meeting with Mr. Caldwell. Mr. Caldwell was really angry when the superintendent left. The rumour around school is that it’s all about what he is teaching.”

Jerry’s pulse races. I’m not the only one wanting to set Jack Caldwell straight. Should I first try and see the district superintendent, or what if I go see Caldwell on my own?

“Can you give me a copy of that paper you wanted me to read? I would like to read it again.”

“Sure, but don’t go making trouble for me. Mr. Caldwell doesn’t like anyone to question him.”

Jerry reads the paper a second time and knows what he has to do. He would arrange to see Mr. Jack Caldwell.

A week later, he phones the principal’s office and is connected to the secretary.

“I would like to set up a parent-teacher meeting with Mr. Jack Caldwell, the history teacher.”

“Can I ask the purpose of your meeting with Mr. Caldwell?”

Jerry can picture the secretary rolling her eyes and drumming her fingers on the desk. “A meeting to discuss the progress of my son in his history class. His name is Jacob Kovac.”

“What about this Friday at 4 p.m.?”

 Jerry is taken aback by a date so soon. “Yes, that would be fine.”

“Very well, I’ll let Mr. Caldwell know. You can meet in his classroom, number 213, on the second floor.”

Jerry thanks her and hangs up the phone. He has not thought about what he will say to Jack Caldwell. How about, “You have been filling my son’s head with lies.” Or, “I was in Europe during the war and everything you say about the Jews is wrong.” Jerry thinks, No, Caldwell will go on defence. Another approach is needed. Should I let Jacob know? Probably best not to tell him. It would make him anxious and maybe scare him. Jack Caldwell had clearly intimidated his students.

On Friday, Jerry tells his boss he has to leave work early for a dentist’s appointment. “Oh sure, we’ll see you on Monday.” When Jerry goes out the door, his boss calls out, “Have a great weekend.”

Jerry arrives at Edison High School and parks his car. All week, he’s been going over and over what he might say, and in the end, he decided the truth is on his side. The truth shall set you free. Isn’t that straight from the Bible?

Mr. Caldwell is sitting at his desk when Jerry enters Room 213. He doesn’t stand up or offer any greeting.

Jerry extends his hand, “I am Jerry, Jacob Kovac’s father.”

Mr. Caldwell stays put. “How can I help you today?” His face is tanned and smirking. He is dressed in a plaid shirt and casual navy pants. Leaning way back in a wooden swivel chair, he now springs forward and cups his hands under his chin as if he is ready to give Jerry his undivided attention.

Jerry stumbles over his words, “I would. . . I’d like to. . . talk about my son’s paper. The one he wrote about Europe in the war.”

Jack Caldwell’s expression remains smug. “What about it?”

“It is all wrong. The concentrations camps are real. P-people from my neighbourhood were. . . taken away and we never saw them again. I was right there when it happened.”

Jack Caldwell’s face has a look of amusement. “Oh, I see, you were there. Did you follow those poor people to see where they actually went? The sooner you realize it was all a hoax, you can stop believing in this Jewish hoax.”

“You don’t understand. I. . . I have suffered for years because while I built German tanks, I. . . never lifted a finger for those who were tortured and murdered. Now you are. . . trying to tell my son it was all a hoax.”

“But you must realize that the success of the Jewish myth is your guilt and despair over all these years. In my history class, I teach the truth and, by the way, your son wrote an excellent paper.”

“With all of. . . all of the publicity, photographs, eyewitnesses, and documentaries, you still don’t believe there were any concentration camps? That’s impossible.”

Mr. Caldwell sits motionless in his chair, “I have a right to my beliefs and you have a right to yours. In Canada, this is called freedom of expression. I would advise you to brush up on the Canadian Charter of Rights.”

Jerry is confused. Caldwell continues, “You know, the 1970 Canadian Charter of Rights, giving me the right to say what I believe is the truth.” He stands up. “If that is all, Mr. Kovac, I need to be on my way.”

Jerry cannot believe what has just happened. Anna was right. He is nothing but an ignorant immigrant, with no idea about the Canadian Charter of Rights. The torture and murder of others has just been called a hoax by a history teacher who is free to use this Charter of Rights to say whatever he wants to Jacob.

As the days pass, Jacob doesn’t talk about Jack Caldwell. It’s as if nothing has happened, until someone calls from the school and asks if Jerry could come in for a meeting with the principal.

“Why do they want to see you?” Anna searches his face. “I hope you have not been stirring the pot.”

“Oh, just routine maybe. I really don’t know.” Jerry feels better since his visit with Jack Caldwell because, for the first time in his life, he’s had the courage to defend the truth about the victims of Nazi Germany.

Mr. Temple, the school principal, puts Jerry at ease. “We are happy you agreed to come in. You see, Mr. Caldwell’s antisemitic ideas are not new. He came to me and complained about your visit, which convinced me that it is time to take some action. He’s been given many warnings to stop propagating hate against Jews.”

Jerry feels a mixture of relief and elation. “I stood by and did nothing during the war to defend these people. I beg you not to tell Jacob about my visit with Mr. Caldwell.”

Mr. Temple smiles. “I will say your visit was strictly routine. Mr. Caldwell is well-liked and that can make it difficult for the students to see any wrongdoing.”

“But what about the Charter of Rights? Won’t that protect Mr. Caldwell? He says he has a right to express his opinions.”

“Yes, it will be a difficult process.”

“I am proud to be part of the process.” Jerry said.

Mr. Temple stands up. “Thank you, Mr. Kovac, for having the courage to act on your convictions. It must be very difficult for you. If I have any further questions, I will call.”

Within a year, Mr. Caldwell’s teaching position has been terminated and his teaching certificate revoked. The Caldwell case of propagating hate versus the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is brought to court and lasts for fourteen years. After two long trials, three sentences all appealed and retried in the Supreme Court of Canada, and six other trials in Alberta, Jack Caldwell was given a one-year suspended sentence, one year of probation, and two hundred hours of community service.

To most, Jack Caldwell’s sentence is a slap on the wrist, but to Jerry, his one small step toward truth frees him from the past. When Jacob attends law school, the precedent case of Jack Caldwell is often discussed. Jacob is proud his father played a part in Caldwell’s dismissal from teaching.

On Sundays, Jerry and Anna still go to church for Sunday mass. Jerry is in his worn black gabardine suit and Anna wears her blue rose-patterned dress with a matching pillbox hat.

After church, they have lunch and write letters to their sons. Anna watches Jerry, but he doesn’t look up from his writing. She goes to the kitchen. Tonight, she’ll make the rump roast as tender as filet mignon. Jerry likes his meat just so. These days he is more at peace. She is not sure why.