"There are those who are inclined to suggest that little was done because of the contempt the Allies harbored for these particular victims because they were Jews. One is loath to accept that as true, but it must be acknowledged that many government officials, members of the press, and leaders of other religions behaved as if Jewish lives were a cheap commodity. The government and press responded more forcefully when non-Jewish lives were threatened. The Allies allowed food to be shipped through enemy lines to Axis-occupied Greece because the population was starving. They rejected Jewish requests that the same be done for Jews in Eastern Europe. The Americans claimed that they had not means to transport Jews to safety at the same time that cargo ships were returning from Europe with empty cargo holds. The press was far more outraged over Lidice and the killing of European resistance fighters than it was over similar action against Jews." – Deborah Lipstadt, Beyond Belief

"Many years ago Alexis de Tocqueville praised the press in large and populous nations such as America for its ability to unite people who share certain beliefs about an issue but, because they feel 'insignificant and lost among the crowd' cannot act alone. According to de Tocqueville, the press fulfils its highest purpose when it serves as a 'beacon' to bring together people who otherwise might ineffectively seek each other 'in darkness'. Newspapers can brings them 'together and . . . keep them united.' If there were no newspapers or if newspapers failed to do their task, he observed, 'there would be no common activity.' -- Deborah Lipstadt, Beyond Belief