Long before Hitler’s rise to power, the German capital of Berlin had been designated to be the site of the 1936 Olympics. Hitler sunned himself in the prospect of this event because of the participation of many countries from all over the world. A friend of my grandmother owned and operated a huge hair salon along the route of the traditional opening parade in which Hitler was expected to participate. The windows of the salon faced this avenue and provided an excellent view. My grandmother offered to take me there on the day of the opening. Heading the procession of athletes was Hitler, driving by in his open staff car, waiving at the crowd that lined the avenue. My grandmother uttered words I have never forgotten: "What a handsome man he is!" I did not forget these words because the ‘handsome man�?would later be the instrument of her imprisonment and her untimely death.

(From my book ‘Rebel With a Cause�?