At different times in history, people have had similar experiences. We are not the first. It makes sense to look closely at the experiences of those who have gone through something similar. It doesn't devalue our experiences. But it puts them into a historical frame. And it shows us different options, if not for overcoming suffering (it is impossible to resurrect the murdered, impossible to accept death under the bombs of ordinary people like you and me), then the experience of processing it.

DEJAVU column about how different people at different times met disasters and lived through them with dignity