Holocaust Horror Revisited

''Six million died?'' this simple question was asked by the woman sitting behind me at a screening of Schindler's List ((Holocaust, Dec. 13)). In these words lies the reason Steven Spielberg's brilliant film is so very important. Americans are ignorant about the Holocaust, and ignorance leads to denial. I hope Spielberg's film will enable them to view the horrors of the Holocaust almost as if they were experiencing them firsthand. Spielberg is a genius who has made history. Now he is helping preserve it.

Seth Zachary Nagel Athens, Ohio

Unfortunately, according to a survey by this organization, nearly 40% of American youth do not know what the Holocaust was. A majority cannot correctly answer even one of four simple, basic questions about it. One can only hope Spielberg's film kindles interest in educating our children about the worst crime in modern history. Other recent surveys by the American Jewish Committee show that one-third of the American people find it ''possible'' the Holocaust never took place. Our surveys in France and Britain, by contrast, show that such potential ''Holocaust deniers'' make up only 6% of the French population and 16% of the British.

David A. Harris, Executive Director American Jewish Committee New York City

The genocide under Hitler was a horrible atrocity, but isn't it time to stop ignoring this century's many other genocides? Why the silence concerning the 6.5 million Mao Zedong killed? Or the 20 million Stalin was responsible for murdering? Or the 2 million killed by black-African governments in Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Sudan and other nations? Or the Japanese genocide that killed 2 million in World War II? And on and on. Your reviewer, like many other people, is dismayed that so few young Americans have heard of the Holocaust. But everyone should be angered about ignorance of the other genocides mentioned above. Probably 80% of Americans -- young and old -- have never heard of them.

John Larsson Morro Bay, California

Spielberg has brought humor, tears, joy, pain, love and every other conceivable emotion to audiences all over the world, and he has sent a message along with his entertainment. Schindler's List speaks for itself as superb moviemaking.

Elene Kweskin St. Louis, Missouri