People are not responsible for actions taken before they were born. They had no part in it, they had no way to oppose or prevent those actions. The present generations' responsibility for history is to learn from it. Sadly too many people are failing in this responsibility.

As a voting citizen of the United States, I have used that limited power to oppose the escalation of wars in eastern Europe and the middle east. I recognized administrative policies that escalated those conflicts, I studied the congressional record to see who voted funding to enable actions I view as contributing to escalation and mishandling. In November I cast my vote to unseat those I, as a citizen, hold accountable. I also speak out against policies that I believe unjust and wrong, and I use the written word to try and influence others to stand against tyranny in all it's forms. These things are IMO my duty as a 21st century adult citizen.

Today is different than history: I will take accountability for MY actions, but not things that happened before my birth. With respect to more recent events, I take responsibility only for those things I can control or influence. I reject the "we as a people" responsibility for actions taken by those who do not represent "my people" - those who share my values and belief. To assert otherwise is IMO very dangerous: it keeps people from realizing what they CAN do and instead promotes hate and division, which serve only to enable the few bad actors to get away with more bad actions.

One old white Jewish guy's opinion.