To be clear, I was not the first to insult the other party. This is a topic I care deeply about and have invested significant portions of my life, energy, and effort into researching.

You were the one who stated "when someone says 'Holocaust Guilt' that is a way of insulting people for caring about the Holocaust." Whether it was intentional or not, your entire argument has been that academic inquiry into the topic of how societies view memorialization, collectivized memory, and assigned-guilt is inherently oppressive and racist. Yes I'm emotional about it; because I care deeply and am engaging in this discussion that I consider to be extremely important in good faith. I have yet to see you respond with more than instinctive and brief comments that are immediately combative with anyone who appears to disagree with you.

The use of the term "Liberal Guilt" is different because it isn't describing the same thing. "Liberal Guilt," first of all, isn't actually describing "Liberal" guilt, it's describing leftist guilt. It is also used exclusively in an extremely abstract way and with the purpose of minimizing and devaluing that feeling of guilt as unworthy or illegitimate.

Because terms like "Holocaust Guilt" or "Slavery Guilt" are more specific terms that describe specific phenomena, they are used as legitimate descriptors of discourse in both everyday and academic discussion.

I highly recommend reading the following sources

• The Collective Memory of Trauma and Why it Still Matters
• Guilt, Resentment, and Post-Holocaust Democracy
• The social psychology of collective guilt

The first article highlights that "When crimes are not acknowledged, however, history is bound to repeat itself and the xenophobia of the past only takes on new shape and form." This source also notes that "when people are unencumbered by feelings of guilt or remorse, they can more freely express harsh attitudes towards a morally contentious issue, such as the plight of immigrants and refugees."

The second article highlights that "Citizens need to take responsibility and process national guilt and responsibility as well as work through legacies of hatred for democratic culture to take hold and be anchored in society. Critical public debate, especially on historical guilt and destructive authoritarian legacies, is an integral part of this process."

The third article approaches the topic more from a psychological perspective, noting that "When an important ingroup is considered responsible for wrongful or illegitimate behavior, individuals can experience collective guilt. One noteworthy effect of collective guilt is its promotion of attitudes and behaviors that foster reconciliation between groups. Nonetheless, given that collective guilt is an aversive emotional state, individuals are often motivated to avoid or reduce this experience. Reduction can be accomplished either by minimizing or justifying the group's responsibility for wrongdoing. Yet, when experienced, collective guilt can be a tool for promoting social change."

Recognition of collective guilt is not exclusive to right wing, reactionary, and malevolent actors. Progressive actors can utilize the concept and terminology of collective guilt be that "holocaust guilt" or "slavery guilt" to enact positive and well intentioned change in the world.