“I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.” Anne Frank wrote that in her diary more than 65 years ago. Unfortunately, despite her talent and courage, the little girl was wrong. Not only because the Germans killed her and millions of others, but because we still must face the insane hatred of nutcase dictators, suicide bombers and other fantatic murderers today.

The Anne Frank House Museum presents special events this year to celebrate what would have been Anne’s 80th birthday. On display will be the teenage Holocaust victim's diaries and other writings. The depth, sensitivity and high quality of her work adds to the sadness for her brief 15 years of life. It is certain she could have had a brilliant career as a writer.

If you’ll be in Amsterdam, be sure to add to your visit schedule some time at the Anne Frank House Museum, located in a large row structure on the city’s main canal. The Frank family apartment, the tiny Secret Annex spaces behind the bookcase, is preserved as it was when they hid there during the Nazi occupation in World War II.

The address is Prinsengracht 267 (1016 GV), PO Box 730, 1000 AS Amsterdam, Netherlands, phone +31 20 5567105, and online at  www.annefrank.org. Tickets are about $10 for adults, $5 for those aged ten to 17, and $1 for kids under ten.