To honor the humanity of others and of ourselves, to let the victim know that she is not forgotten, we could each develop our own plan of action against our ownindifference. Those non-Jews, those Christians, that we call the "Righteous Gentiles," whose selfless acts of heroism saved the honor of their faith. Has there ever been two better speeches delivered in the same 24 hours? Thats why if you talk about racism to some in unguarded moments, youll hear something strange. I suppose its safe therefore, comfortable eh? So at an individual level, we cannot do it all, though most of us could do more. ', Illustrator of the Year, British Book Awards - 2018, Tina Fey: 'Only in comedy is an obedient white girl from the suburbs a diversity candidate', Kennedy Center Mark Twain Award - 2010, Sacha Baron Cohen: 'Just think what Goebbels might have done with Facebook', Anti Defamation League Leadership Award - 2019, Greta Thunberg: 'How dare you', UN Climate Action Summit - 2019, Charlie Munger: 'The Psychology of Human Misjudgment', Harvard University - 1995, Lawrence O'Donnell: 'The original sin of this country is that we invaders shot and murdered our way across the land killing every Native American that we could', The Last Word, 'Dakota' - 2016. Indifference is not a response. Learn to changea diaper, connect a g-tube, suction a trach. At its root, indifference is failing to show concern for others. What are its courses and inescapable consequences? It's neither pleasant nor enjoyable, but it's all part of being a good human, according to Elie Wiesel. Though he did not understand their language, their eyes told him what he needed to knowthat they, too, would remember, and bear witness. (70-72). Our purchasing decisions will not in themselves change how corporations produce their products. "Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. If you can afford a donation, it will help Speakola survive and prosper. Wiesel wants to be clear that, in some cases, people did learn from the Holocaust and World War II. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. It is for us to build. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. Why were they so few? But then, there were human beings who were sensitive to our tragedy. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. However, due to the rise of Nazism in Europe, many Jews were arrested and held without trial or charge. I know that I could. D. Only And that ship, which was already in the shores of the United States, was sent back. At the start, he sets the scene to reminds his listeners of the very worst humanity had to offerthe Holocaust, Buchenwald, millions of people dead simply because of their race or religion. (93-97). Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. During the darkest of times, inside the ghettoes and death camps -- and I'm glad that Mrs. Clinton mentioned that we are now commemorating that event, that period, that we are now in the Days of Remembrance -- but then, we felt abandoned, forgotten. And now we knew, we learned, we discovered that the Pentagon knew, the State Department knew. Is it becauseAdam is non-verbal and non-ambulatory? None of the people who now suffer in silence will be forgotten, will have their humanity effectively dismissed by the rest of us. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. History suggests that this will be a huge challenge, because the resiliency of White indifference is often underestimated. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. Do we feel their pain, their agony? And thats why its no accident that it was White indifference not hatred that seemed to anger the Rev. When adults wage war, children perish. Giving the dead in Baghdad as well as Brussels, Pakistan as well as Paris, our respect will not end the bombings and other attacks. They may appear cold to you, but inside they are still feeling as if you weren't important enough to matter to them. for Caitlin & Johnny - 2015, Korey Soderman (via Kyle): 'All our lives I have used my voice to help Korey express his thoughts, so today, like always, I will be my brothers voice' for Kyle and Jess - 2014, Bruce Springsteen: 'They're keepers of some of the most beautiful sonic architecture in rock and roll', Induction U2 into Rock Hall of Fame - 2005, Olivia Colman: 'Done that bit. But indifference is never creative. Even anger, according to Wiesel, is a more positive action than indifference. Indifference is more dangerous than anger or hatred, as it reduces others to an abstraction and never elicits a response or creates anything positive. It isgiving little thought toprisoners who languish in squalid, abusive, inhumane conditions because they broke the law (or did they? The same is true for hatred, since people will rise up and combat it. Alicia also volunteers as an editor for her college newspaper, and has worked on various writing-related projects during her time there. At any rate, its always good to be reminded to keep your passion about whatever you stand for. It is much simpler to prevent such obnoxious disruptions to our work, aspirations, and hopes. One does something special for the sake of humanity because one is angry at the injustice that one witnesses. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. Anger can at times be creative. ". And maybe in that moment, as he was handcuffed and led away, he got a glimpse of the terror that so many Black and brown men have felt. And this is one of the most important lessons of this outgoing century's wide-ranging experiments in good and evil. It becomes clear throughout his speech that Elie Wiesel sees the folks who stood idly by as being part of the problem. But this time, the world was not silent. Love this Phil!! Indifference is another story though. Banishing indifference requires, I believe, recognizing that beyond being troublesometo be involved in another persons pain and despair, it is also beyond our capacity to give all the worlds ills, all people who suffer avoidable pain and despair, due attention. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. There is a peculiar pain to being ignored, to not even being seen. According to Wiesel, our very humanity depends on doing whatever we can to help people suffering around the world, to protect them from governments and groups of people intent on erasing their existences simply because they are different. In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. I don't understand. Jeff Zelevansky/Reuters/Corbis. Is it necessary at times to practice it simply to keep one\s sanity, live normally, enjoy a fine meal and a glass of wine, as the world around us experiences harrowing upheavals? It is indifference that can "reduce the other to an abstraction" (par 8). The pastor that night discussed what it means to be a community, and what it means to love. It can be inferred that what Elie Wiesel meant by the above statement is that" "being indifferent or showing no empathy or care towards another warps a person's view of others and the self-respect and care that is due to them." Why did Elie Wiesel write the perils of indifference? The depressing tale of the St. Louis is case in point. Multiple factors contributed to the Holocaustincluding mass indifference to the suffering and the killing simply because it was easier to feign ignorance than to fight against atrocity. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. "The Perils of Indifference," Vocabulary from the speech Enjoyed this speech? It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person's pain and despair. As activists press for more changes in the wake of the verdict, Chauvins face could serve as a sober reminder. What should you do when you get a rejection letter? What is indifference? Indifference can also harm society as a whole because people stop trying to improve themselves and their situation. The Righteous Gentiles were a bit of a light in the darkness. This time, we intervene. When individuals are apathetic, they do nothing. Phil is a former high school principal with a 30 year tenure, a hockey dad to a superstar son who is his hero, a husband to a profoundly committed wife, and a father to a beautiful accomplished daughter. But that doesn't solve anything. He was finally free, but there was no joy in his heart. The degree to which we can even call ourselves Christian is determined by the measure of kindness we extend to others especially those who are most in need. It was his way of witnessing the genocide that eliminated his family along with millions of other Jews. This can be just as damaging as hating others because they avoid them. Is there a philosophy of indifference conceivable? Some find it easier to deal with the open hatred of overt racists when compared to those White people who dont even see them. Is today's justified intervention in Kosovo, led by you, Mr. President, a lasting warning that never again will the deportation, the terrorization of children and their parents, be allowed anywhere in the world? It is easier for one to look away from their troubles and allow a void of emptiness to replace a wrenching sadness filling the body. If we structure our society around these rights, then we can truly be a society where indifference no longer reigns, where we do not with our silencetell millions of people by failing to speak to their needs, theirlives, their pain that they do not matter, that their humanity is not really of concern to us. And throughout it all, they believed the rest of the world had no idea what was going on. Has the human being become less indifferent and more human? Elie Wiesel is a big fan of rhetorical questions, but they always serve a purpose. Your reflections are a kind of examination of conscience for all of us. And even if he lives to be a very old man, he will always be grateful to them for that rage, and also for their compassion. We can be more conscious of the how the food we eat, clothes we wear, and electronics we purchase are produced. This time, we intervene. He addressed it to a group of White moderates who he thought were indifferent to the suffering of Black people living under segregation, and who were more devoted to order than to justice.. 2023 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, Nobel Laureate, and author (most famously known for Night), gave this impassioned speech as part of the Millennium Lecture series, hosted by President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. They are us', Address to Parliament following Christchurch massacre - 2019, Dolores Ibrruri: "No Pasarn!, They shall not pass! The political prisoner in his cell, the hungry children, the homeless refugees not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their solitude by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory. Can one possibly view indifference as a virtue? Elie also believes that indifference causes others pain and suffering. Maybe it's because he wants people to think about the answers themselves, or maybe it's because he simply doesn't know what those answers are. It is also ignoring others' sufferings and putting yourself first. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. It is a type of rationalization that we use to justify our inaction. Your email address will not be published. Why didn't he allow these refugees to disembark? Even in suffering. Its just too painful. Or will some they continue to see them as thugs, predators, or superhuman? Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. How will it be remembered in the new millennium? When he was 12 years old andat a summer camp,he was under water for twenty-five minutes which eventually resulted in a disabled body but produced an indomitable spirit and brilliant soul. In paragraph 6, Elie Wiesel states, Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. What do you think he means by this? If you are indifferent to something, it means that you do not care about it. Published Within this call to action, Wiesel argues that indifference is an action worse than any other. Indifference can be positive or negative; it can help or hurt those who are indifferent to our feelings. Has the human being become less indifferent and more human? Are we less insensitive to the plight of victims of ethnic cleansing and other forms of injustices in places near and far? The Psychology of Ignorance What causes "indifference" as a psychological condition? abandon We felt that to be abandoned by God was worse than to be punished by Him. And together we walk towards the new millennium, carried by profound fear and extraordinary hope. Millions more were killed in World War I, World War II, and Vietnam, and still countries were using violence to solve their problems. Of course, apathy may be enticingeven attractive. Indifference is not a response. It is being transfixed by last Novembers terrorist attacks in Paris while moving on after reading a headline last week about an even deadlier marketplace attack in Baghdad. At least the racists recognize that they exist they see them, even if their vision is clouded by hate. Indifference or apathy is a state in which we don't care and/or don't take action on something happening around us. But there is one heart-wrenching image that stands above the rest. Indifference, then, is not only a sin, it is a punishment.\Elie Wiesel, 1999. ", Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, Nobel Laureate, and author (most famously known for Night), gave this impassioned speech as part of the Millennium Lecture series, hosted, Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus, Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. I was here and I will never forget it. Is it because (12 years ago)many promised to walk by our side for as long as it takes and disappeared? Elie Wiesel - The Perils of Indifference | Genius "Indifference," as Elie Wiesel defines it, is nuanced and complicatedand not at all innocent. Use of anguish refers to stronger pain one might feel. "The Perils of Indifference" Speech Summary, Text, & Analysis If we acknowledged each of those mothers, each of those victims of terror, of guns,each of these victims of indifference, we would have no emotional energy or time left for anything else, and still our task would be very much incomplete. I don't understand. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Suffering and the need to aid that suffering is basic to us all. The Perils of Indifference - LinkedIn 'The Perils Of Indifference' By Elie Wiesel - 863 Words | Bartleby Etymologically, the word means "no difference. And I thank all of you for being here. When the ship of Jewish refugees arrived in Cuba and was turned away, the captain turned to the United States for help. It is merely another form of slavery. These failures have cast a dark shadow over humanity: two World Wars, countless civil wars, the senseless chain of assassinations (Gandhi, the Kennedys, Martin Luther King, Sadat, Rabin), bloodbaths in Cambodia and Algeria, India and Pakistan, Ireland and Rwanda, Eritrea and Ethiopia, Sarajevo and Kosovo; the inhumanity in the gulag and the tragedy of Hiroshima. The look on Chauvins face is one of bored disinterest. (64-65). They told jurors Chauvin showed indifference to Floyds pleas for help. nonobvious Never, ever make a promise because it\s momentarily appropriate and then run from the promise. Why were they so few? Within this call to action, Wiesel argues that indifference is an action worse than any other. They would have spoken out with great outrage and conviction. For us to be ignored by God was a harsher punishment than to be a victim of His anger. Racism needs indifference like a plant needs water and sunlight. You've undoubtedly seen the images from various concentration camps throughout Europe. God is wherever we are. Of course, indifference can be tempting more than that, seductive. 'Anguish' means 'severe pain' or anxiety. MLK's 'I have been to the mountaintop' the, Elie Wiesel: 'And now we knew, we learned, we discovered that the Pentagon knew', The Perils of Indifference - United Nations, 1999. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/e John F Kennedy: 'Not because they are easy, but because they are hard', Moon Speech - 1962, Emmeline Pankhurst: 'I am here as a soldier who has temporarily left the field of battle', Freedom or Death - 1913 , Jon Stewart: "They responded in five seconds", 9-11 first responders, Address to Congress - 2019, Jacinda Ardern: 'They were New Zealanders. The lynching postcards that some White Americans used to mail to one another. You fight it. That was as chilling as his knee on Floyds neck. Elie Wiesel understands the ramifications of ignoring what is going on around him better than most people. And what it represents could pose the biggest challenge to broader police reforms ahead. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. We could take a little time out of each day to do something about unconscionable national and global health inequities, writing, emailing, calling our presidents and prime ministers, national and local legislators, about the need to create health systems that serve everyone equally, to address homelessness, to establish and fund policies that enable people with disabilities to reach their full potential, and so forth. His sunglasses are perched on his head and his hands rest in his pocket. to refer to anything or anyone originating in Africa? There may be several reasons for indifference. You denounce it. In fact, after the Americans liberated Buchenwald in 1945, they forced locals to march through the camp to see what had happened there and what they'd ignored. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Wrapped in their torn blankets, they would sit or lie on the ground, staring vacantly into space, unaware of who or where they were -- strangers to their surroundings. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Of course, indifference can be tempting -- more than that, seductive. Explain. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. The devotion and care that you and your wife give to your son is beyond admirable. Surely it will be judged, and judged severely, in both moral and metaphysical terms. Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end. One of the most profound things about Elie Wiesel's speech is that he asks a lot of questionsand doesn't provide any solutions. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Imagine their collective sense of betrayal when they realized that world leaders had known what was going onand did nothing. What happened? But when the Americans liberated Buchenwald in 1945, Wiesel could see their horror as they realized the rumors were true, as they realized just how many millions of people had suffered and died. If we find a way to show solidarity with the people of Paris after more than 130 people are killed there, we could take similar action after Baghdads marketplace attack. Of course, indifference can be tempting -- more than. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. There was no superhuman strength that day. The Jewish refugees on board the St. Louis were turned away from Cuba, and then from the United States, before they were accepted into various countries throughout Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium. They devote their lives to Adam\s maximum possible recovery and comfort in his body. Anger can at times be creative. All of us did. Even under a human rights approach, our solutions will be imperfect, and difficult questions such as these will persist. It is so much easier to look away from victims. I don't understand. Or, is itsimply the plague of indifference? Yet while acknowledging the humanity of people who are homeless is important, that will not in itself secure them roofs over their head. Photos of indifference dont go viral. Defining humanity may not be simple, but in terms of basic rights, it's pretty clear that all people deserve certain things just because they're humanand one of those things is a recognition of their worth. It is walking past a homeless person asking for help without even acknowledging her presence. And let us remember the meeting, filled with drama and emotion, between Rabin and Arafat that you, Mr. President, convened in this very place. You could be indifferent to someone you love or something that concerns you. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Perhaps no other feature of White attitudes is as cumulatively responsible for the pain and privation experienced by our nations Black minority at this point in our history as is indifference, he wrote. In fact, it exacerbates the problem because by ignoring the victims and what they're experiencing, you're making their suffering worse. He doesnt seem to notice Floyd at all. Use of anguish brings out deep emotions of the character. ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law Perils of Indifference - Elie Wiesel 1999 You fight it. What Did Elie Wiesel Say About Indifference? - Authors Cast One writes a great poem, a great symphony. There is social indifference, which means ignoring other people's needs and desires. Despite all this tragedy, Wiesel says he felt no sorrow because he believed they were dead. As activists use momentum from the Floyd verdict to press for more police reforms, this wall of indifference may be their biggest challenge. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. People who are indifferent can be seen as cold, aloof, disinterested, unmotivated, and lacking in passion. Can one possibly view indifference as a virtue? The list goes on and on. Does it mean that society has changed? Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. This time, we do respond. Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor -- never his victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten. Have we really learned from our experiences? Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. It is also systematically underfunding health systems and foreign assistance such that there is no doubt there will be too few health workers, too few medicines, too few ambulances, too little accountability to significantly cut the toll of mothers dying and robustly respond to the innumerable other causes of death and disability. Write 3 paragraphs about firefighters and Search and Rescue teams. Caring for others is difficult. We may not be able to acknowledge every homeless person, but we can acknowledge that homeless person whom we pass by on the sidewalk, at the very least giving a nod, a recognition of their existence and humanity, and if possible, do more. And in denying their humanity, we betray our own. But Wiesel does give a shout-out to the Righteous Gentiles, non-Jews who saw what was happening around them and took a stand against it. O sacristy And the illustrious occupant of the White House then, who was a great leader -- and I say it with some anguish and pain, because, today is exactly 54 years marking his death -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt died on April the 12th, 1945. Roosevelt was a good man, with a heart. (109-111). We as a culture have been trained to run from The Cross and we dont expend much energy learning to embrace and carry it. A thousand people -- in America, the great country, the greatest democracy, the most generous of all new nations in modern history. B. I hear that so many times but I was so careful, I did everything to be healthy, I cant understand why my baby died. Martin Luther King Jr. are led by a policeman as they are arrested in Birmingham, Alabama on April 12, 1963. Indifference impairs one's perspective of others as well as one's own dignity. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. And the prosecutors at his trial recognized that it was his indifference, not just his cruelty, that was a big part of why Floyd died. Wrapped in their torn blankets, they would sit or lie on the ground, staring vacantly into space, unaware of who or where they were--strangers to their surroundings . On the surface, the definition is pretty straightforward, but as you dive in and peel back some of the layers, it becomes easy to see how tempting it is to exist in between good and evilwhich, according to Wiesel, is where indifference lives. She has a degree in English Literature and Writing, and spends her days writing about everything from fashion to feminism. It's neither pleasant nor enjoyable, but it's all part of being a good human, according to Elie Wiesel. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. Wrapped in their torn blankets, they would sit or lie on the ground, staring vacantly into space, unaware of who or where they were, strangers to their surroundings. He understood those who needed help. We see their faces, their eyes. My friends and me But then, there were human beings who were sensitive to our tragedy. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor never his victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten. Better an unjust God than an indifferent one. The History Place - Great Speeches Collection: Elie Wiesel Speech The And in denying their humanity, we betray our own. And just as there are different types of diseases, so too are there different kinds of indifference. Indifference is a betrayal of life and those who live it. 'The Perils Of Indifference' (2835). It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person\s pain and despair. We should also try not to cause others to be indifferent to us. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. He mobilized the American people and the world, going into battle, bringing hundreds and thousands of valiant and brave soldiers in America to fight fascism, to fight dictatorship, to fight Hitler. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. (Wiesel 1972). Indifference elicits no response. During that time, he went to public school and then worked after school as a clerk in a clothing store. which statement best describes and explain the characters' actions in the excerpt black day 1935. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. Etymologically, the word means "no difference." We will not be hiding from suffering, but confronting it. It lowers the intensity of the feeling of the person when used in a sentence as compared to use of 'anguish'. And then, of course, the joint decision of the United States and NATO to intervene in Kosovo and save those victims, those refugees, those who were uprooted by a man, whom I believe that because of his crimes, should be charged with crimes against humanity. It has been suggested, and it was documented, that the Wehrmacht could not have conducted its invasion of France without oil obtained from American sources. And our only miserable consolation was that we believed that Auschwitz and Treblinka were closely guarded secrets; that the leaders of the free world did not know what was going on behind those black gates and barbed wire; that they had no knowledge of the war against the Jews that Hitler's armies and their accomplices waged as part of the war against the Allies. And so many of the young people fell in battle. In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Never ask, \Can I get you something?\ Just get it. They would have spoken out with great outrage and conviction. Why did some of America's largest corporations continue to do business with Hitler's Germany until 1942? Wiesel said indifference is more dangerous than hatred or anger because it "elicits no response .