Analysis Of The Perils Of Indifference

784 WordsDec 8, 20174 Pages
Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Elie Wiesel in his straightforward speech, “The Perils of Indifference,” asserts that the inhumanity of indifference is still relevant today and can have negative effects on humanity unless society acts to abolish indifference. He develops his message through highlighting his experience in the holocaust as well as the multitude of tragedies that had occurred that century and how indifference can be handled; he states “Society was composed of three simple categories: the killer, the victim, and the bystander.”(par 14) which shows how his experience and society today is categorized. He addresses how people in concentration camps were ignored and how the world can learn from this tragic, inhumane event. Wiesel’s…show more content…
While tragedies like this have continued to occur, indifference makes others look away from situations and act indifferent instead of trying to resist and fight against the inhumane horrors. Throughout these acts of indifference, there are acts of resistance trying to end indifference for the greater good. In between WWI and WWII, “many were beaten and killed for speaking out against Nazism.” (A Teacher's). Although these consequences were in effect, many groups of people would rise against them and provide food for the people living in the ghettos, publish underground newspapers that spoke out against the Nazis, and provide illegal radio broadcasts of the events occurring. With these efforts of resistance occurring, many individuals stood out while helping others such as Dr. Janusz Korczak; In particular, when his orphanage was having children taken away to concentration camps, he decided to go along with them instead of staying behind and leaving the children to fend for themselves. Instead of being indifferent, Korczak decides to risk his life in order to help these children during their struggle. Wiesel claims “Society was composed of three simple categories: the killers, the victims, and the bystanders.” (par14). How did people during these “darkest of times” serve these roles and how could they have been changed? Wiesel
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