Wrapped in their torn blankets, they would sit or lie on the ground, staring vacantly into space, unaware of who or where they werestrangers to their surroundings. It isgiving little thought toprisoners who languish in squalid, abusive, inhumane conditions because they broke the law (or did they? In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. 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. People often become indifferent to what matters most in life. Oneold frienddid immediately visitand it was so good for Adam. To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum. He thought there never would be again. Or will some they continue to see them as thugs, predators, or superhuman? But they were real, and Elie Wiesel understood better than anyone the consequences of underestimating those images. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. They no longer felt pain, hunger, thirst. Most Black people have experienced this. It is allowing millions of children and adults with mental and physical disabilities to languish in mental institutions around the world, hidden away and forgotten, dying prematurely and living directionless lives, when love, attention, and proper care could transform and extend their lives,infuse them with purpose, and enable people with disabilities to be full members of society. Better an unjust God than an indifferent one. It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person's pain and despair. Does it mean that we have learned from the past? 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. (20-22). Elie Wiesel is talking about FDR's response to the St. Louis (which we discuss in the "Timeline" section). And, on a different level, of course, Auschwitz and Treblinka. The author describes what indifference means to him as well. Jeff Zelevansky/Reuters/Corbis. Within this call to action, Wiesel argues that indifference is an action worse than any other. I know that I could. Because how could something so horrible have actually happened to millions of innocent people? Some of them -- so many of them -- could be saved. To me, those are the people who are the most maddening, and I know more than a few. convergent Surely it will be judged, and judged severely, in both moral and metaphysical terms. There is altogether too much of it. What are its courses and inescapable consequences? appreciated. He believes that ignoring a person's misery makes it easier to look at that person as something less than human. 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. And now we knew, we learned, we discovered that the Pentagon knew, the State Department knew. . And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. All Rights Reserved. Indifference is using another person as a way to escape your own problems. Indifference elicits no response. And in denying their humanity, we betray our own. Have we really learned from our experiences? Even in suffering? His sunglasses are perched on his head and his hands rest in his pocket. He thought there never would be again. nonobvious It is doing something that denies or removes their importance or value. Gun violence, with more than 30,000 Americans per yearlost to gun homicide and suicide, fails to stir Congressto act. Elie also believes that indifference causes others pain and suffering. When we talk about racism, we often focus on spectacular acts of cruelty. (100, 104-106). Is it because (12 years ago)many promised to walk by our side for as long as it takes and disappeared? 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. Etymologically, the word means "no difference." He was eventually released without charge. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Anguish can also be used to refer to intense mental distress, but that does not necessarily imply confusion. 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. There is emotional indifference, which means failing to care about someone's feelings. America was built by folks searching for religious freedom, and Wiesel doesn't understand how such a place could turn its back on 1,000 people looking for that same freedomespecially when they'd heard whispers about the kinds of horrors happening in the Nazi-controlled parts of Europe. In a 1999 White House address raising the perils of indifference, Elie Wiesel offered these reflections: Of course, indifference can be tempting more than that, seductive. Enjoyed this speech? Wiesel says this experience made him aware of the danger of being indifferent toward other people's suffering. We see their faces, their eyes. I hear that so many times but I was so careful, I did everything to be healthy, I cant understand why my baby died. Indifference distorts a person's perception of others and the dignity that each person possesses. So, if the young Jewish boy from the Carpathian Mountains could still believe in the very best, anything is possible. It isn't always easy, but empathy is part of being human. Man can live far from God -- not outside God. Funny people are everywhere. Even if you believe something bad about them, keep these feelings hidden from them too. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction means. Communicate it with a card. Love this Phil!! My friends and me 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? "The Perils of Indifference" is a not-so-gentle reminder of the negative consequences of indifference, and how important it is to take an interest in the anguish of others, even when it's tempting to look the other way. Let them know you care about them even if you can't show it in front of everyone. 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. What happened? "Gratitude" is a word that I cherish. In fact, it exacerbates the problem because by ignoring the victims and what they're experiencing, you're making their suffering worse. We can be more conscious of the how the food we eat, clothes we wear, and electronics we purchase are produced. This time, we do respond. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. When the ship of Jewish refugees arrived in Cuba and was turned away, the captain turned to the United States for help. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. Over there, behind the black gates of Auschwitz, the most tragic of all prisoners were the "Muselmanner," as they were called. But this time, the world was not silent. Alicia also volunteers as an editor for her college newspaper, and has worked on various writing-related projects during her time there. They widened in disbelief. You disarm it. Mr. President, Mrs. Clinton, members of Congress, Ambassador Holbrooke, Excellencies, friends: Fifty-four years ago to the day, a young Jewish boy from a small town in the Carpathian Mountains woke up, not far from Goethe's beloved Weimar, in a place of eternal infamy called Buchenwald. I expect that is why other great advocates for human rights have emphasized the danger of indifference. 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. Indifference is like a disease: it can be passed from one person to another. 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.. It can spread quickly, affecting many people until no one trusts or cares about anyone else again. It's neither comfortable nor fun, but, according to Elie Wiesel, it's part of being a good human. So at an individual level, we cannot do it all, though most of us could do more. It lowers the intensity of the feeling of the person when used in a sentence as compared to use of 'anguish'. The assumption of indifference was frequently used by the . It is so much easier to look away from victims. In particular, indifference is "more dangerous than anger and hatred." It is "not a beginning, it is an end." It is "not only a sin, it is a punishment" (par 11-13). At its root, indifference is failing to show concern for others. People who live in cultures where hardship is the norm likely have a lit to teach us. Rooted in our tradition, some of us felt that to be abandoned by humanity then was not the ultimate. Indifference. What does Elie mean? You fight it. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. And so, once again, I think of the young Jewish boy from the Carpathian Mountains. And that ship, which was already in the shores of the United States, was sent back. As a result, apathy is always the enemy's buddy, because it helps the aggressor rather than his victim, whose grief is amplified when he or she feels forgotten. Garabandal: Are the Prophecies About to be Fulfilled? One of the most profound things about Elie Wiesel's speech is that he asks a lot of questionsand doesn't provide any solutions. The normalization of terror, the seductiveness of indifference, and the ever-present need to struggle against it demands that we constantly, actively rouse our consciousness. But then Chauvin came along. 'Anguish' means 'severe pain' or anxiety. According to Elie Wiesel, when you make the choice to stop relating to other people, to stop understanding them and what they're going through, you lose the part of you that makes you human. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. There was one moment, however, when Chauvins look of indifference broke. Gratitude is what defines the humanity of the human being. They may appear cold to you, but inside they are still feeling as if you weren't important enough to matter to them. Why didn't he allow these refugees to disembark? (62-63). Blessings and prayers for you and your entire family. Just take them. 2023 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. It becomes clear throughout his speech that Elie Wiesel sees the folks who stood idly by as being part of the problem. I and my friends Besides our own need to understand when this is given to us to handle, it is a challenge to communicate without anger its importance to those who dont have the actual experience. It is so easy for one to simply take feeling out of all perspectives in life. A. None of the people who now suffer in silence will be forgotten, will have their humanity effectively dismissed by the rest of us. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. He had almost been lost to history until his story was told again in 1986 by Lawrence Weschler in his book "A Miracle for Breakfast.". 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. There is social indifference, which means ignoring other people's needs and desires. But when he finishes, Wiesel returns to the same scene to remind his audience that despite everything, part of being human means being innately hopeful. ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Catholic Doctrine and the Sunday Readings for May 2023, The Chosen: Lightness and Letting Jesus Laugh, What is AI and Where is it Going? People become objects when the subject of the connection decides to objectify them on purpose. Losing that means losing touch with what humanity really means. And together we walk towards the new millennium, carried by a profound fear and extraordinary hope. Given the promotion of the book, articles and photos in our hometown media (where Adam spent his first 21 years), announcementsthrough social networking, I expect a resurgence of humans into Adam\s life. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. It is therefore not an act of courage to refuse to feel. Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc. "Indifference," as Elie Wiesel defines it, is nuanced and complicatedand not at all innocent. What about the children? What will the legacy of this vanishing century be? The devotion and care that you and your wife give to your son is beyond admirable. It is so much easier to look away from victims. 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. In many respects, apathy is worse than rage and hatred because when people are furious, they take action to address the issue. The trick is choosing to move beyond that place and take action to be compassionate and goodand that's not an easy thing to do. Wiesel said indifference is more dangerous than hatred or anger because it "elicits no response . I don't understand. It is also ignoring others' sufferings and putting yourself first. How would the meaning of the following passage change if Wiesel used the word pain instead of anguish? How we react to the challenge is a dominant part of our character. And so many of the young people fell in battle. It is a type of rationalization that we use to justify our inaction. My expectationsare different. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person's pain and despair. Have we really learned from what we've seen and done, and do we have the knowledge necessary to make better choices in the future? Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end. 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. (67). It came at the end of his trial, when the judge read the guilty verdict. In the place that I come from, society was composed of three simple categories: the killers, the victims, and the bystanders. 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. Every minute one of them dies of disease, violence, famine. Which answer should go in blank 27? After World War II ended, Wiesel went back to Kaunas to find his family home destroyed. nonobvious If you are indifferent to many things that normally would bother you or affect you emotionally, then you should see a doctor to find out why. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction." At the beginning of this fall semester, I went to Alliance Bible Fellowship's College Connection. He has accompanied the old man I have become throughout these years of quest and struggle. Over there, behind the black gates of Auschwitz, the most tragic of all prisoners were the "Muselmanner," as they were called. Indifference elicits no response. This can be just as damaging as hating others because they avoid them. You and your wife have obviously met that challenge. (51). Are we less insensitive to the plight of victims of ethnic cleansing and other forms of injustices in places near and far? Studies on historical episodes of intergroup violence and conflicts have underlined the complicit role of bystanders in extreme intergroup dynamics. That was as chilling as his knee on Floyds neck. 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. 600 New Jersey Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001 And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. I was here and I will never forget it. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. "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. (2835). the Kennedys, Martin Luther King, Sadat, Rabin, What is indifference? Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. Indifference can lead others to do the same if they feel like it can't be bothered withing. Eric A. Friedman However, most people want to help those in need and would never act like this person does. One does something special for the sake of humanity because one is angry at the injustice that one witnesses. I sincerely hope that the Spirit inspires the people around you to become more attentive and caring toward your son. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. King later spent days in solitary confinement writing his "Letter From Birmingham Jail," which stirred the world by explaining why Black people couldn't keep waiting for fair treatment. What is the best way to stop the carnage in Syria? And in denying their humanity, we betray our own. In the place that I come from, society was composed of three simple categories: the killers, the victims, and the bystanders. In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Expectations drive our lives. No matter how much someone cares about something, if they are indifferent to it, then it is not important to them. Is it becauseAdam is non-verbal and non-ambulatory? Editor\s Note: This is a guest contribution from reader Philip A. Dzialo, and it accompanies Tammy Ruiz\s article, Be Not Afraid, Be Not Mean. If you are indifferent to something, it means that you do not care about it. 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. There is a peculiar pain to being ignored, to not even being seen. The meaning of the following passage changed if Wiesel used the word pain instead of anguish as C: Anguish carries more intense connotations, so using that word instead of pain raises the intensity of the passage. Why are the perils of indifference important? Elie Wiesel is a big fan of rhetorical questions, but they always serve a purpose. What will the legacy of this vanishing century be? This speech serves as a stark warning against being oblivious to pain and injustice. What happened? Am I wrong to have expectation? But FDR and his government didn't help, and while the passengers were eventually granted refuge in various countries in Europe, some 200 were murdered at the hands of the Nazis. You fight it. You might notice that the end of "The Perils of Indifference" looks pretty similar to the beginning, and Elie Wiesel does that on purpose. People who are indifferent can be seen as cold, aloof, disinterested, unmotivated, and lacking in passion. Part 2: The Spirit of the World, To Surrender Oneself : A Brief Introduction to Saint Thrse Couderc, Marian Consecration is Not a Nice Thing to Do, Misunderstanding Those Who Seem Different, How to Know if You Are Under a Spiritual Attack. This means not acting like monsters toward others. Martin Luther King Jr. the most. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. 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. Giving the dead in Baghdad as well as Brussels, Pakistan as well as Paris, our respect will not end the bombings and other attacks. 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. Can you give 3 things about what to write in each paragraph? The prosecutors built a case where they forced the jury to see Floyd as a human being and not as an abstraction. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. And he wasn't the only person who feels that way. Finally, indifference can hurt society by keeping suffering hidden. Martin Luther King Jr. are led by a policeman as they are arrested in Birmingham, Alabama on April 12, 1963. We are on the threshold of a new century, a new millennium. On July 24, 1998 his son, Adam Dzialo, drowned. She wants to share herstory with thosewho have experienced life altering events andwith the people and the communities who surround them. He then went to live with an uncle in Romania where he learned that his father and older brother had died in the Holocaust. How can it, if you're pretending what's going on simply isn't happening? In paragraph 6, Elie Wiesel states, Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. What do you think he means by this? I don't understand. Caring for others is difficult. . This time, the world was not silent. O Moorish . Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Better an unjust God than an indifferent one. Learn how your comment data is processed. Elie believes indifference is worse than hate because it implies that someone's suffering isn't worth rumination and consideration. Is it a philosophy? And together we walk towards the new millennium, carried by profound fear and extraordinary hope. And, for thosewho promised to be with the disabled and their caregivers for the \however long it takes\ and either passively andindifferently disappear or actively \make up a story\ about why they cannot or will not, well,it is not about getting over it, or moving on, for me it is about confronting their indifference. There is physical indifference, which involves not feeling any pain or pleasure due to illness or injury. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. A Warner Bros. th a focus on the Essential Question for this unit: What does our response to the conflict say about us? Use evidence from the text to support your response. Not to say Ive never had my indifferent moments because I have. Those non-Jews, those Christians, we call the "Righteous Gentiles," whose selfless act of heroism saved the honor of their faith. According to Elie Wiesel, being indifferent to another person, or another group of people, reduces them to nothingas if their problems or their suffering just doesn't matter. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. But indifference is never creative. One writes a great poem, a great symphony. You disarm it. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Its hard, though, to dramatize White indifference. Roosevelt was a good man, with a heart. Racism needs indifference like a plant needs water and sunlight. Phil believes his son and his family to be in an active state of healing. How to balance the desire to save as many lives as possible with the fact that the lives of some of the most marginalized and underserved people in terms of access to health care, because of their remote location, may cost more money to save? How to raise sufficient resources and divvy up spending between health care, education, social safety net programs, equal access to justice.? But the look of disinterest in Chauvins eyes is a reminder that indifference not just hate is a critical part of how racism works. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The next time you feel indifferent to someone, try to change this by making an effort to not feel this way. Is it a philosophy? Indifference reduces the other to a concept. And that ship, which was already in the shores of the United States, was sent back. What is the speaker referring to in lines 21 and 24 of the poem "If? If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Discuss these conflicts wi Indifferent people might be perceived as cold, distant, disinterested, uninspired, and lacking in enthusiasm. What he does know is how many people suffered and died throughout the 20th century, and he also knows that a lot of the bad stuff seems to still be happening all around the world. Within this call to action, Wiesel argues that indifference is an action worse than any other. But this time, the world was not silent. Causes of indifference include: illness, injury, or disability (such as being in a coma or having no arms or legs) Mental illness such as depression or anxiety Disorders such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia Alcohol or drug addiction Lack of interest or enjoyment People show indifference to things that they do not care about. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction" (Perils of Indifference). How will it be remembered in the new millennium? D. Only Why did some of America's largest corporations continue to do business with Hitler's Germany until 1942? humans lack emotion. But indifference is never creative. The look on Chauvins face is one of bored disinterest. "Even hatred at times may elicit a response. abstract existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence. I suppose its safe therefore, comfortable eh? Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. He once said: "Indifference is the enemy of human dignity. It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person's pain and despair. Though he did not understand their language, their eyes told him what he needed to knowthat they, too, would remember, and bear witness. It is walking past a homeless person asking for help without even acknowledging her presence. I NEEDDD HELP LIKE RIGHT NOW ITS SIMPLE Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Even under a human rights approach, our solutions will be imperfect, and difficult questions such as these will persist. B. That look was freeze-framed in what the prosecution dryly called Exhibit 17. It shows Chauvin, the White Minneapolis police officer who was found guilty on all three counts in Floyds death, glancing at a crowd of onlookers while bearing down on an unconscious Floyd, who is handcuffed and pinned face-first to the pavement. 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 . What is the best description of originality? ", 5. Manage Settings And that answer, I believe, is human rights. . A thousand people -- in America, the great country, the greatest democracy, the most generous of all new nations in modern history. She has a degree in English Literature and Writing, and spends her days writing about everything from fashion to feminism. Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end. 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.