The Nazis are blamed for the Holocaust and, while that's totally accurate, it's also fair to say that they couldn't have killed millions of people all on their own. They were aided by global indifference.
Throughout "The Perils of Indifference," Elie Wiesel stresses that part of being human means being accountable to other humans. In other words, we have a responsibility to take care of each other, especially if we see one group trying to victimize another. Ignoring the problem and being indifferent to it doesn't absolve us of responsibility, and that's the lesson people need to take with them into the new century.
Questions About Responsibility
- In lines 2 and 75, Wiesel mentions events that occurred 54 years ago. What is he trying to accomplish in doing that?
- "In the place that I come from, society was composed of three simple categories: the killers, the victims, and the bystanders" (67). Based on this speech, who does Wiesel consider responsible for the suffering of so many people? Do you agree with him?
- How do you feel after reading about the St. Louis and U.S. corporations doing business with Nazi Germany well into World War II? Does it change the way you view FDR and American actions during that time period? Why or why not?
- Toward the end of his speech, Wiesel takes time to mention some of the good things that happened in the 20th century. How does he use these positive events to emphasize the various responsibilities of the rest of the world?
Chew on This
Elie Wiesel believes indifference and human suffering go hand in hand. To ignore the misery of another person perpetuates the problem, and only by choosing not to be indifferent will suffering stop.
Throughout the 20th century, millions of people were killed in world wars and civil wars, in genocides and ethnic cleansing. It's easy to place blame solely on the groups of people who did the killing, but Elie Wiesel believes the rest of the world had to speak out and take action to stop the suffering…or else they are responsible, too.