Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. How will it be remembered in the new millennium? 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. My friends and me And that happened after the Kristallnacht, after the first state sponsored pogrom, with hundreds of Jewish shops destroyed, synagogues burned, thousands of people put in concentration camps. Indifference elicits no response. It is failing to act when you have the ability to help others. And so, once again, I think of the young Jewish boy from the Carpathian Mountains. Some find it easier to deal with the open hatred of overt racists when compared to those White people who dont even see them. , The Boy In Striped pajamas focus question #5In the last eight paragraphs of the story, all three characters have conflicts. (7). Are peopleafraid ofa very challengedfriend and don\t know what to say or do? Its strength is in its anonymity it doesnt typically call attention to itself, and its perpetrators are often unaware that they see certain people as the Other. Has there ever been two better speeches delivered in the same 24 hours? Never just remember someone. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction.. appreciated. It doesn't put a crimp in your style. So at an individual level, we cannot do it all, though most of us could do more. I NEEDDD HELP LIKE RIGHT NOW ITS SIMPLE Blessings and prayers for you and your entire family. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. This time, we intervene. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. 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. Indifference not hate may be the biggest obstacle to police reform. 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. And what it represents could pose the biggest challenge to broader police reforms ahead. A strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, cruelty and compassion, good and evil. You fight it. Images and soundbites from the Derek Chauvin trial will linger in peoples memories for years. God is wherever we are. abstract existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence. Whereas, 'pain' refers to a feeling of suffering caused by a damage. Elie Wiesel thought that it was his duty to testify against the Nazi regime and the inhumane actions that they meted out against others. Of course, indifference can be tempting -- more than that, seductive. The ghoulish photo of Emmett Tills face in an open coffin. Elie Wiesel is a big fan of rhetorical questions, but they always serve a purpose. There are plenty of complicated proposals to reform policing: a federal ban on chokeholds and no-knock warrants, challenging authorities immunity from civil suits and stopping the militarization of local police. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. People who are indifferent can be seen as cold, aloof, disinterested, unmotivated, and lacking in passion. Indifference can also be a sign of mental illness. Required fields are marked *. Surely it will be judged, and judged severely, in both moral and metaphysical terms. Over there, behind the black gates of Auschwitz, the most tragic of all prisoners were the "Muselmanner," as they were called. indifference: [noun] the quality, state, or fact of being indifferent. The devotion and care that you and your wife give to your son is beyond admirable. Does Indifference reduce the other to an abstraction? Indifference elicits no response. The depressing tale of the St. Louis is case in point. Did you encounter any technical issues? And that happened after the Kristallnacht, after the first state-sponsored pogrom, with hundreds of Jewish shops destroyed, synagogues burned, thousands of people put in concentration camps. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. Indifference, then, is not only a sin, it is a punishment.\Elie Wiesel, 1999. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. And so, once again, I think of the young Jewish boy from the Carpathian Mountains. People often become indifferent to what matters most in life. 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. To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum. Better an unjust God than an indifferent one. 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. Thank you. And, nevertheless, his image in Jewish history -- I must say it -- his image in Jewish history is flawed. He understood those who needed help. 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. "Even hatred at times may elicit a response. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. having a low probab convergent Over there, behind the black gates of Auschwitz, the most tragic of all prisoners were the "Muselmanner," as they were called. One cause may be that we are overstimulated, which is easy to happen in . Subscribe to get the latest global health and law news. The assumption of indifference was frequently used by the . ABSTRACT. We need to make an effort to not feel this way about other people, or at least try to hide it if we do. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. In a memorable 2005 editorial,the New York Times reported, Yesterday, more than 20,000 people perished of extreme poverty.. 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? They're unbelievably difficult to look at, and the part of your brain designed to protect you from unpleasant things probably has you wondering if the pictures could really be real. Alicia Lartigue is a writer who loves to write about various topics. elicit Even hatred at times may elicit a response. 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. Elie Wiesel is talking about FDR's response to the St. Louis (which we discuss in the "Timeline" section). But this time, the world was not silent. When adults wage war, children perish. When we ignore someone's anguish, we send them a message that they are not important to us. In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Indifference or apathy is a state in which we don't care and/or don't take action on something happening around us. If you are indifferent to something, it means that you do not care about it. No doubt, he was a great leader. answer choices "It is so much easier to avoid rude interruptions to our work". This time, we do respond. Surely it will be judged, and judged severely, in both moral and metaphysical terms. In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Communicate it with a card. Photos of indifference dont go viral. And at the same time, perhaps no feature is as misunderstood or overlooked.. You could be indifferent to someone you love or something that concerns you. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. No matter how much someone cares about something, if they are indifferent to it, then it is not important to them. 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. You fight it. Is there a philosophy of indifference conceivable? It's neither pleasant nor enjoyable, but it's all part of being a good human, according to Elie Wiesel. 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. The look on Chauvins face is one of bored disinterest. 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. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. The depth of the harm of indifference comes from how easy, and thus how pervasive, it is. Your email address will not be published. Of course, when those actions fail to produce what we need, we experience disappointment, grief and disillusion. Anger can at times be creative. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction" (Elie Weisel Nobel Peace Prize Speech). Indifference is like a disease: it can be passed from one person to another. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction." Question 2 options: A) "Pain" is a stronger word. His sunglasses are perched on his head and his hands rest in his pocket. 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.. Elie Wiesel paints a vivid and disturbing picture of the suffering and tragedy that occurred throughout the 20th century, and he repeatedly mentions how very few people stepped in to try and stop it. Of course, apathy may be enticingeven attractive. And he wasn't the only person who feels that way. \Elie Wiesel, 1999 (speech in Washington, D.C.). It is so much easier to look away from victims. Imagine their collective sense of betrayal when they realized that world leaders had known what was going onand did nothing. What are its courses and inescapable consequences? Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. 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. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. Does it mean that society has changed? Are we less insensitive to the plight of victims of ethnic cleansing and other forms of injustices in places near and far? They told jurors Chauvin showed indifference to Floyds pleas for help. But that doesn't mean we have to let it get away with doing damage to others. He feels that neglecting a person's suffering makes it easy to dismiss that person as less than human. When he was six years old, his family moved to Kaunas, Lithuania where he lived until he was 16. Use of anguish brings out deep emotions of the character. (81-85). Even anger, according to Wiesel, is a more positive action than indifference. What is indifference? Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Sharon\s new book,Ceramic to Clay,seeks toencouragepeople to understand trauma, to learn aboutauthentic healing, to empower people toembrace their journeys and to understand their calling at a deeper level. There is no higher place in the universe than that reserved for those who honor the lives and the value of the resilient spirit of the profoundly affected by trauma at birth or by accident. having a low probability, unique, In The Alchemist, which word is used Do we feel their pain, their agony? In a 1965 speech, Martin Luther King, Jr., called the greatest tragedy of this periodnot the vitriolic words and other violent actions of the bad people but the appalling silence and indifference of the good people.. But that doesn't solve anything. I understand first hand the difficulty people have when confronted with events that change expectations of a future life. And that ship, which was already in the shores of the United States, was sent back. The pastor that night discussed what it means to be a community, and what it means to love. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction" (Perils of Indifference). Its White indifference that allows so many Black and brown students to go to racially segregated public schools with fewer resources. Wiesel said indifference is more dangerous than hatred or anger because it "elicits no response . You disarm it. B. 600 New Jersey Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001 Why was there a greater effort to save SS murderers after the war than to save their victims during the war? Why was there a greater effort to save SS murderers after the war than to save their victims during the war? Elie also believes that indifference causes others pain and suffering. Has the human being become less indifferent and more human? 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 thats why its no accident that it was White indifference not hatred that seemed to anger the Rev. Why were they so few? The image of former US President Roosevelt in Jewish history is flawed due to his indifference to the suffering of Jewish refugees. How we react to the challenge is a dominant part of our character. That was as chilling as his knee on Floyds neck. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. Caring for others is difficult. humans are treated as humans. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. One does something special for the sake of humanity because one is angry at the injustice that one witnesses. Wiesel wants to be clear that, in some cases, people did learn from the Holocaust and World War II. Even under a human rights approach, our solutions will be imperfect, and difficult questions such as these will persist. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. 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. One does something special for the sake of humanity because one is angry at the injustice that one witnesses. Etymologically, the word means \no difference.\ A strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, cruelty and compassion, good and evil. One of the most profound things about Elie Wiesel's speech is that he asks a lot of questionsand doesn't provide any solutions. We are on the threshold of a new century, a new millennium. In fact, it exacerbates the problem because by ignoring the victims and what they're experiencing, you're making their suffering worse. Never ask, \Can I get you something?\ Just get it. 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. Thats why if you talk about racism to some in unguarded moments, youll hear something strange. (28-35). Martin Luther King Jr. are led by a policeman as they are arrested in Birmingham, Alabama on April 12, 1963. And he knew they'd help him tell the story, to be sure future generations would never try to deny the Holocaust. He concludes by saying that indifference is the most powerful weapon against humanity. It isn't always easy, but empathy is part of being human. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. And now, I stand before you, Mr. President -- Commander-in-Chief of the army that freed me, and tens of thousands of others -- and I am filled with a profound and abiding gratitude to the American people. People can't be blamed for being indifferent; it is a natural state of mind. What is the speaker referring to in lines 21 and 24 of the poem "If? They focused relentlessly on Chauvins casual body language during his arrest of Floyd and the lack of concern on his face as he pinned Floyd to the ground. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. Wiesel was born on July 2, 1928 in Sighetu Marmaiei, Romania. Thus, its use raises the intensity of the language used by the author. 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. It's neither comfortable nor fun, but, according to Elie Wiesel, it's part of being a good human. nonobvious Why are the perils of indifference important? He was eventually released without charge. Enjoyed this speech? Phone: (202) 662-9203 | Fax: (202) 662-4045, All Content Copyright ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law or Georgetown University. C. Some of my friends are funny. What is indifference? 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, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person's pain and despair. He has accompanied the old man I have become throughout these years of quest and struggle. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. 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. Never wonder if it\s permissible to visit. 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. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. Why did some of America's largest corporations continue to do business with Hitler's Germany until 1942? "Even hatred at times may elicit a response. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Even hatred at times may elicit a response. Her expectationseems clear and, hopefully, will be realized. Our purchasing decisions will not in themselves change how corporations produce their products. 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. This speech serves as a stark warning against being oblivious to pain and injustice. We should also try not to cause others to be indifferent to us. Why were they so few? 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. Indifference reduces the Other to an __________. You might notice that the end of "The Perils of Indifference" looks pretty similar to the beginning, and Elie Wiesel does that on purpose. Jeff Zelevansky/Reuters/Corbis. 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. Even hatred at times may elicit a response. Etymologically, the word means "no difference." There was no superhuman strength because there is no such thing as a superhuman, prosecutor Steve Schleicher said in his closing arguments. What about the children? It is so much easier to look away from victims. Explain. C) "Anguish" carries more intense connotations, so using that word instead of "pain" raises the intensity of the passage. 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 altogether too much of it. Indifference reduces the other to a concept. The Psychology of Ignorance What causes "indifference" as a psychological condition? Have we really learned from our experiences? Ralph Abernathy, left, and the Rev. They no longer felt pain, hunger, thirst. Oh, we see them on television, we read about them in the papers, and we do so with a broken heart. 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). Privacy Policy, 1999 White House address raising the perils of indifference, read on the front pages of our newspapers, The Stigmatization of Substance Use, Recovery, and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Higher Education: A Call to Action for Schools of Social Work Education, The Implications of HHS Proposed Rule for Confidentiality Protections of Patients with Substance Use Disorder, An Overview of Medical Secrecy Guidelines and Regulations in Latin America: The Case of Brazilian Superior Court of Justice. Can you give 3 things about what to write in each paragraph? Its like a cancer which attacks the soul. 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 elicits no response. I know that I could. , What is the best description of originality? He doesnt seem to notice Floyd at all. Indifference is both individual and societal. ". And that ship, which was already in the shores of the United States, was sent back. (51). What causes the psychological condition of indifference? 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. (2835). What does Elie mean? ), because they are criminals (and what combination of poor education, abuse, violent neighborhoods, economic hardships, contributed to their plight?). If we spend the maximum of available resources towards fulfilling peoples human rights, if we infuse equity throughout our policies, if we ensure people the opportunity to be part of the processes of crafting the policies that will affect their lives, if we ensure that none of our policies undercut peoples rights, if we provide avenues to people to challenge policies that people believe are tilted towards indifference to their plight rather than an abiding concern for their humanity if we do all this, then we will be beginning a grand new chapter in the book of humanity. Discuss these conflicts wi Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love. "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. The Righteous Gentiles were a bit of a light in the darkness. 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. Hi speech lovers,With costs of hosting website and podcast, this labour of love has become a difficult financial proposition in recent times. Indifference impairs one's perspective of others as well as one's own dignity. 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? It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another persons pain and despair. 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. 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. At any rate, its always good to be reminded to keep your passion about whatever you stand for. The normalization of suffering means that inequities can continue to be responsible for more than one in three deaths globally without producing global outrage, despite themonstrous toll of the epidemic of health inequity 17-20 million people per year. It is far simpler to turn away from victims. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. Yupthose are the million-dollar questions. My friends and I. 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 are us', Address to Parliament following Christchurch massacre - 2019, Dolores Ibrruri: "No Pasarn!, They shall not pass! Better an unjust God than an indifferent one. (93-95). In the place that I come from, society was composed of three simple categories: the killers, the victims, and the bystanders. It's a static feeling because nothing changes. Within this call to action, Wiesel argues that indifference is an action worse than any other. History is going to judge us for our actions, so we better be sure the legacy we leave is the right one. When individuals are apathetic, they do nothing. 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.
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