indifference reduces the other to an abstraction

You fight it. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person\'s pain and despair. Their fate is always the most tragic, inevitably. 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. 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. And he wasn't the only person who feels that way. They don't reach for opportunities because they're not worth the effort or risk involved. to refer to anything or anyone originating in Africa? 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. Indifference is a conclusion, not a beginning. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Martin Luther King Jr. are led by a policeman as they are arrested in Birmingham, Alabama on April 12, 1963. It came at the end of his trial, when the judge read the guilty verdict. The Perils of Indifference - LinkedIn Why did some of America's largest corporations continue to do business with Hitler's Germany until 1942? Aura Guerrero Natalia Acevedo Guerrero Natasha Lauletta. Suffering and the need to aid that suffering is basic to us all. Collectively, if we each took such actions, even if we did not ourselves address every wrong, and every person wronged, every case of indifference for this we cannot do none of those wrongs will go without attention. You denounce it. King didnt write his epic Letter from Birmingham Jail in 1963 in response to the hateful actions of White segregationists. Millions of people, including Elie Wiesel, were forced to endure hellish, inhumane treatment at the hands of the Nazis. They would have spoken out with great outrage and conviction. 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. 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. defined as being uncaring vis--vis arbitrary policies affecting other social groups. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. For that I thank you! Indifference is using another person as a way to escape your own problems. Learn more about Elie Wiesel at:brainly.com/question/15099354, This site is using cookies under cookie policy . , by this and does her conclusion restate her claim, Which of the responses below contains a qualifier? Indifference reduces the other to a concept. Never wonder if it\s permissible to visit. Learn to changea diaper, connect a g-tube, suction a trach. No matter how much someone cares about something, if they are indifferent to it, then it is not important to them. ". Do we hear their pleas? What happened? And I thank all of you for being here. They no longer felt pain, hunger, thirst. However, most people want to help those in need and would never act like this person does. 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. The author describes what indifference means to him as well. Caring about people is hard. Though he did not understand their language, their eyes told him what he needed to knowthat they, too, would remember, and bear witness. It isn't always easy, but empathy is part of being human. So he is very much present to me and to us. Indifference reduces the Other to an __________. 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. Indifference produces no response. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Within this call to action, Wiesel argues that indifference is an action worse than any other. What should you do when you get a rejection letter? Will they make up \justification stories\ to themselves? Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. Love this Phil!! Elie Wiesel is a big fan of rhetorical questions, but they always serve a purpose. Philosophy Of Indifference - 632 Words | Bartleby It's neither comfortable nor fun, but, according to Elie Wiesel, it's part of being a good human. There is a peculiar pain to being ignored, to not even being seen. Garabandal: Are the Prophecies About to be Fulfilled? But the most pervasive forms of racism take root when White judges, cops, politicians and ordinary people look the other way to not see what is happening right in front of their faces. The prosecutors built a case where they forced the jury to see Floyd as a human being and not as an abstraction. But in at least posing, struggling with these questions, we will no longer be a society of indifference. Indifference elicits no response. He doesnt seem to notice Floyd at all. It is failing to act when you have the ability to help others. Liberated a day earlier by American soldiers, he remembers their rage at what they saw. We felt that to be abandoned by God was worse than to be punished by Him. 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. Indifference and Apathy - Ethical Conflict Consulting Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Etymologically, the word means "no difference." Indifference is both individual and societal. Losing that means losing touch with what humanity really means. Indifference is not a response. You might notice that the end of "The Perils of Indifference" looks pretty similar to the beginning, and Elie Wiesel does that on purpose. And together we walk towards the new millennium, carried by profound fear and extraordinary hope. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. elicit Even hatred at times may elicit a response. Over there, behind the black gates of Auschwitz, the most tragic of all prisoners were the "Muselmanner," as they were called. You could be indifferent to someone you love or something that concerns you. You fight it. It is so much easier to look away from victims. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Not to say Ive never had my indifferent moments because I have. Has the human being become less indifferent and more human? There is emotional indifference, which means failing to care about someone's feelings. The depressing tale of the St. Louis is a case in point. Alicia Lartigue is a writer who loves to write about various topics. "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. 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? In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. Most Black people have experienced this. 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. Georgetown University Law Center Indifference elicits no response. Does it mean that we have learned from the past? The Perils of Indifference | Havurah Shir Hadash Surely it will be judged, and judged severely, in both moral and metaphysical terms. The snarling faces of White students who surrounded a young Black woman who tried to integrate an Arkansas high school. 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. 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. Are peopleafraid ofa very challengedfriend and don\t know what to say or do? Elie Wiesel: First Person Singular . Resources | PBS The only thing that everyone forms of indifference has in common is that they all involve some type of neglect. 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. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. 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. There was one moment, however, when Chauvins look of indifference broke. Did you encounter any technical issues? There may be several reasons for indifference. This time, we do respond. Learn how your comment data is processed. How will it be remembered in the new millennium? Copyright 2020 - 2023 Authors Cast Inc. What did Elie Wiesel say about indifference? Martin Luther King Jr. the most. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. They may appear cold to you, but inside they are still feeling as if you weren't important enough to matter to them. Indifference is when solicitude is missing which indicates that there is a lack of awareness. It is merely another form of slavery. Indifference. (20-22). As activists use momentum from the Floyd verdict to press for more police reforms, this wall of indifference may be their biggest challenge. And in denying their humanity, we betray our own. You denounce it. But the question remainswhy did so few people step up to try to help? Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. Why didn't he allow these refugees to disembark? And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. In the place that I come from, society was composed of three simple categories: the killers, the victims, and the bystanders. Eric A. Friedman And what it represents could pose the biggest challenge to broader police reforms ahead. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Wiesel says this experience made him aware of the danger of being indifferent toward other people's suffering. My expectationsare different. Use of anguish refers to stronger pain one might feel. One writes a great poem, a great symphony. (100, 104-106). Copyright A.D. 2018 Catholic Stand | Powered by Astra, Like a Rock: Pope Francis Takes the Kepha Approach. 'The Perils Of Indifference' You crowned us', by Toni Morrison - 1988, for Michael Gordon: '13 days ago my Dads big, beautiful, generous heart suddenly stopped beating', by Scott and Sarah Gordon - 2018, Tara Westover: 'Your avatar isn't real, it isn't terribly far from a lie', The Un-Instagrammable Self, Northeastern University - 2019, Tim Minchin: 'Being an artist requires massive reserves of self-belief', WAAPA - 2019, Atul Gawande: 'Curiosity and What Equality Really Means', UCLA Medical School - 2018, Abby Wambach: 'We are the wolves', Barnard College - 2018, Eric Idle: 'America is 300 million people all walking in the same direction, singing 'I Did It My Way'', Whitman College - 2013, Shirley Chisholm: ;America has gone to sleep', Greenfield High School - 1983, Joe Marler: 'Get back on the horse', Harlequins v Bath pre game interview - 2019, Ray Lewis : 'The greatest pain of my life is the reason I'm standing here today', 52 Cards -, Mel Jones: 'If she was Bradman on the field, she was definitely Keith Miller off the field', Betty Wilson's induction into Australian Cricket Hall of Fame - 2017, Jeff Thomson: 'Its all those people that help you as kids', Hall of Fame - 2016, Dan Angelucci: 'The Best (Best Man) Speech of all time', for Don and Katherine - 2019, Hallerman Sisters: 'Oh sister now we have to let you gooooo!' 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. Never wonder if the disabled would be okay going to a movie or a dinner. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Millions of innocent people died in concentration camps throughout Europe, but genocides were occurring in Rwanda and Kosovo. Over there, behind the black gates of Auschwitz, the most tragic of all prisoners were the "Muselmanner," as they were called. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much When it is our turn, were surprised that were weak. Ive come to realize that I have a lot more respect for people who are passionate about any cause, even if it is in opposition to mine, than I do for people who are just plain indifferent. Why did some of America's largest corporations continue to do business with Hitler's Germany until 1942? 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. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction." . Why have American presidents refused for decades to use the term genocide in describing the atrocities committed against Armenians by the Ottoman E Keep writing, you and his mom are Adams voice to the world and I have a feeling that his impact on the world is far from complete. 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. The depressing tale of the St. Louis is case in point. Over there, behind the black gates of Auschwitz, the most tragic of all prisoners were the "Muselmanner," as they were called. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. He concludes by saying that indifference is the most powerful weapon against humanity. We are on the threshold of a new century, a new millennium. It isgiving little thought toprisoners who languish in squalid, abusive, inhumane conditions because they broke the law (or did they? He feels that neglecting a person's suffering makes it easy to dismiss that person as less than human. For us to be ignored by God was a harsher punishment than to be a victim of His anger. This can lead them to feel worthless or uncared for. Indifference impairs one's perspective of others as well as one's own dignity. He has accompanied the old man I have become throughout these years of quest and struggle. But there is one heart-wrenching image that stands above the rest. Though he did not understand their language, their eyes told him what he needed to know -- that they, too, would remember, and bear witness. He thought there never would be again. You disarm it. I and my friends 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 can also harm society as a whole because people stop trying to improve themselves and their situation. Prosecutor Steve Schleicher speaking during the Chauvin trial. Indifference not hate may be the biggest obstacle to police reform. But some live their entire lives that way and I cant for the life of me understand the appeal. How is one to explain their indifference? It is so much easier to look away from victims. Indifference elicits no response. What is the best description of originality? And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction.. 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. It lowers the intensity of the feeling of the person when used in a sentence as compared to use of 'anguish'. benefit And so, once again, I think of the young Jewish boy from the Carpathian Mountains. What will the legacy of this vanishing century be? 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. ), because they are criminals (and what combination of poor education, abuse, violent neighborhoods, economic hardships, contributed to their plight?). But plenty of people saw that image of Chauvin looking bored as a Black mans life ebbed away beneath him. Indifference reduces the Other to an abstraction. It doesn't involve actions, so it is much more difficult to fight. The horrors Elie Wiesel and millions of others experienced during the Holocaust weren't the result of a single person, or even a single group. Indifference Flashcards | Quizlet O Moorish None of the people who now suffer in silence will be forgotten, will have their humanity effectively dismissed by the rest of us. . Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end. There was no superhuman strength that day. 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. What is indifference? Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. . Required fields are marked *. (70-72). (67). 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. But this time, the world was not silent. (93-95). B) "Anguish" implies a more manageable type of suffering. All of us did. 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. nonobvious Why were they so few? Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbor are of no consequence. Reflections on Indifference and Human Rights - O'Neill It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person\s pain and despair. I understand first hand the difficulty people have when confronted with events that change expectations of a future life. If nobody cared, there would be no need for activism because there are people who want to fix things but cannot if nobody reports problems or tries new solutions. He feels that neglecting a person's suffering makes it easy to dismiss that person as less than human. A grown man, crying out for his mother.. "The Perils of Indifference" Speech Summary, Text, & Analysis This time, the world was not silent. Of course, apathy may be enticingeven attractive. Never, ever make a promise because it\s momentarily appropriate and then run from the promise. Rooted in our tradition, some of us felt that to be abandoned by humanity then was not the ultimate. In the place that I come from, society was composed of three simple categories: the killers, the victims, and the bystanders. When adults wage war, children perish. Which answer should go in blank 27? And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. It is so much easier to look away from victims. Indifference elicits no response. Caring for others is difficult. White indifference is why its harder for Black and brown people to vote in some states than for White people. They say hindsight is 20-20, and it's a clich for a reason. (50). They feared nothing. 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. Even under a human rights approach, our solutions will be imperfect, and difficult questions such as these will persist. Violent acts of White racism grab the headlines. Let them know you care about them even if you can't show it in front of everyone. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. But then Chauvin came along. It can spread quickly, affecting many people until no one trusts or cares about anyone else again. Why the indifference, on the highest level, to the suffering of the victims? The Psychology of Ignorance What causes "indifference" as a psychological condition? Am I wrong to have expectation? It can also be used as a verb and is used when someone is felling extremely distressed about something. [3] 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. In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Does it mean society has changed? I don't understand. You disarm it. 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. 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. They felt nothing. Just take them. Better an unjust God than an indifferent one. Blessings and prayers for you and your entire family. They acted when they saw bad things happening around the world, and even though it didn't put a stop to all the trauma and suffering, taking action, on a small scale or on a large scale, will always be incredibly important. The century saw peace treaties, the collapse of totalitarian governments and communist regimes, and major social progress. 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. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Every minute one of them dies of disease, violence, famine. Of course, indifference can be tempting -- more than that, seductive. Thats why if you talk about racism to some in unguarded moments, youll hear something strange. Never ask, \Can I get you something?\ Just get it. But then, there were human beings who were sensitive to our tragedy. Oneold frienddid immediately visitand it was so good for Adam. "Indifference," as Elie Wiesel defines it, is nuanced and complicatedand not at all innocent. It is therefore not an act of courage to refuse to feel. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. And, on a different level, of course, Auschwitz and Treblinka. Elie Wiesel: 'And now we knew, we learned, we discovered that the 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. 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. And in denying their humanity, we betray our own. Elie Wiesel is talking about FDR's response to the St. Louis (which we discuss in the "Timeline" section). appreciated. 4. 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. What is the best way to stop the carnage in Syria? Thank you. However, it does allow the evil to flourish by simply doing nothing.

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