The Perils Of Indifference By Elie Wiesel

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In America children learn about America’s role in ending the Holocaust; liberating the Jews from concentration camps. As a nation it is important to remember "Human rights education is much more than a lesson in schools … it is a process... to equip people with the tools they need to live lives of security and dignity.”As a nation we have to apply our knowledge and “continue to work together to develop and nurture in future generations a culture of human rights, to promote freedom, security and peace in all nations." -Kofi Annan. When politicians are debating whether or not to intervene in foreign human rights issues; they often forget about events such as the Holocaust when making decisions. As a developed country it is necessary to utilize…show more content…
In “The Perils of Indifference” by Elie Wiesel addresses “indifference is always the friend of the enemy...it benefits the aggressor...not the victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten.” Those who choose to be indifferent do not speak up against injustices; indifference allows the aggressor to grow in power, and as a result the problem gets worse and the victims are negatively affected by indifference. The United States is known as the “greatest democracy in the world … the most generous nation in modern history”, yet the United States had knowledge of Hitler and the Nazis dehumanization of the Jews during the Holocaust but choose not to do anything. How is it possible that a powerful country that is a role model could ignore such injustice? America Ignored those like Elie Wiesel, who were “dead and didn't even know it”, if America had not been indifferent and taken action , Hitler and the Nazis may have not become as powerful as they did in Europe. America's indifference allowed for Hitler to rise to power and attributed dehumanization of the…show more content…
Eisenhower said, “America's leadership and prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world peace and human betterment.” As a powerful nation it is our duty to use our resources to make this world a better place. History repeats itself “In just 100 days in 1994...800,000 people were slaughtered in Rwanda by ethnic Hutu extremists. They… targeted members of the minority Tutsi community, as well as their political opponents, irrespective of their ethnic origin.”(BBC News) The UN and Belgium had forces in Rwanda but the UN mission was not given a mandate to stop the killing. A year after US troops were killed in Somalia, the United States was determined not to get involved in another African conflict. The United States promotes liberty and equality for all, and encourages other countries to adapt these principles, Yet the US did not want to get involved. The US has one of the strongest military in the world which could have provided resources and aid for Rwandan victims, because of America’s Indifference numerous people lost their lives in the Rwandan genocide. “First They Came” by Pastor Martin Niemoller describes how indifference allows for the aggressor to gain power, “they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out...Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me...and there was no one left to speak for me”
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