Elie Wiesel's The Perils Of Indifference

In the rhetorical speech The Perils of Indifference Elie Wiesel encourages American Politicians to declare war against the inhumanity of indifference. Contextually speaking Elie Wiesel’s presented this speech on April 12, 1999 in the East Room of the White House as part of a Millennium Lecture Series hosted by the president. Wiesel’s speech falls within the 20th Century Human Rights Movement. Interestingly enough, before Professor Wiesel gave his speech The Kosovo war was at a new height regarding the disputed piece of land in southeast Europe. Eventually though NATO persuaded militaries from intervening in the process. Mrs. Clinton introduced Wiesel realizing that this speech opportunity could not have come at a better time, Clinton said,

Wiesel claims that even those terrible emotions can be used for good. “Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. Anger can at times be creative… But indifference is never creative. Even hatred at times may elicit a response. You fight it. You denounce it. You disarm it. Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response.” The truth of these feelings and their actions for Wiesel, prove that indifference is the worst action a human can elicit. Precisely because it is an inaction. When a man is upset, all kinds of things can be thought up to seek revenge. When a women feels hatred in her heart towards someone she may devise a plan to change the situation for herself. He recalled this type of response when he was liberated, the rage he saw in Americans, “Liberated a day earlier by American soldiers, he remembers their rage at what they saw…their eyes told him what he needed to know — that they too, would remember, and bear witness.” Indifference is not like these responses, there is no justification to even call indifference an emotion. Not caring about situations around that surround our circumstances is not in any way looking out for the interests of others. In this instance, it seems like drawing on the words of Paul the Apostle are necessary, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” This action of caring for your fellow man does away with indifference and does not allow for personal gains. Indifference does not care about anything, it only cares for itself and the person who practices the action of giving ‘no difference.’ Wiesel concludes that practicing anger or hatred at least begin and continue in response of some kind, whereas “Indifference is not a beginning, it is an end.” It causes men to lose their humanity and become a deformed barbaric