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The Perils Of Indifference By Elie Wiesel

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Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, has devoted his life to informing others about the violence that is inflicted and then transforms into indifference. In his millennium talk on "The Perils of Indifference" on April 2, 1999, Elie Wiesel outlines the injustices that people experience and implores the audience to become activists and never to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. Such a strong message, a cry for humanity. He correctly recognized this as an idea worthy of this particular stage on this particular day—a call for people to recognize the allure of indifference and rage against apathy.
In order to inform the audience about the existence of indifference in the world and how harmful it is …show more content…

light and darkness, twilight and dawn, crime and punishment, cruelty and compassion, good and evil,"(2) he says in one sentence, listing a number of brief sentences. Wiesel's use of the antithesis to explain apathy reveals that most people tend to ignore the details that lie between two extremes. The use of an antithesis is a great approach to highlight how individuals are usually aware of situations that are obvious. Antithesis is the ideal tool to emphasize indifference because it isn't immediately apparent. For instance, during a conflict, people will either inquire about the heroics or the casualties. Numerous instances of catastrophic incidents that "have thrown a black shadow over humanity" are cited by him. He discusses the murders of Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as cruel incidents like Hiroshima and Auschwitz. He says all of this in one phrase to overwhelm the audience with examples of indifference in a wide range of contexts. By citing so many instances of indifference, he hopes to make the point that it is exceedingly …show more content…

"And together, driven by intense anxiety and incredible hope, we move toward the new millennium." Wiesel repeatedly brings up the wrath throughout the speech, but he also anticipates a moment when change will be met with indifference. He encourages the audience to apply their own experiences to start future change, therefore this concludes his speech. He also makes a reference to God in order to convey a message of hope. Wiesel discusses how God is present everywhere you are and whatever you are doing. Wiesel found hope and strength in the knowledge that God had been with him during the Holocaust. He demonstrates how faith can help individuals overcome hardship. Using a reference to God illustrates Wiesel's individual ideas and confirms that he has had personal encounters with God. As a result of Wiesel's own experience being directly impacted by God and His power, this inspires both emotional regard for him as well as believability. Wiesel thinks that change is possible if a person has hope, a good attitude, and a belief in the

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