Elie Wiesel is one of the many people in this world that have lived and endured through many tragic events throughout their life due to genocide. However, it has inspired him to become a human rights activist. He, like many others, have been affected by the harmful ways of genocide in which it has inspired him to make a difference in the world. He has seen and been through mass killings, starvation, and many more that traumatized him (Machajewski 6). The cruel world that Wiesel had seen and been through during the Holocaust has inspired him to educate people’s minds about genocide and its harm on society through his works of literature and activism.
In order to prevent further genocide occurrences, Wiesel wrote his first memoir, Night, which
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“The Foundation's mission…is to combat indifference, intolerance and injustice through international dialogue and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding and equality” (The Elie Wiesel Foundation For Humanity). By creating this organization, Wiesel is able to help the world become a little less violent. One of the main reasons he believes that violence occurs is because of indifference. He compares indifference to those who are bystanders, “‘In other words, if I remain silent, I may help my own soul, but because I do not help other people I poison my soul’” (Machajewski 47). He wants to help those being victimized because if he does not, then he too will feel a burden of guilt for not helping that victim. In order to establish world peace, the foundation has been a part of many conferences around the world to talk about taking action when there is a social struggle or problem in any country. The conference that the EWF has hosted has led the way to many more conferences that discuss social issues around the world, and how to solve those issues (The Elie Wiesel Foundation For Humanity). Not only does Wiesel devote his life to the EWF, but also devotes his life in protecting human rights and equality when people do not follow those …show more content…
Wiesel has been a part of many political affairs in which he has spoken to government officials about civil rights. In 2012, Wiesel gave up the Great Cross Award that was given to him by the Hungarian government in order to protest their “‘whitewashing…of criminal episodes that happened during the Holocaust’” (Machajewski 59). By giving up the medal, he has shown that he will ensure that the Holocaust will forever be remembered. Wiesel even went as far as to ending a relationship with the former French president, Francois Mitterrand, after “learning that Mitterrand had been a close friend of a Nazi collaborator and after Mitterrand refused to express regret for his actions” (Human Rights Activist). By terminating the relationship with Mitterrand, Wiesel shows that having a relationship with such people is unacceptable,and that it will not be tolerated. Elie Wiesel has won many prizes for being one of the most active advocates for human equality. Wiesel has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for “being one of the most important spiritual leaders and guides in an age when violence, repression and racism continue to characterise the world” (Press Release - Peace 1986). The suffering that Wiesel saw during the Holocaust is something that he never wants to see again. He has been inspired to make a change in