"And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must -- at that moment-- become the center of the universe."
Monday, February 12, 2007
"Night"
I just finished the book Night by Elie Wiesel. Elie was born in Transylvania and was taken with his family from his home to Auschwitz-Birkenau and later Buchenwald. He was only 15. It is an incredible account of his experience surviving the camps. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau as I can feel the places he describes in his book and put it all together. What really struck me was what he said in his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize, a quote I live by:
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2 comments:
Oooh, great quote!! I read it in the mindset of two different camps... mine, and then from the perspective of the current administration, and either side can make it fit.. (repugnantcants will claim that they "did something" to stop the bad guys in Iraq... and let's face it, they weren't good guys.) But I would offer a an addition to the quote... the way we respond is just as important as how we respond. You need only look to a war we're fighting now to see how a wrong response can be as devastating as no response.
And how amazing it is (if amazing is the correct word) that you got the chance to visit the places he wrote about... to walk where he walked, and have the terrain, both figurative and actual, to draw on. I'm sure it added immensely to the experiences you had.
I had to read this book in german for one of my undergrad lit classes!
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