One of the many mistakes a bystander makes is falling for the misunderstanding that a high position in the government is required to have their opinions heard and actually make a difference during the time of human weakness. On the contrary, even a small action can make a huge impact by starting the domino effect of inspiring others to be selfless and compassionate in motion. Most people underestimate the power of a humane action, though it could potentially turn someone’s life around. For example, when Hans Hubermann makes the decision to resist the Führer, he upholds his belief that Jews were innocent until his last breath. When he witnesses the endless parade of Jews marching to the concentration camp of Dachau, Hans “reached into his paint …show more content…
Hans’ act of humanity instills kind and selfless behaviors in the children, thus improving the next generation. What makes upstanders like Hans so special is the fact that they put their resources--no matter the quantity-- to good use, in order to make even a sliver of difference in others lives. By enduring the pain of suffering, they loosen the burden on others. In other words, the atrocious situation is like a piece of trash out on the street, poisoning its surroundings. Those who simply walk by and do not stop to put it in the trash can represent the vast number of bystanders. They naturally assume that someone else will take initiative and that they are not responsible. Eventually, these pieces of trash accumulate as more and more people ignore the problem, and the trash might make its way to the ocean and then pollute the entire world. The problem could have been clipped at the roots, but not enough people stepped out of their comfort zones to do so. The small action of ‘stopping to pick up trash’ might seem insignificant, but it could make a huge …show more content…
In some cases, upstanders share not only their resources and time, but also their talent. One example of someone who made a difference by sharing her medical expertise and kindness was Madame Archer, the Red-Cross worker from the film, Hotel Rwanda. Having risked her life trying to save Tutsi orphans, she proves to be an extraordinary person. To begin with, she is Australian, thus indicating that she left her homeland just to make a difference in Rwanda, which was over seven thousand miles away. Bystanders in the Rwandan Genocide were mostly people at home, all around the world, with a remote in their hands, with the power to shut off the TV news when they got too horrified from the reality. Madame Archer, however, stepped out onto the battlefield in a time when most only sheltered themselves. During several points in the movie, she is depicted with tears in her eyes, proving how scared and worried she was for the people suffering around her, not just herself (George). But despite her fears, she continued venturing out into the Hutu-infested parts of Rwanda to save the children, both Hutu and Tutsi, sticking her neck out for the innocent so that they did not have to suffer through a fate no one
“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak is narrated by death and begins when Liesel’s brother dies on a train with her and her mother. At her brother’s burial, she steals her first book, “The Grave Digger’s Handbook” and soon after is separated from her mother and sent to live with foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, in Molching, where the majority of the book takes place. At school, Liesel is teased because she can’t read so Hans teaches her to read when she wakes up from her frequent nightmares about her brother’s death. Hans is a painter and an accordion player and also plays the accordion for her after her nightmares. Liesel grows very close with Hans and also becomes close friends with her neighbor Rudy Steiner who constantly asks her to
Although he could have talked about the bad things that happened to him, he leaves the viewer with a positive message. Fred focuses on a positive message to enhance the message he is trying to get across. (1:16), “and there were good people all along the way who helped us out.” He starts with this to show that there were people that wanted to help him even if they weren’t “leaders”. This gives an example of what people have done, and could do today. The author uses word choice like, “good people” and “educators”, to make his theme stand out and that he wants us to have these traits. After he explains his experience of the Holocaust, Fred Gross tells the viewers how they could make a difference in any kind of situation. “What I would like you to be in general, is educators. Educators to make a difference. But to take part in areas to improve the lives of other people.” (2:17). Instead of “standing on the side lines and doing nothing”, Fred wants his viewer to walk away with a lesson that could change the result of a bad event. The author's purpose of creating this presentation was to inform the viewer that if “good people do nothing”evil will win. So even if we help, without even knowing, it can change the result, after terrible things
When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant.” (Moore) While living in brutal conditions, Wiesel did everything he could for himself and others. He prayed almost four times a day for the ending of the holocaust. Fighting through starvation, Wiesel was never selfish and continuously worked to help other Jews escape. While helping others, Wiesel was still a young man with hope to escape himself and tell his stories to the world.
In conclusion, from local governments to large influential organizations, people around the world turned their back on the Jews during the Holocaust. Almost every day in our lives we have the opportunity to be more than a bystander. We should put aside our own individual fears in order to pursue fairness for others around us. Being a Boy Scouts has taught me to do for others “…to help other people at all times.” When I consider our oath, it reinforces how selfless we all must be to make the world a better place to live.
Indifference is seductive, inhumane, and the line between good and evil. Indifference is helping the enemy, it is death. Writer and Holocaust Survivor, Wiesel Elie in his speech, “The Perils of Indifference”, argues that being indifferent to those who are suffering assists the enemy. He supports his claim by first defining and describing indifference as “seductive”, “tempting”, and “easier.” Wiesel goes on to illustrate the dangers of indifference by using personal experience and historical events as examples. Finally, the author creates awareness of indifference from the past, present, and future. Wiesel’s purpose is to describe why indifference is inhumane in order to persuade people not to be indifferent. He establishes a serious tone, critical, and somber tone for Politicians, Ambassadors, Mr. President, and members of congress.
In 1999, he was invited to speak at the Millennium Lectures, in front of the president, first lady, and other important governmental figures,. In his speech, “The Perils of Indifference”, he uses rhetorical devices to get emotional responses and to connect with the audience. He wants to create awareness of the dangers of indifference and show how there needs to be change. His speech eloquently calls out the government for their lack of response during the Holocaust, and warns against continued disregard for the struggles of others. He sees indifference as being the ally of the enemy, and without compassion there is no hope for the victims.
"While fighting for victory the German soldier will observe the rules for chivalrous warfare. Cruelties and senseless destruction are below his standard" , or so the commandment printed in every German Soldiers paybook would have us believe. Yet during the Second World War thousands of Jews were victims of war crimes committed by Nazi's, whose actions subverted the code of conduct they claimed to uphold and contravened legislation outlined in the Geneva Convention. It is this legislature that has paved the way for the Jewish community and political leaders to attempt to redress the Nazi's violation, by prosecuting individuals allegedly responsible. Convicting Nazi criminals is an implicit declaration by post-World War II society that the Nazi regime's extermination of over five million Jews won't go unnoticed.
Two simple words, I promise can change a life. However not all promises are restricted to the light side, some may feed on the darkness of evil. A promise means a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen.Victims of the Nazi genocide felt strongly about many topics including their religion, one Holocaust victim said, “I have more faith in Hitler than in anyone else. He alone has kept his promises, all his promises, to the Jewish people.” This quote has evidence about this time in history and how victims felt. As time went on everyone not just Jewish people, had lost hope along with faith in their God . Furthermore Hitler was the only one they could trust to keep his word, even if it was to continue eliminating Jews along with other religions they knew he was serious. There were many humans that contributed to his evil mission, however some contributed more than others. Furthermore Josef Mengele played a significant role in the number of deaths the Nazis caused. While living under a false identity, Josef Mengele was found as the most heartless intelligent monster of the Nazi Genocide.
After World War II, the people of Germany endured torment from their conquerors in many forms, from being stolen from, to be tortured or killed. Over ten million Germans were forced to move out of their homes. Around half a million of those that were moved died on their journeys elsewhere, while others suffered greatly from famine, cold, and dehydration (Douglas). At a number this large, surely some of the people that lived in Germany were against the war. This begs the question: Why should all of the people of Germany suffer because of Hitler’s wrongdoings? Every day, German citizens were pushed off land that had belonged to them, regardless of their position on the war.
He parked one day close to a train track, coincidentally there was a run-away train coming in the direction of his expensive car. As you can imagine he would have been frantic to try and prevent this train from damaging his car, but he was too far away to drive his car out of the path of the train. He realized that in close vicinity there was also a child playing. He quickly came up with an idea to save his Bugatti, but it would be at the expense of the kid’s life. He unfortunately chose his retirement insurance and throws a switch to divert the train from his car into the path of the child who died after being hit by the run-away train. Singer argues that people oftentimes are face with similar dilemmas and surprisingly, we act in an egotistical way that benefits us. We may have been though by family and society that we should look out for others who can look out for themselves, but we somehow always serve our own interests. It is a great challenge to live a morally decent life as this means we will have to sacrifice a greater part of our wants all in the name of helping those who don’t have as much to survive on. He concedes that we are all in this situation and faces that quandary as to the best way to act without being
"I escaped to break that belief that it was not possible. And to stop more killings," said Rudolf Vrba. Rudolf Vrba stood up for the rights of others and himself, even while facing persecution. Because of Rudolf Vrba's courage, the world could understand the magnitude of the Holocaust. It's because of Rudolf Vrba, that I realize the importance of being the voice for those who have none.
During times of war, mankind's humanity is unknowingly corrupted. Humans are capable of causing suffering by doing nothing - by not interfering with the bad things that happen, self-proclaimed ‘good people’ allow others to undergo misery. Elie Wiesel speaks about the world’s lack of intervention during the Holocaust in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, angry, “that the world did know and remained silent” (Document B), and goes on to explain how, “neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented” (Document B). Wiesel is anguished that so many people stood by and watched as others were systematically murdered by their own government. Citizens that were not persecuted were so terrified
Most people just complain about the wickedness and the corruption of society, and they do not realize that they are contributing to the problem by doing nothing to stop it and just being mere bystanders. Bystanders are those individuals that do not take part in events despite being present during those times. In spite of the consequences that it entails being a bystander, this kind of behavior is usually driven by the desire to avoid problems. In order to avoid this misleading mentality, many philosophers and social activists have advocated against people being bystanders. An individual should not be a bystander because being a bystander is morally incorrect, inhuman, and harmful.
First, to show that Lehrman’s claim is true, Kristallnacht serves as a great example as to what effect bystanders have on events and how they are more dangerous than the perpetrators. On the night of Kristallnacht, many German citizens were bystanders may be out of being scared to stand up or even out of approval for what was going on. Another example of bystanders on this day were the firefighters. Although they cannot be counted as perpetrators because they did not blatantly attack the Jews, but only prevented the fire from reaching non-Jewish properties. Through these acts, bystanders only affirm the perpetrators and fuel the fire, and in some cases, like the firefighters, they are even more dangerous than the perpetrators by letting the fire reach Jewish properties. The firefighters changed the spark that the perpetrators started, and turned it into a raging fire. (1)
Approximately six million Jews died during the holocaust, which was two-thirds of the Jewish population at the time of World War Two. This catastrophe is considered to be one of the most deplorable events caused by the human race itself and will live on for eternity. Often people hear the miraculous stories about survival and escape. However, it is unlikely for one to hear a story of rescue due to the high security surrounding the camps. Many prisoners had no hope of finding refuge and were often destined for the gas chambers. However, one man was able to save nearly two thousand Jews by simply knowing how to play both sides properly. His name is Rudolf Kastner. On the surface Rudolf Kastner appears to be a selfless man who devoted many years of his life aiding Jews before and during the Holocaust. While Kastner portrays a good-natured journalist on the surface, he is highly controversial in the Jewish community based on his bias towards Jews that could afford to pay him the large sums of money for their freedom. His inability to think of others prior to himself adds to his repertoire of poor personality traits and greedy decisions. Rudolf Kastner exemplifies all of the characteristics of an insufficient leader due to his selfish tendencies, lack of concern for others, and arrogant personality.