Analysis Of Elie Wiesel's Speech: The Perils Of Indifference

On April 12, 1999, a holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel gave an empowering speech called, “The Perils of Indifference”. In this speech he entices his crowd into believing that being indifferent is detrimental and should be avoided at all possible costs. Wiesel proves his point by using convincing examples from all the unfortunate predicaments that the world has experienced in the last 1,000 years. He continues his purpose by using comparisons to drawing his listeners in and further his point. During his speech, Wiesel persuades his audience that maintaining an indifferent outlook will only circulate the negativity that has been seen in the last millenium.
At the start of his speech, Wiesel immediately jumps into how throughout the 1900’s the

human race had experienced acts of dehumanization and demoralization such as world wars, civil wars, assassinations, and the holocaust. He states how, “These failures have cast a dark shadow over humanity”. This “dark shadow” Wiesel speaks of hits his upcoming argument of how indifference effected this century in an extremely barbaric way. By introducing his discussion with background information, he solidly puts together his speech to highlight examples which created his perception of this millenium while tieing to his claim perfectly.
Wiesel builds upon his argument by including plentiful comparisons in his speech. He even expresses how there is no creativity in indifference. He goes on to say that “Even hatred at times may elicit a response.” This statement demonstrates that it’s better to be hateful than not to care at all because it shows that you at least care about something. Wiesel’s powerful tone in this statement illuminates that being indifferent will only sway people to the side of our past that we wish we could erase.
This speech Elie Wiesel gives accurately depicts that being indifferent will only generate the same consequences that we have been accustomed to in the last century. Through his argument the examples and comparisons gives emphasis to his points in a powerful way. By Wiesel calling attention to the faults in the last millennium, it indirectly brings up that in order to move on and make ourselves better, we have to start with putting effort and care into our society that we live in.