REHUGO Analysis- Historical Speech- "The Perils of Indifferece" by Elie Wiesel

a) “The Perils of Indifference” speech given by Elie Wiesel on April 12, 1999 in Washington, D.C.
b) Elie Wiesel was asked by Hilary Clinton to participate in the Millennium Lectures Series by sharing his reflection of the past century, especially because he was a Holocaust survivor. Wiesel was also an author, professor, political activist, and Nobel Laureate. This speech was addressed to President Clinton, his wife, the members of the Congress, Ambassador Holbrooke, and more generally, the people of America. This speech primarily talked about indifference and how it was a line blurred by darkness and light, and among other things that go along that line. Although it was indifference means “no difference”, it is seen as “more dangerous than anger” and also hatred because it is not something you could be creative with, or could get a response from. Wiesel also talked about how the world generally learned its mistakes that was made in the past century; it was a sign that the world was changing and it is known that change is good.
c) Indifference still happens today, but it doesn’t mean this speech wasn’t effective. Indifference that still occurs would be how some people still ignore those who are of need of food and money. But there are people who make an effort to help where ever they can like for an example, they are people who donate clothes to Goodwill for those who need them more, or people who fundraise money to help countries like the Philippines and Australia, who in the last five years suffered from natural disasters. It is easy to point out those who are indifferent and those who aren’t because indifferent people are people who Wiesel describes them as people who simply don’t respond.
d) Rhetorical Strategies
a. Rhetorical questions- Wiesel asked questions such as “Does it mean that we have learned from the past?” and “What about the children?” as ways to make his audience think about the message he is trying to portray.
b. Cause and effect-Wiesel talked about how President Roosevelt eventually noticed the happenings in Germany and he responded by sending in soldiers to help end the dreadful war with Germany. The Fall of the Nazis was really significant because this meant the freedom of the Jews and the beginning of a new world because it was time for rebirth and simply new lives now that there wasn’t a dominating country to be feared of.
MLA Citation:
Wiesel, Elie. “The Perils of Indifference.” Millennium Lecture Series. Washington D.C. April 12, 1999