REHUGO 2

Carina Banci

English 3 AP

Mr. Soeth

February 5, 2011
Rehugo Analysis- Speech

A. Elie Wiesel presented the speech "The Perils of Indifference" to President Clinton, First Lady
Clinton, members of Congress, and the Ambassador on April 12, 1999.

B. Elie Wiesel was addressing the issue of indifference, of which was definitely displayed during
the the 1900's with events like the two world wars, many civil wars, and alot of assasinations of
important people like the Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr., to his audience in Washington
DC. Wiesel is a Auschwitz survivor that got liberated in 1945 by American soldiers. His life and
family was destroyed during the Holocaust. He is one of the survivors that still lives today.

C. Wiesel made a point that indifference is a huge problem because while hatred gets response,
indifference gets none and yet the effects of it hit deeper than hatred. "It is so much easier to
avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes." Some people choose to
ignore the cries of children from China and Africa because of hunger and diseases. Since some
ignore, children don't get the help they need. There are also teenagers committing suicide
because people don't listen to them and make them feel so helpless and lonely resulted from
their problems. Lack of concern hurts more than hatred because at least people are aware of
what you're hating on.

D. Rhetorical Strategies:
a) Definition: Wiesel defines "indifference". "Etymologically, the word means 'no difference'." He
explains indifference and how dangerous it is throughout his speech.
b)Anecdote: Wiesel starts his speech with an anedote of his own about how he felt after he was
liberated like the other Jews. This was used as an attention grabber.

Bibliography:
Wiesel, Elie- "The Perils of Indifference". American Rhetoric: The Power of Oratory in the United States. Web. 05 Feb. 2011. "Great Speeches Collection: Elie Wiesel Speech The Perils of Indifference." The History Place. Web. 05 February 2011.