Topic > The speech of suffering in the night

When I realize how far the world has come in the past decades, I marvel at man's ability to collaborate efficiently and to bring good things to life from teamwork, even through the barriers of suffering different cultures in the world, including different languages, governments and the great distances found between our countries. Together, our world has accomplished incredible tasks: from organizing the Olympic Games to our willingness to help after a tragedy strikes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay While much has been accomplished, there have been events in history that have profoundly dehumanized the human soul itself. Events like the Holocaust tore a nation apart, replacing German nationalism with a diseased, brainwashed version of Adolf Hitler's belief system that those who do not classify themselves as the "master race" should be purged without thought twice. When we look through the eyes of Holocaust victims, we are able to get a small glimpse into the unspeakable horrors and suffering of innocent people, like concentration camp survivor Elie Wiesel. In his book Night, Wiesel writes: “Human suffering everywhere affects men and women everywhere.” We, as human beings, have an inherent moral obligation to resist suffering. Social injustices are naturally prevalent due to the wide variety of cultures and living standards around the world. Simply by listening to the news, you could easily find yourself bombarded with cries for help. It is normal for a person to turn off the television when a problem touches his heart. Why do we turn a blind eye to those who need a hand? Without a doubt, if we were in that position, we would ask for help immediately. Why don't we care enough to actually help others? The answer lies in the selfish nature of humanity itself. Selfishness is the root of countless problems. Key factors play into the dismissal of helping others. Fear is a factor. People want to avoid the strenuous effort it takes to express their point of view. The trait of assertiveness is missing in countless people. We typically don't like conflict. Most of us prefer to avoid conflict rather than defend others. During the time of the Holocaust, the authority of Nazi leaders and soldiers was intimidating. One wrong word could land a person in prison or killed. Recalling the trip to the concentration camp, Wiesel recalls: “I was afraid. Fear of blows. That's why I remained deaf to his cries... I was so afraid of incurring the wrath of the SS." When the average person is given the “upper hand” in a situation, the natural response is to take advantage of it, even if it may hurt others. Nazi leaders swore allegiance to their country, but allowed their people to die at their feet. Why should we defend others? People must stand up for what they believe in. When they remain passive in the face of the problem, they ignore what needs to be helped. There was a group, informally called the Rescuers, who helped Jews and other victims escape their fate of ending up in concentration camps. Rescuers were “…ordinary people who became extraordinary people because they acted in accordance with their belief systems while living in an immoral society” (Rescuers). These people united from all walks of life, from peasant to prince, through the belief that these victims were simply human beings. They saved hundreds of lives. Rescuers saved others.”