Friday, November 7, 2008

The Perils of Indifference by Elie Wiesel -Dora Barnhill

After reading The Perils of Indifference, I was left feeling very informed and content with what the author had to say. I feel that no one should be indifferent to others that are less fortunate. I have a good life and nice things but that is not what makes me happy. What makes me happy is being able to help others, and to not be indifferent towards anyone just because they are different then myself.
I enjoyed reading this piece, because Elie used good illustrations. She was also very informed on the topic and her choice of words made the the essay flow. As I was reading I felt as if she was not trying to make me believe what she had to say but give me the facts so that I could create my own opinion. All in all she got my attention and made me think.

The Perils of Indifference (critique) By Spencer Lynch

I enjoyed reading this piece, I believe that Elie makes a good point to say that is indifference a good or a bad thing? Does it induce a better life for most and a bad life for some? These are questions she asks that make me think should I care about other peoples problems? If I am content in my own life should I try to improve the life of another? From her given example such as Aushwitz and Hiroshima, I believe that we should help others in need. Because if America had never helped those suffering in concentration camps, then they might still be under Nazi rule, if not dead.
As far as being persuaded what Elie is saying, I felt more informed as opposed to persuaded. Because I did not feel as though Elie was telling me I needed to care more for others or I am a bad person. I felt as though she were saying if you helps others more, look what can come of it. Overall I enjoyed the piece it was intresting, and gave examples to illustrate the point she was getting across.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Critique " The Perils of indifference" by Peggie McNeil

This is a short but powerfully written essay, and I enjoyed reading it. It ask the tough questions that the U.S turned a deaf ear too. It took years,and much suffering, many deaths ,and unimaginable pain before the U.S. responded to the plight of the Jewish people . Perhaps, the U.S., being a profit driven Country that can turn a blind eye to the plight and suffer of others, saw no profit in helping the Jewish people at that time. The U.S. has a history of being indifferent to the plight of many people from foreign lands who ,in many cases,boarded make-shift crafts in search of a better life for their families and themselves, only to be turned around and left to perish at the might of the sea. These were the poorest of the poor without anything to offer. We should not judge a person's wealth by the size of his bank account, but by the size of his heart. The movie The Pianist, is a good spin off for this essay ,or maybe a movie where the U.S. is actually living up to what's written on the Statue of Liberty,"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door."