Perils of Indifference

"What is indifference? Etymologically, the word means "no difference." A strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, cruelty and compassion, good and evil. What are its courses and inescapable consequences? Is it a philosophy? Is there a philosophy of indifference conceivable? Can one possibly view indifference as a virtue? Is it necessary at times to practice it simply to keep one's sanity, live normally, enjoy a fine meal and a glass of wine, as the world around us experiences harrowing upheavals?"

Answer Elie Weisel's questions to the best of your ability. Use your heart, your mind, your understanding of human nature, and historical evidence. A minimum of 300 words is expected.

Indifference. In the words of Elie Weisel, “Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred…Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response. Indifference is not a beginning; it is an end. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy…” Yes, etymologically the word means “no difference”, but in a human level it is “not to care”, and according Mr. Weisel, “in a way to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman.” And this kind of behavior is what has allowed so many genocides to occur. From the Holocaust to Kosovo, China’s and India’s gendercides and even the current Darfur genocide. Yes, none of those is any different than the other, they are all the result of racism, violence, power, but above all, indifference and inactivity. “It is much easier to look away from victims”, nobody wants to know how many people die in genocides, nobody wants to know how much suffering there is on third world countries, nobody is interested in anything that will make them feel bad about themselves, and that’s why there is so much indifference. The human being doesn’t like feeling bad, or sad; they rather be happy, or even angry, because those feelings are vivid, like fire. Sadness on the other hand is depressive. It is part of human nature to avoid that.