Human Action: Indifference or Making a Difference
Bystanders are ordinary people who play it safe. At the beginning of Cynthia Ozick's "Of Christian Heroism" we learn much about bystanders and the affects of their actions - or rather their inaction - during the Holocaust. Ozick directly involves us in the story of Christian heroism; she asks us to really imagine how it was during the Holocaust and to explore the ordinary human reaction during that time. By identifying with and pointing out the indifference of the majority, we learn how rare and magnificent heroism was then and still is now. Ozick recognizes that it may be human nature to be a bystander; however, she urges us to try heroism instead to learn how we can make a difference for mankind. At the start of her essay, Ozick includes a quote by Herbert Gold:There is a story about Clare Booth Luce complaining that she was bored with hearing about the Holocaust. A Jewish friend of hers said he perfectly understood her sensitivity in the matter; in fact, he had the same sense of repetitiousness and fatigue, hearing so often about the Crucifixion. (167) Before starting her essay, I believe Ozick is setting the tone to show that we live in a time where indifference becomes an everyday reaction. Our minds are filled wi
Other social and political activists have helped save the environment, fight for labor unions, and promote both inner city and international peace. everything is known that needs to be known: how it was done, who did it, who helped, where it was done, and when, and why. The act of turning toward - while carrying a club - is an act of brutality; but the act of turning away, however empty-handed and harmlessly, remains nevertheless an act. It takes a lot of energy and effort to muster the courage that is sometimes needed. And whatever they did they did at the risk of their lives" (172). Ozick states, "Compassion, it is clear, sharpens intuition and augments imagination" (174). their conduct emphasizes - exemplifies - the exceptional" (173). Ozick applauds the fourth category - the heroes: "Fortunately it is not a category that can be measured by number - its measure is metaphysical and belongs to the sublime" (171). One of the greatest benefits of coming to school for me is that I more critically think about social issues instead of just accepting the status quo. It is easy to avert the eyes in embarrassment or in fear, but moments after doing so, a feeling creeps in of regret and guilt for not saying anything or standing up for myself or for others. (172) As discussed earlier, Ozick emphasizes that the bystanders are considered decent and ordinary human beings; however, it is apparent that somehow the rescuers have learned to transcend natural human indifference. How is it that indifference, which on its own does no apparent or immediate positive harm, ends by washing itself in the very horrors it means to have nothing to do with? . They [were] urban and rural; educated and uneducated; sophisticated and simple; they included nuns and socialists. The ones who do stand up courageously, however, become the heroes and rescuers of our civilization.
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