REHUGO #2

Jewel Raquidan


Mr. Soeth

English AP 3

February 2, 2011



REHUGO Analysis #2 – Historical Speech



A)A speech given by Elie Wiesel called The Perils of Indifference to President Clinton, Mrs. Clinton, Ambassador Holbrooke, members of the Congress and many other on April the 19th, 1999 in Washinton D.C.



B)During this time Mrs. Clinton was out helping those in need in other countries by getting them health care. He speaks about his appreciation at her actions for he did not have as much help when he was liberated during WWII. He also was glad that Mrs. Clinton mentioned that they were commemorating the event as a so-called, “Day of Remembrance”. He continues on voicing out his words about indifference. He says indifference, “is not a beginning; it is an end”. He reminds them of his times in Auschwitz, when he was liberated and his gratitude towards those who liberated him, witnessing what he saw and being part of those many who will remember that day.



C)“Does it mean that society has changed?” Wiesel questions. His use of rhetorical questions effects the reader greatly having them ponder the reality of humanity. Had we really learned from our pasts? The reader continues to wonder about what Wiesel spoke of which was about indifference. It is true that people help children whenever they see their faces or eyes in a commercial or a newspaper. But is it really out of the kindness of their hearts or just another thing one must do so as to not corrupt themselves but to feel better about themselves? Wiesel's goal was to not only inspire people to act for themselves when they see someone in need but to also inspire them to resist the temptation of indifference.



D)The use of repetition is found when he continues to repeatedly say, “Indifference”. The word is not only embedded in the mind of the listener or reader but whenever Wiesel interjects his speech with flashbacks the listener or reader cannot help themselves think back about “indifference”. They cannot help themselves when they begin to relate Wiesel's words and their own thoughts with the word. Then there is his use in rhetorical questions throughout his speech. Similar to his book Night he asks himself, and also to his audience, questions that could be answered immediately but allows the audience to find a deeper meaning in the question when there is none. “Does it mean that we have learned from the past? Does it mean that society has changed? Has the human being become less indifferent and more human? Have we really learned from our experiences?” There was a bit of repetition in that quote, even though the words weren't exactly but they convey the same message, but these are question that the audience will think about. Whether they could be answered or not is of their own choice.



MLA Citation: Wiesel, Elie. “American Rhetoric: Elie Wiesel – The Perils of Indifference.” American Rhetoric: The Power of Oratory in the United States. Web. 02 February. 2011
 
 
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