Britannica.com defines the Holocaust as a “systematic killing of six million Jewish men, women, and children and millions of others by Nazi Germany.” Even though survival was improbable, a small percentage persevered and lived to share their experiences. One of these survivors is Elie Wiesel, a Jewish book writer who was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Wiesel had no support from the public while he was in a concentration camp, so it motivated him to say, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.” Wiesel meant that when one is neutral, it will benefit the intimidator, not the victim. Some agree with Wiesel and argue for the constantly oppressed people, while others disagree and argue to keep others safe from dangerous conflicts. …show more content…
Wiesel is correct in saying that neutrality benefits the oppressor because they will continue to harm their victim when ignored. According to “Bystanders,” an article in the Holocaust Encyclopedia, “‘Bystanders’ as a group have often been characterized as ‘passive’ or ‘indifferent.’ They included those, for example, who did not speak out when they witnessed the persecution of [Jews].” As the article states, bystanders did not speak out against the atrocities the Germans committed against the Jews, indirectly leading to more Jewish deaths. Therefore, Wiesel is correct when he says that one who stays neutral benefits the oppressors because there is no one to stop them. Additionally, staying neutral in situations can cause problems, even in novels and