Journal #3

"Whenever I dreamed of a better world, I could only imagine a universe with no bells."

I chose this quote because it interested me. This quote interested me about what life is when your are in a camp like Elie. I just cannot imagine the will power he has. Although he is referring to the bells at the camp which order him around daily. It kind of symbolizes he has no power. Such a thing as a bell can control him. It also symbolizes how he is controlled in almost every possible way. He hates these bells. They tell him when and where to go. Separating him from his father. He just is imagining a better world. And that world will be great because there is no bells, but he is really saying the better world is better because there is no absolute power of you, there freedom.

Journal #2

"'Bite your lip, little brother....Keep your anger and hatred for another day, for later on. The day will come, but not now....Wait. Grit your teeth and wait....'"
Well in the book this quote was by a young french girl that was working in the same labor factory as Elie. Elie boss was a good boss, but he had crazy outbursts of violence. One day he went of on Elie hitting him all over. When it was done he was covered in blood. The young French girl came to him and asked him if he was ok. She then said the quote.

I chose this quote because it his helping Elie to control his anger and hatred for another time. And how that day will come but it is not today. But for now sit and take because it is better. This was a very brave thing for the girl to do because she was really not french. German and she spoke out to Elie in Public, very risky.

Journal #1

"I did not deny God's existence, but I doubted His absolute justice." pg. 4

To me, this quote acknowledges the character loss in faith. He as lost all faith, in his God and is losing faith about living. He is slowly dieing. He is more or less done fighting for his life and his freedom. And is basically just waiting. The second half of the quote is stating hat he is not doubting his God but has problems with the injustice. This is quite unusual because towards the beginning of the book. Elie and the rest of the Jewish community seemed very religious. But now in a time of need and crisis, (the best time to have faith and a God), he starts to doubt his God and faith.

This is an exerpt from the speech "The Perils of Indifference".

This is an exerpt from the speech "The 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?"

To me indifference is not “no difference”, but that may be the case in theory and in history. But to me indifference means that u know something is about to happen and you do nothing to go against it or stop it. I do not get how indifference can be a strange and unnatural state in which the line blur between light and darkness. This to me makes no sense according to Elie Weisel that indifference meaning no difference. But the opposite. Elie Weisel's comment and or statement on the meaning of indifference meaning no difference makes a point that there is no line between light and dark but there could be an even bigger line. I think Elie Weisel opinion of indifference almost being a theory or philosophy is brilliant. I totally agree, indifference is a philosophy. The way you define it, the way you display it and the way you use through out your daily life. And the last sentence: 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?". I also agree. You must have indifference to survive no matter how u look at it. At any stand point or view point u must have it and it will always be there. Actually, now that u think about it. “indifference” meaning no difference. In history there is many occasions where this is being reported. Hitler, trying to make his country the one and only, the best race. The Aryan race. He wanted no “indifference”, nothing new, no different. Also with many genocides. So, in fact Elie Wiesel may have a point. There is no real answer, it is more of a point of view and how you want to deal with it.

Nelsons Comment

"Today, during class we had a class discussion about All Quiet on the Western Front and war in general. We talked about different aspects of war, we talked about WWI, WWII, Desert Storm, and wars in general. After the discussion I came to the computer to write my reflection (about a subject that I already forgot) and Lucien told me that he was pretty annoyed about the fact that everytime we talk about war it goes back to past crimes and leaders. He told me that he was pretty annoyed about us not talking about wars NOW; it always goes back to Alexander, it always goes back to Hitler; WWI. Me, I believe he is right in the sense that war is NOT a thing of the past. War is currently waged in the Middle East, and in Africa, but for some reason we talk about Hitler and not Bush (or the US senate for that matter). We talk about the Holocaust and not Darfur, and even though the Holocaust was bigger, Darfur is present. And even though history is important; I believe that the present is more so."

Do you agree or disagree???

Nelson, you made a very good point but I am afraid to disagree with you some what. I agree with some of your thought but I think that your last statement is incorrect. Yes, i do think that the present is very important and we should look at the present day wars and problems but history is far important. History has a tendency to repeat it self. If we study and learn about past problems we may be able to prevent those problems today or in the future. Along with past problems come mistakes. These mistakes can lead to wars, crimes or corruption. But, I do have to agree with your earlier statements about the past and discussion. How whenever the word war or corrupt political leaders come into play, all we can talk about is the past. The past wars and the past leaders. This should change but we must not just ban talking about the past. Thanks for the controversial read.