Sofia Carrasco

AP Lang
10/16/13

Reacting to Genocide
The mass murdering of men, women, and children based on the color of their skin or the

church they worship in is wrong, but it still occurs today. Throughout history we have seen the
consequences of genocide and the oppression that governments of nations have put on their
citizens. One of the most known events of genocide is the Holocaust. We see now the
indifference of both the people in Germany and in other countries until the threat reached them.
Current genocides are happening today in other large, powerful countries like North Korea.
History is repeating itself and many are dying everyday due to peoples indifference and fear.
Genocide is a form of oppression and there are smaller, non-life threatening ways to oppress
people but have similar effects and responses. Bullying is something that happens everyday and
that many people notice, but do not say anything or try to help. As Elie Wiesel said in his Nobel
Prize Acceptance speech, silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. We have a
responsibility as humans to help others who cannot help themselves when horrible acts are
inflicted upon them like genocide.
A first person account of the terrors of the holocaust, in the novel Night by Elie Wiesel, we
receive insight on the few people who go out of their way to aid the prisoners and also about the
people who are indifferent. One of the first concentration camps that Wiesel is sent to, he had a
benevolent polish leader. He gave words of wisdom Let there be camaraderie among you. We
are all brothers and share the same fate. The same smoke hovers over all our heads.(41) He
spoke to the prisoners on an equal level and encouraged them to have faith and that they are all

under the rule of Hitler. At that time everyone was forced to obey the government and this leader
was one of the few that took mercy on the prisoners. On the contrary there were many people
who turned a blind eye to the reality of what was happening to minorities in the holocaust. When
they were traveling on an overly packed train to the next camp they passed through German
towns. Usually, very early in the morning. German laborers were going to work. They would
stop and look at us without surprise.(100) They were part of the larger mass of people that did
not speak out against Hitler or the Nazis, in fear for their own lives. By them not speaking out to
help, they therefore helped the Nazis and are equally responsible for the deaths that they
inflicted throughout the holocaust. At last, other countries finally intervened and stopped the
Nazis and Hitlers mass genocide of prisoners. The SS had fled and the resistance had taken
charge of the camp. At six oclock that afternoon, the first American tank stood at the gates of
Buchenwald.(115) Someone had finally come to help those who were persecuted and killed
based on their religion, race or political views, those who could not help themselves. Our world
community has the duty to help those people when we are aware of genocide occurring in a
country.
Ever since World War II, where Korea split into North and South, North Korea has
become a country of mass genocide. Their government is a dictatorship whose goal is to be a
pure society, similar to the reasoning behind the holocaust. Anyone who is a different race or
has different religious or political reviews are sent to concentration camps. North Korea is part of
the United Nations and a majority of the world is aware of the mass killings in their country. But
they have acquired nuclear weapons which they have used to threaten the United States and other
countries who were contemplating interfering. Because of their large population and type of

government, citizens are unable to help themselves against these killings and imprisonment. The
UN needs to help change their government and release the thousands of people that are
incarcerated and honor those who have died.
Oppression comes in all forms. Not all of it happens countrywide or on a large scale, but it is still
wrong and has consequences when it is ignored and the victim is left helpless. An example is
bullying. Like genocide, bullying is focused on those who dont fit in or are different then the
mass population. They are singled out and tormented, usually by those who are superior and their
followers. Their friends help carry out the bullying with them and are protected against bullying
themselves. Many are afraid to help the victim for fear of becoming the object of the bullys
attention as well. The bullying only stops when a stronger outside source, prevents the tormentor
to continue, like a parent or teacher. These are all aspects that are parallel to genocide.
Genocide is defined as the mass murdering of anyone based on their race, religious beliefs or
political views. We have seen genocide in the past in many countries; on a small and large scale.
There is genocide happening today as we speak. Thousands of men, women and children are
being ripped from their homes and either killed right there or sent to concentration camps to be
worked to death. In a country ruled by a dictatorship, no one speaks out to help the prisoners for
fear of being punished themselves, so they ignore it. We as a united globe cannot just ignore it.
When there is genocide happening in countries, especially powerful countries, it is our
responsibility to step in and help those who have no one else to help them. Action is the only
remedy to indifference, the most insidious danger of all. (Wiesel)