In Elie Wiesel’s interview with Ronald Eyre Elie spoken of the existing problem between the Jews and the Christians that caused the Holocaust. This problem dealt with the “Victims” (Jews) and the “Killers” (Christians).
Wiesel claimed that the Christians were the reason for this tragedy known as the Holucoaust. Given what is known about each master story: God is love (Christianity), and God is Just (Judaism).
An explanation of the credibility of Wiesel’s statements is needed… Through defining the Christian master story, that there was nothing done to prevent the, and that the problem exists today can explain Wiesel’s statements. The Christian master story claims that God is love. Considering the Holocaust disaster this claim is obscured.
The main point to back Wiesel’s credibility is that Germany was considered the most Christian nation in the world. To be a citizen of Germany during this time your name had to be registered in the Catholic church. Although this does not assure total Christian belief, it did certainly shape the German people into believing what it meant to be human and part of that tradition. Given this type of county wide religion it is safe to say that the Germans were Christians, and that their master story contradicted itself during this time. Another bold statement that Wiesel made is that there wasn’t anything done to prevent this disaster. He claimed that if someone would have stepped up to defend the Jews than none of this would have happened.
The Essay on Beowulf- Christian or Pagan?
Pointing out what makes up a Christian or pagan story will explain this most clearly. In a Christian story, it must have these elements: First of all, the story must have at least one of the characters believe in the one true God. Christ founded the Christians so the Christians must believe in what He says. Since, Christ taught the Trinity and that there is one true God, then it is a part of that ...
If Chamberlin, De Gaul, or even Roosevelt had made some sort of attempt to stop Hitler, millions of Jews would have been saved. This statement is quite bold, but it does have credibility. It is known now that many world leaders knew of the concentration camps, but they did nothing. In my opinion Wiesel is very just in making this claim.
The Jews suffered greatly, and no one offered to help until it was too late. Another point that rests with our generation today is that the problem still exists. Although the names and faces may have changed, the story is still the same. The story is different religious groups at war with one another. An example of this is Bosna.
The problem is between the Christians and the Muslims. All over the world the problem of different traditions clashing still exists. The final analysis of Wiesel’s statements brings me to the conclusion that humanity is responsible for humanity. Wiesel’s statements were bold and credible, but the give insight into the problem that humanity must deal with. Humanity must no longer look at the Holocaust or the problem in Bosnia as a Jewish, Muslim, or Christian problem but as a world problem.
Until that is done the problem will continue to plague the past, the future, and the present.
