This week we were assigned to read chapter two of "Night" by Elie Wiesel. In chapter one we read about a boy who craves to learn more about his faith and to be taught the Kabbalah. Then in just 20 pages or so he goes from a boy who loves and praises his God to someone whose lost his faith completely. Honestly though, can we blame him?
It's hard to have faith when bad things happen to us. When I see bombings on television that kills hundreds of people it's hard for me to praise God and believe that he does all good. Why would God give us freedom of choice if those choices could impact innocent people. I don't believe God wants people to die but why do they? This is a question I've had for a long time and so does Elie Wiesel in his book.
Most people I've talked to ask the question how could someone kill 6 million innocent people. At first I honestly couldn't come up with a valid answer because there isn't one. Once we talked more in depth about the Holocaust and how well thought out it was I started to come up with an answer. Once you believe that someone is below you and that they are not human tragedies happen like this one
To be apart of such a horrible event can shape and change your faith in good ways and bad ways. So far, for Elie Wiesel it is only bad. We know when Elie loses his faith because he says “Father,” “If that is true, then I don’t want to wait. I’ll run into the electrified barbed wire. That would be easier than a slow death in the flames.” Once someone is able to accept that they should die is when all faith is lost.
In chapter 2 we start to see more of the daily life for people in concentration camps. Elie mentions how much marching and running they have to endure during this time. He also brings up the food they receive every single day. This appalls me because not only do they starve the members of camp they make them run and march around everywhere! In chapter 2 Elie begins to care less and less about his fathers welfare and more about his own "“I anxiously thought of my father, who was at work. But I was glad nevertheless. To watch that factory go up in flames—what revenge!” Overall in chapter two Elie Wiesel is changing.
How can we change the world so that this won't happen again? This is a question that has also been brought up in my mind as I was reading this book. (I know I have a lot of questions.) Being apart of this generation, we have a lot of weight on our shoulders. The question I ask to myself is how can we be different than the other generations? Not all problems can be solved, and not all pain can be healed. Though I believe that as we long as we stick together as a community and embrace diversity we can begin our journey towards world peace.