Once I attended a lecture given by Elie Wiesel, the author and concentration camp survivor. His memorable and poignant views on humanity and the lack thereof are too many to mention. What stands out in my mind, however, are his comments on apathy.
“Apathy is the worst of all human traits; not getting involved, looking the other way, witnessing brutality from man to man, and not speaking out is unconscionable.”
We are our brothers’ keepers! I am proud to attest that apathy is not a part of my being. Apathy can be damaging to individuals suffering an injustice, society at large, and ourselves.
Perhaps I am so passionate about this due to my experience during the Holocaust. So many horrible wrongdoings were going on all around me. I couldn’t do anything to stop them. It was a matter of life and death. Having survived that, I am driven to stand up for what is right and get in the way of what is wrong whenever I have the opportunity.
I believe that I can have an impact in this world and change things, even if only in my immediate circle. Having this belief helps me find purpose. I also believe that certain things in this world are either right or wrong and that we have to stand up against things that are wrong and protect things that are right.
I’ll give you an example from my life to illustrate the point. My son Johnny had a friend growing up who would make anti-Semitic comments to him. Johnny didn’t think it was any big deal, but I certainly did! One day this boy made a disparaging remark as Johnny was getting into our car to go home after school. Boy, I let him have it. I told him that if he couldn’t stop making his remarks he would never again be allowed in our house. He was bewildered and Johnny thought I overreacted. I didn’t think so. I wasn’t going to just stand by and let him say those things unchecked. Someone had to tell him his words were not okay and that there were consequences to using them.
If I can’t be bothered to care about the things that happen in my life and the lives of those around me, I can’t love and be loved. There is a popular saying about apathy that sums it up pretty well.
The opposite of love is not hate; it is apathy. Apathy is when you would do nothing for someone. Love is when you would do anything.
I don’t know about you, but given the choice, I am going to fill my life with love, not the opposite of love. I am going to care rather than not care. I am going to speak up instead of being silent.
What are your thoughts on apathy? Have you seen the consequences of being apathetic in your own life or the life of someone you love? Share your comments below.
-Dr. Erica Miller