“Night” by Elie Wiesel

“Night”

by Elie Wiesel

This powerful little volume is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1958. Elie Wiesel, the Nobel Peace Prize winning author took me on a journey left me with more questions than answers.

 

If we have promised ourselves Never Again, then why are we still living in a world full of hate and intolerance? If my religion is not the same as yours, then let God judge. If my skin is not the same as yours then let God judge. If my sexual orientation is not the same as yours then let God judge. The hate mongers would have us believe that it is up to them to judge. And not only to judge but to be the jury and the executioner, too. The white supremists, the radical Muslims, the Christian minister…anyone who preaches hate and intolerance is no different than Adolph Hitler.

 

It has been more than fifty years since we fought against Nazi tyranny. Yet today someone will die because of the color of their skin or the god that they worship or the person that they love. Today someone will die because of hate. Never Again? I can speak only for myself. I promise today to never again let words of prejudice come out of my mouth. I promise today to never again be a part of hate moving on this earth. I am reminded of a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

 

Forbearance

Hast thou named all the birds without a gun?

Loved the wood rose, and left it on its stalk?

At rich men’s tables eaten bread and pulse?

Unarmed, faced danger with a heart of trust?

And loved so well a high behavior,

In man or maid, that thou from speech refrained,

Nobility more nobly to repay?

O, be my friend, and teach me to be thine!