Write a personal response to the speech that you read in lesson 3.10. If you were talking to Elie, what would you tell him or ask him regarding his message? Please write your answer in 1-2 paragraphs, and make sure to use lines from the text as evidence/support for your thoughts.
In his speech, Elie Wiesel recounts the horrors he endured during the Holocaust and emphasizes the importance of remembering and sharing these experiences. His message is undoubtedly powerful and resonates deeply with me. Elie's words hit home when he says, "For the survivor, death is not the problem. Death was an everyday occurrence. We learned to live with Death. The problem is to adjust to life, to living. And to continue living." These lines reveal the immense struggle that survivors faced not only during the Holocaust but also in the aftermath, as they tried to navigate an altered reality.
If I had the opportunity to talk to Elie, I would express my admiration for his strength and resilience. I would also want to know how he managed to carry the weight of his experiences and whether he believes that sharing his story has brought about real change. Elie declares, "I have tried to keep memory alive... I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation." These words convey his commitment to preserving memories and preventing such atrocities from happening again. I would be curious to hear his thoughts on whether his efforts have been successful, and if so, how he measures that success in the face of ongoing injustices in the world.
Overall, Elie's speech has profoundly impacted me, reminding me of the importance of remembrance and educating future generations about the atrocities of the past.