Man in His Capacities

This whole book is a powerful reminder of humanity’s capacity for evil. Although we claim ourselves as generally good, the Holocaust is horrible proof to the contrary. No such evil has been this apparent – to attempt the complete annihilation of entire groups of people. No such evil has expressed the hate and sickness that our species has often bent to. Many sins have been committed throughout history, but this…this is evil. It is terrifying to imagine the sickness inside of a man like Hitler to push this genocide into existence. Atrocities like these are what we like to keep far away from any proximity to reality in our minds. We drive it away until we can almost forget, so we can be content with our definition of human nature. Wiesel’s account brings us back to earth. Humans have chosen wrong many a time. We have chosen evil over good and have made others suffer dearly for it.

But along with our capacity for evil comes the opposite – humanity’s capacity for good. We now have the chance to change what the Holocaust set wrong. Even if the prospect of overcoming such evil causes us to fear, let it never force us into despair! Where the choking grasp of the genocide’s hatred, prejudice, and cruelty reign, we can sow seeds of compassion and love to our fellow man.




For extensive information on the Holocaust, its survivors, and the fight to prevent such evil, click here