Human Action: Indifference or Making a Difference

Bystanders are ordinary people who play it safe. At the beginning of Cynthia Ozick's "Of Christian Heroism" we learn much about bystanders and the affects of their actions - or rather their inaction - during the Holocaust. Ozick directly involves us in the story of Christian heroism; she asks us to really imagine how it was during the Holocaust and to explore the ordinary human reaction during that time. By identifying with and pointing out …

…of compassion – and is essentially a lack of living fully. It is through our own personal and also global history that we learn about heroism and the important role it plays in overcoming injustice. If we take a chance and apply life’s lessons by allowing ourselves to investigate, imagine and explore new possibilities, perhaps we will unlock our own courage and compassion and also make a difference for mankind like the heroes we admire.