From Cruelty to Goodness explains what cruelty really is. Phillip Hallie explains the many forms of cruelty. He elaborates on the actual meaning/definition of cruelty. The dictionary defines "Cruelty" as "disposed to giving pain." The latin definition crudus refers to bloodshed, or involving the spilling of blood. The Nazi's performed some of the worst cruelties with the jews. A passage from Journey Through Hell explains an example of the cruelties "Urine and excreta poured down the prisoners' legs, and by nightfall the excrement, which had frozen to our limbs, gave off its stench." The prisoners were also kept from using latrines, and were forced to drink water from a toilet bowl full of excreta. This form of cruelty destroyed a persons dignity and self-respect. Furthermore, Phillip speaks about the cruelties performed on the children in the concentration camps. The Nazi's performed "medical experiments" on the jewish and gypsy children chopping off their fingertips. The power to commit such a horrid act on children is the ultimate form of cruelty. With such cruelty going on, came some good. The people of Le Chambon were the light at the end of the tunnel for many jews. They accepted many of the refugees with open arms. They taught the people that goodness could conquer cruelty.
Comment:
This excerpt really grabbed my attention with the fact that these people were able to commit such cruelties. Stripping them from human rights, making them feel like less than an animal is something that is hard to wrap your head around. It was hard to believe that the children were tortured in so called "Experiments." It is definitely hard to read, picturing myself in the gruesome scenes. Reading about the people of Le Chambon was uplifting. Knowing that there were people out there risking their own lives just to help refugees was a good feeling.
