Perpetrators, Bystanders, and Rescuers From the day a person is born until the day they die that person is constantly making choices. Everything that person does is a choice. Some choices are made easily and do not effect one’s life for more than a few moments, but some choices are different. Some choices that a person comes across in their lifetime will determine who that person becomes. These are the ethical dilemmas that can change a person’s life and lives of people around them. In World War II these were the choices that made people perpetrators, bystanders, or rescuers. In Michael Bess’s book he defines the choices that were made in World War II and the reasoning behind them. Iris Origo’s personal narrative gives evidence of
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They ask for the keys to her garage and explain that they are in need of a car (Origo, 81). Origo finds their reasoning for the car unnecessary and when they leave she remarks how they have already taken her motor-bicycle. This shows how the Germans feel they have superiority over Origo even though they know little of her. They expect to be treated with the utmost respect, but do not offer the same respect in return. This act of evil when practiced often becomes a banal act of evil and can contribute to the evils found in World War II.
Bess also shows that religion and family values can be a strong influence on ethical choices. These strong religious and family values can influence a person to make a choice based on morals. Two Christian leaders, Trocme and Theis, “urged their flock to look into their own conscience and take whatever steps they deemed appropriate” (Bess, 117). By saying this Trocme and Theis were implying that as Christians people should use their morals to guide their choices. Since it is taught by Christians to help others that are in need, Trocme’s and Theis’s “flock” went on to create a network of rescue for Jewish
They ask for the keys to her garage and explain that they are in need of a car (Origo, 81). Origo finds their reasoning for the car unnecessary and when they leave she remarks how they have already taken her motor-bicycle. This shows how the Germans feel they have superiority over Origo even though they know little of her. They expect to be treated with the utmost respect, but do not offer the same respect in return. This act of evil when practiced often becomes a banal act of evil and can contribute to the evils found in World War II.
Bess also shows that religion and family values can be a strong influence on ethical choices. These strong religious and family values can influence a person to make a choice based on morals. Two Christian leaders, Trocme and Theis, “urged their flock to look into their own conscience and take whatever steps they deemed appropriate” (Bess, 117). By saying this Trocme and Theis were implying that as Christians people should use their morals to guide their choices. Since it is taught by Christians to help others that are in need, Trocme’s and Theis’s “flock” went on to create a network of rescue for Jewish