What's the rhetorical purpose of referring to the new milliennium & the legacy of this vanishing century?Whats da metaphoric significance of vanishing n dis context in reference to "The Perils of Indifference"

In his speech, Elie Wiesel is trying to persuade people that they need to care more about other people. He is saying that they have to stop being indifferent about the terrible things that happen to other people in the world. If that is what he is trying to do, it makes sense to refer to the "vanishing" century. He is trying to say that genocide and indifference to genocide are things from the last century. It is saying that indifference is something that should vanish along with the last century.

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What's the rhetorical purpose of referring to the new milliennium & the legacy of this vanishing century?Whats da metaphoric significance of vanishing n dis context in reference to "The...

What's the rhetorical purpose of referring to the new milliennium & the legacy of this vanishing century?

Whats da metaphoric significance of vanishing n dis context

in reference to "The Perils of Indifference"

1 Answer

pohnpei397 | College Teacher | (Level 3) Distinguished Educator

Posted on March 31, 2010 at 6:34 AM

In his speech, Elie Wiesel is trying to persuade people that they need to care more about other people. He is saying that they have to stop being indifferent about the terrible things that happen to other people in the world.

If that is what he is trying to do, it makes sense to refer to the "vanishing" century. He is trying to say that genocide and indifference to genocide are things from the last century. It is saying that indifference is something that should vanish along with the last century.