Elie Wiesel's Response on Receiving the Congressional Gold Medal

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Title

Elie Wiesel's Response on Receiving the Congressional Gold Medal

Date

April 19, 1985

Contributor

Summary

This document contains Elie Wiesel's speech delivered on April 19, 1985, at the White House, on the occasion of receiving the Congressional Gold Medal. Wiesel dedicates the medal to the victims of the Holocaust and emphasizes his responsibility to both the living and the dead. He reflects on lessons learned over forty years, including the perils of silence and the sin of neutrality in the face of human dignity at stake. He recounts the suffering endured in concentration camps and laments the indifference of the 'free world' to the fate of Jewish children. Wiesel addresses the Bitburg controversy, urging the President not to visit the cemetery containing SS graves, asserting that the President's place is with the victims. He concludes by advocating for reconciliation and working towards peace and understanding in a tormented world.

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Origin:
Washington, DC., USA
Destination:
Washington, DC., USA
Language:
Identifier:
EWG_1234_01_18-22
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