"The Lottery" and "The Perils of indifference"

Even the most ordinary of citizens can do the most horrific and terrible things for reasons ranging from it just being something that has happened for years and they don't know why to logical reasons. Such as in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson when Mrs. Hutchinson's own kids were the first to throw stones at her for no reason at all. The fact that no one remembers why they are still doing this and that they are getting there kids involved with this is just a horrify thought. These are just ordinary people not without there own families and they all still continue to put even there families at risk for a tradition that no one remembers why its there and the fact that lots of towns have gotten rid of the lottery already and even more thinking of getting rid of it and yet this town thinks its absurd to get rid of it. No good comes of this and no on understands it but even these ordinary citizens go along with it just because everyone else is doing it and they have been doing it for years now.

Elie Wiesel made good points to how normal German citizens could follow such a horrible leader that wanted to eradicate such a large group of people. Even more ordinary citizens refused to help like Elie Wiesel states "The depressing tale of the St. Louis is a case in point. Sixty years ago, in human cargo - maybe 1000 Jews - was turned back to Nazi Germany." That even after so many Jews were killed for being who they are and instead of giving away there free will choose to stay true to who they are and what they believe in and got killed for it they still were not helped for the longest of time. The fact that we could turn a blind eye to this for so long or just choose not to help because it would be "easier for us that way" or make the decision to help such an abomination of mankind to destroy parts of a human race.

I myself could not partake in such a gruesome event. Killing someone just because we have been doing it for longer then anyone could remember or because everyone is going along with it just doesn't seem to click in my head as "normal" or alright to do. Maybe if the person had done something horrible like murder or rape but if it was just some person or because that person was a certain religion or race then no i could not take part in it only try to stop it.