HUMAN NATURE Elie Wiesel, Night

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and humanitarian

LOVE

Ellen Loftus, mother of seven adopted kids “These kids have my heart. If I had a bigger house, I’d have more.”

Ellen and Tim Loftus brought more than 250 children to the U.S. for medical care. About forty became their foster kids.

Why did they do it? Because they believe every kid should have a chance at a healthy life. “If your country can’t do it,” Ellen says, “does that mean you don’t deserve it?”

HATE

"I never saw people that could hate so much.” Judy Shepard, on the anti-gay activists at the funeral for her son

In October 1998, two men told Matthew Shepard they ’ d drive him home. Instead, they beat him with a pistol, tied him to a fence post, and left him to die.

Why did the men beat and kill Shepard? Because he was gay.

INDIFFERENCE

"I really wanted to help her, but … I just didn't. But I don’t feel like I have any responsibility for anything that happened.” Witness to a gang rape in Richmond, California

In October 2009, a 15-year-old girl was gang-raped outside a school dance in Richmond, California. Word of the attack spread, and a crowd gathered.

What did they do to help the victim? Nothing.

COMPASSION

Dr. Carnell Cooper, who helps wounded gang members change their lives “They could be my friends, my family.”

Dr. Carnell Cooper, a surgeon, kept seeing young gunshot victims in his operating room. So he set up a program to provide gang members counseling and schooling to get them off the streets and into a job.

Why does he do it? “Every physician’s goal is to save lives. This is another step in that process. It’s just what I should be doing.”

GOOD/EVIL Look around you.

Which is the greatest force—love, hate, indifference, or compassion?

Where in your world do you see hatred? love hate Should people have the legal right to say hateful things in public? hate compassion When should freedom of speech be restricted? hate indifference Would you risk your life to save someone in danger? indifference compassion If you had $100 to give away, what would you do with it? love indifference If you won $1 million, what would you do with it? love hate indifference compassion Where in your world do you see hatred? love hate Should people have the legal right to say hateful things in public? hate compassion When should freedom of speech be restricted? hate indifference Would you risk your life to save someone in danger? indifference compassion If you had $100 to give away, what would you do with it? love indifference If you won $1 million, what would you do with it? love hate indifference compassion Where in your world do you see hatred? love hate Should people have the legal right to say hateful things in public? hate compassion When should freedom of speech be restricted? hate indifference Would you risk your life to save someone in danger? indifference compassion If you had $100 to give away, what would you do with it? love indifference If you won $1 million, what would you do with it? love hate indifference compassion Where in your world do you see hatred? love hate Should people have the legal right to say hateful things in public? put your voice on record RAWWRITE Which is the greatest force—love, hate, indifference, or compassion?