And then I explained to him how naïve we were, that the
world did know and remain silent. And that is why I swore
never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings
endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take
sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are
endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national
borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men
and women are persecuted because of their race, religion,
or political views, that place must
at that moment
become the center of the universe.
Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 1986
What does Wiesel feel the world must do when faced with human suffering?