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15 POINTS URGENT

And now we knew, we learned, we discovered that the Pentagon knew, the State Department knew. And the illustrious occupant of the White House then, who was a great leader and I say it with some anguish and pain, because, today is exactly 54 years marking his death Franklin Delano Roosevelt died on April the 12th, 1945. So he is very much present to me and to us. No doubt, he was a great leader. He mobilized the American people and the world, going into battle, bringing hundreds and thousands of valiant and brave soldiers in America to fight fascism, to fight dictatorship, to fight Hitler. And so many of the young people fell in battle. And, nevertheless, his image in Jewish history I must say it his image in Jewish history is flawed.

Elie Wiesel, "The Perils of Indifference," 1999

During his speech, how does Wiesel soften his criticism of the United States for refusing to help the Jews aboard the St. Louis?

A.He praises Franklin D. Roosevelt and thanks the United States for its role in ending the war.
B.He reminds the audience that he is a Holocaust survivor and had horrible experiences.
C.He says that he understands why people would choose to be indifferent to human suffering.
D.He tells some jokes and a funny story about his childhood to make the audience laugh.

User Jordan H
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2 Answers

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A. He praises Franklin D. Roosevelt and thanks the United States for its role in ending the war.

APEX

User SaintTail
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The answer is A: He praises Franklin D. Roosevelt and thanks the United States for its role in ending the war.

The author softens the criticism by dedicating this paragraph to the praise of FDR for sending American soldier to fight in World War 2, for "going into battle, bringing hundreds and thousands of valiant and brave soldiers in America to fight fascism, to fight dictatorship, to fight Hitler." Ultimately, this serves the purpose of lessening the judgement of FDR's own sins regarding the Jewish people.
User Ajwhiteway
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