On November 17th 2010, a number of Hewitt students and faculty had the honor to attend the 2010 Tom Lantos Human Rights Award Ceremony.
The award first made its debut in 2009 with the Dalai Lama as the first recipient.
The award remembers the work of Tom Lantos (D), the only holocaust survivor elected into congress. He was the co-founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and was the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Lantos was a champion of human rights–he was a man who fought for what he believed in. Among some of the most memorable issues Lantos fought for were: allowing Christians in Saudi Arabia and Sudan to practice their faith, helping Tibetans to retain their culture and religion in Tibet, and standing up for Hungarian minorities.
The Lantos Foundation was established to carry on the work of Tom Lantos and award those who “raise awareness about human rights and are brave individuals who are committed to fighting justice around the world.”
This year, the award was presented to Elie Wiesel. He is one of the few Holocaust survivors still alive, and he depicts his experience of World War II in his famous book Night. Wiesel has received numerous awards for his literary and human rights activities including the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1986, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. Along with his wife Marion, Wiesel established the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity in order to “fight indifference, intolerance, and injustice.” He is also the Founding chairman of the US Holocaust Memorial Council.
Elie Weisel said he guides his actions with the belief that, “everyone deserve a decent way of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The award ceremony began with a welcome from Katrina Lantos Swett, who is the daughter of Tom Lantos. Following her speech, Pavel Khorodorkovskiy spoke, thanking Elie Weisel for the work he has done to try to free his father, Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Mikhail Khordorkovsky is a Russian business man who ran the oil company YUKOS. In 2004 he was the wealthiest man in Russia, and the 16th wealthiest man in the world. However, in 2003, the Russian government accused him of fraud and embezzlement, and in 2005 he was found guilty of this crime. There has been no concrete proof of Khorodokovsky’s actions. Many believe that it was a fabricated story by the President Vladimir Putin, who was angry at the business man for criticizing the Russian government and for calling for reform and democracy. Since Khordorkovsky’s arrest in 2003, Weisel has spoken out against the Russian government and fought for the freedom of Khordorkovsky.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D) also spoke at the event. Joking about the kind introduction Katrina Swett gave him, he said “the introductions get nicer and nicer as I get closer and closer to getting out of office.” Richardson said that he firmly believes, “Lantos and Wiesel are role models for the new generation.”
As the event came to as close, Elie Wiesel took the stage. He thanked everyone for the award, and spoke about why he fights for human rights and why others should as well. He got to the heart of the matter when he stated, “It is not hate which causes these wrongdoings – it is indifference.”
Elie Wiesel should be applauded for the change he has brought to the world. He has fought for the rights he believes in, and he has been anything but indifferent.
To listen to Elie Wiesel’s “Perils of Indifference” Speech click HERE