Staying Human in Hard Times
The 100-year-old woman who died this week takes something with her that is being lost in this century of hatreds on the rise everywhere–a human compassion that could persist at the risk of her own survival.
Miep Gies, who sheltered Anne Frank and her family, was known for giving the world a gifted young girl’s diary of a life never to be fulfilled, but her own longevity is a testament to the decency of unremarkable people who refuse to trade the lives of others for their own safety and comfort.
In a time when empathy can be seen as a fault and lethal selfishness rationalized as normal behavior, the story of Miep Gies, who sheltered eight Jews for years at the daily risk of her own life, is a reminder that there are always people who hold onto their humanity in even the worst of times.
4 Responses to “Staying Human in Hard Times”
The thought that people like this are everywhere, unaware of their heroic potential, waiting for the often unrealized opportunity to be heroes, makes me happy.
I am glad such a woman lived a long life.
A second, hk. She always denied that she was in anyway heroic, saying she just did what was right. That is heroism defined.
There are “heroes” out there, those who would call it “nothing special” but apply the same courage and conviction as she did, but now in protection and defense of people and population to weak to defend themselves.
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