T. K. Brown said that, “There is no pulse in indifference; but skepticism may have warm blood.” Elie Wiesel added that, “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it is indifference.” and “To be treated with indifference is the greatest tragedy a Human Soul can suffer. Even to be mistreated is better than to be ignored.
I have observed how some people can quickly find or identify other people in a social gathering that have influence, those who can further their personal cause. The cause being, greater social influence or a financial advantage, their way of getting ahead in the world. They want to be seen with the right people and often are totally indifferent to others, almost as if to see right through them. I remember as a young man, attending church mutual dances where both young single men and young single woman were present. Most of the young men asked the prettiest girls to dance and the, so called wall flowers, average or less physically attractive girls, were left on the sidelines. I was always sensitive to that and would frequently ask them to dance with me. I have never thoughtfully and purposely treated anyone with indifference. Looking through, or past another, even a stranger, without even a, ‘hello” is indifference. You may be justifiably skeptical of some but we should never be indifferent. Every person has a right to be acknowledged, to have another, look in their eyes and to say something, anything just to acknowledge that they exist. Elie Wiesel was right: “To be treated with indifference is the greatest tragedy a Human Soul can suffer.”
I am not sure that I wholly agree with that but I know of at least one person I have met, who would. I have told this story somewhere else in my writings so I will make it brief here. I was a personal counselor for my city as a young psychologist. A woman had an appointment with me one night who arrived with a black eye and other bruises. During our session she mentioned that her husband often beat her, and added that her mother advised her to leave him. Then I asked her, “And why is it you do not take your mother’s advice?” Her answer was very sad. “Because he is the only one who loves me enough to beat me.” was her answer. So! Tony Brown was surprisingly right by saying; “Even to be mistreated is better than to be ignored (Indifferent).”
In my life time, I have witnessed several wars: the Second World War, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, the war in Afghanistan and the wars in the middle east. All of these wars and/or conflicts are, and have been, caused by cruel and power hungry persons who have demonstrated total and complete indifference to human life, property and human values. One of the greatest sins may just be, being indifferent to others, as well as their very purpose for being on His earth.