Night by Elie Wiesel Essay Example

Night by Elie Wiesel Essay Example Night by Elie Wiesel Paper Night by Elie Wiesel Paper The story starts during the World War II around 1941 when the author was twelve years old. It starts at Sight, Transylvania (actual Romania). The ghettos: Two ghettos were created In Slight. A large one In the center of town occupied four streets, and another smaller one extended over several alleyways on the outskirts of town. The street we lived on, Serpent Street, was in the first ghetto. We therefore could remain in our house. But, as it occupied a corner, the windows acing the street outside the ghetto had to be sealed. We gave some of our rooms to relatives who had been driven out of their homes. The barbed wire that encircled us like a wall did not fill us with real fear. (Likelier) Parts that describe the concerning camps: First, Brinkmen Do you see the chimney over there? Do you see it? And the flames, do you see them? (Yes, we saw the flames. ) Over there, thats where they will take you. Over there will be your grave. (An inmate) There was no floor. A roof and four walls. Our feet sank into the mud. You are in a concentration camp. In Auschwitz Remember it always; let it be graven in your memories. You are in Auschwitz. And Auschwitz is not a convalescent home. It is a concentration camp. Here, you must work. If you dont, you will go straight to the chimney. To the crematorium. Work or crematorium the choice is yours. Gates opened and closed. We continued to march between the barbed wire. At every step, white signs with black skulls looked down on us. The incision: WARNING! DANGER OF DEATH. few more steps than we saw the barbed wire of another camp. This one had an Iron gate with This one had an Iron gate with the overhead Inscription: RAREBIT MACH FREE. Work makes you free. Some characters: Likelier: He was almost thirteen and deeply observant. By day studied Talmud and by night would run to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple. Quotes: One day I asked my father to find me a master who could guide me in my studies of Couldnt you wait few days, sir? I dont feel well, I have a five r l no longer accepted Gods silence. As I swallowed my ration of soup, I turned that act into a symbol of rebellion, of protest against Him. My fathers presence was the only thing that stopped me. He was running next to me, out of breath, out of strength, desperate. l shall not describe my life during that period. It no longer mattered. Since my fathers death, nothing mattered to me anymore. Shalom Wisest- Was Lispers father he was a cultured, at beginning he seems to be an unsentimental man. At time passes he shows a lot of feelings for his son. At Sight he was an honored member of his community, respected and admired by Likelier for his wisdom and strength, to someone who cowered and cried for water, and begged his son to protect and feed him. He died because of dysentery in January 28, 1945 in Buchwald. Parts that describe him: My father was a cultured man, rather unsentimental. He rarely displayed his feelings, not even within his family, and was more involved with the welfare of others than with that of his own kin. The Jewish community of Sight held him in highest esteem; his advice on public and even private matters was frequently sought. Shalom, I am getting weak. My strength is gone. I wont make it *HIS NAME IS ONLY MENTIONED ONCE. You are too young for that Moodiness tells us that one must be thirty before venturing intonate world of mysticism, a world fraught with peril. First you must study the basic subjects, those you are able to comprehend. There are no Sabbaticals in Sight, l am too old, my son, Too old to start a new life. Too old to start from scratch in some distant la n d The world? The world is not interested in us. Today, everything is possible, even the crematoria Dont let yourself be overcome by sleep, Likelier. Its dangerous to fall asleep in snow. One falls asleep forever. Come, my son, come Get up. Monish the Beadle He was the Jack-offal- trades in a Hashish house of prayer, a still. He was poor and lived in utter penury. Physically, he was as awkward as a clown. His wavelike shyness made people smile. He stayed out of peoples way. His presence bothered no one. He had mastered the art of rendering himself insignificant, invisible. I liked his wide, dreamy eyes, gazing off into the distance. (Likelier) He spoke little. He sang, or rather he chanted, and the few snatches. We spoke that way almost every evening, remaining in the synagogue long after all the faithful had gone, sitting in the semidarkness where only a few half- burnt candles provided a flickering light. And left for dead Even Monish the Beadle had fallen silent. He was weary of talking. He would drift through synagogue or through the streets, hunched over, eyes cast down, avoiding peoples gaze. L pray to the God within me for the strength to ask Him the real questions. There are a thousand and one gates allowing entry into the orchard of mystical truth. Every human being has his own gate. He must not err and wish to enter the orchard through a gate other than his own. That would present a danger not only for the one entering but also for those who are already inside. Jews, listen to me! Thats all I ask of you. No money. No pity. Just listen to me! You dont understand, I warned you, Lispers mother, Lisles sisters Hilled, Bea, and Disport Hilled, the eldest; then Bea and Disport was the youngest My parents ran a store. Hilled and Bea helped with the work. Disport had blond hair My mother was beginning to think it was high time to find an appropriate match for Hilled. Eight words spoken quietly, indifferently, without emotion. Eight simple, short words. Yet that was the moment when I left my mother ; In a fraction of a second I could see my mother, my sisters, move to the right. ; Tic-poor was holding Mothers hand. I didnt know that this was the moment in time and the place where I was leaving my mother and Disport forever. Mrs Chatters: She was in her fifties an d her ten-year-old son was with her, roughed in a corner. Her husband and two older sons had been deported with the first transport, by mistake. The separation had totally shattered her. A quiet, tense woman with piercing eyes, she had been a frequent guest in our house. Her husband was a pious man who spent most of his days and nights in the house of study. It was she who supported the family. She kept asking why she had been separated from her family. Later, her sobs and screams became hysterical. Fire! I see a fire! I see a fire! Look! Look at this fire! This terrible fire! Have mercy on me! Jews, listen to me, she cried. l see a fire! I see flames, huge flames! Young Pole- The man in charge was waiting. He was a young Pole, who was smiling at us. He began to talk to us and, despite our weariness, we listened attentively. Quote: Comrades, you are now in the concentration camp Auschwitz. Ahead of you lies a long road paved with suffering. Dont lose hope. You have already eluded the worst danger: the selection. Therefore, muster your strength and keep your faith. We out despair, you will move away from death. Hell does not last forever And now, here is a prayer, or rather a piece of advice: let there be camaraderie among you. We are all brothers and share the same fate. The same smoke hovers over all our heads. Help each other. That is the only way to survive. And now, enough said, you are tired. Listen: you are in Block 17; I am responsible for keeping order here. Anyone with a complaint may come to see me. That is all. Go to sleep Likelier said that Those were the first human words. Julies a Pole with eyeglasses and a cynical smile in a pale face. Suddenly I remembered. Julies! The boy from Warsaw who played the violin in the Bun orchestra Julies, is that you? I thought hed lost his mind. His violin? Here? He was playing a fragment of a Beethoven concerto. Nevermore had I heard such a beautiful sound. In such silence. How had he succeeded in disengaging himself? To slip out from under my body without my feeling it? Julies. How could I forget this concert given before an audience of the dead and dying? Even today, when I hear that particular piece by Beethoven, my eyes close and out of the darkness emerges the pale and melancholy face of my Polish comrade bidding farewell to an audience of dying men. When I awoke at daybreak, I saw Julies facing me, hunched over, dead. Next to him lay his Olin, trampled, an eerily poignant little corpse. We work in a warehouse of electrical materials, not far from here. The work is neither difficult nor dangerous. Only Ides, the Kapok, occasionally has fits of madness, and then youd better stay out of his way. We work in a warehouse of electrical materials, not far from here. The work is neither difficult nor tendency but for gold teeth. Theyre expecting trouble This ceremony, will it be over soon? Im h u n g r y All right, E I I ex e r All right Not too much a I r Tired. My feet are swollen. Its good to rest, but my v oil I n l m afraid Theyll break My viol in I I brought it with me. Frank- Frank, a former student in Warsaw. Frank, the foreman, one day noticed the gold crown in my mouth All of a sudden, this pleasant and intelligent young man had changed. His eyes were shining with greed. I told him that I needed to get my fathers advice. Quotes: Dont kill yourself. Theres no hurry. But watch out. Dont let an AS catch you. Let me have your crown, kid For what they give you to eat, k I d If you dont give me your crown, it will cost you much m ore! l knew it, I knew that I would win, kid. Better late than never. And because you made me wait, it will also cost you a ration of bread. A ration of bread for one of my pals, a famous dentist from Warsaw. To pay him for pulling out your crown. Yogis and Tibia- whose parents had been exterminated in Brinkmen. They lived for each other, body and soul. And so we would sometimes hum melodies evoking the gentle waters of the Jordan River and the majestic sanctity of Jerusalem. We also spoke often about Palestine. Their parents, like mine, had not had the courage to sell everything and emigrate while there was still time. We decided that if we were allowed to live until he Liberation, we would not stay another day in Europe. We would board the first ship to Haifa. I asked Yogis and Tibia: Did they write me down? Yogis an Tibias quotes: No, said Yogis. Anyway, they couldnt have. You were running too fast Ides Ides, the Kapok, occasionally has fits of madness, and then youd better stay out of his way. One day when Ides was venting his fury, I happened to cross his path. He threw himself on me like a wild beast, beating me in the chest, on my head, throwing me to the ground and picking me up again, crushing me with ever more violent blows, until I was covered in blood. Abruptly, he calmed down and sent me back to work as if nothing had happened. Ides was on edge, he had trouble restraining himself. Suddenly, he exploded. The victim this time was my father. Quotes: You old loafer! he started yelling. Is this what you call working? An ordinary inmate does not have the right to mix into other peoples affairs. One of you does not seem to have understood this point. I shall therefore try to make him understand clearly, once and for all. .. Lie down on it! On your belly! Listen to me, you son of a swine! said Ides coldly. So much for your curiosity. You shall receive five times more if you dare tell anyone what you saw! Understood? Kafka drummer Kafka Drummer had discovered a verse from the Bible which, translated into numbers, made it possible for him to predict Redemption in the weeks to come. KAFKA DRUMMER HAS LEFT us, a victim of the selection. Lately, he had been wandering among us, his eyes glazed, telling everyone how weak he was He Just kept repeating that it was all over for him, that he could no longer fight, he had no more strength, no more faith. His eyes would suddenly go blank, leaving two gaping wounds, two wells of terror. He was not alone in having lost his faith during those days of selection Poor Kafka Drummer, if only he could have kept his faith in God, if only he could have considered this suffering a divine test, he would not have been swept away by the selection. But as soon as he felt the first chinks in his faith, he lost all incentive to fight and opened the door to death. Then he left, in the direction of the hospital. His step was almost steady and he never looked back. An ambulance was waiting to take him to Brinkmen. Quotes l cant go on t save r Its over. God is no longer with us. In three days, Ill be gone Say Caddish for me. French Woman IN THE WAREHOUSE, I often worked next to a young Frenchman. We did not speak: she did not know German and I did not understand French. I thought she looked Jewish, though she passed for Aryan. She was a forced labor inmate. She was s miling her mournful smile as she slipped me a crust of bread. She looked straight into my eyes. I knew she wanted to talk to me but that she was paralyzed with fear. Perfect German. MANY YEARS LATER, in Paris, I sat in the Metro, reading my newspaper. Across the aisle, a beautiful woman with dark hair and dreamy eyes. I had seen those eyes before. Quotes Bite your lips, little brother Dont cry. Keep your anger, your hate, for another day, for later. The day will come but not now Wait. Clench your teeth and w a I t Ides, the Aka p o T h e young Jewish b o y Y o u r sweet words l know what it is: Am IS ewe I s h? Yes, I am. From an observant family. During the Occupation, I had false papers and passed as Aryan. And that was how I was assigned to a forced labor unit. When they deported me to Germany, I eluded being sent to a concentration camp. At the depot, nobody knew that I spoke German; it would have aroused suspicion. It was imprudent of me to say those few words to you, but I knew that you would not betray me Meir Katz IN OUR WAGON, there was a friend of my fathers, Meir Katz. He had worked as a gardener in Bun and from time to time had brought us some green vegetables. Less undernourished than theres of us, detention had been easier on him. Because he was stronger than most of us, he had been put in charge of our wagon. My father took his arm. And Meir Katz, the strong one, the sturdiest of us all, began to cry. His son had been taken from him during the first selection but only now was he crying for him. Only now did he fall apart. He could not go on. He had reached the end. The guards came to unload us. The dead were left in the wagons. Only those who could stand could leave. Meir Katz remained on the train. Quotes Shalom, I am getting weak. My strength is gone. I wont make I t ; l cant go on, Shalom I cant help I t I cant go on Why dont they Just shoot us now? Azalea: A young boy from Poland was marching beside me. He had worked in the electrical material depot in Bun. People mocked him because he was forever praying or meditating on some Talmudic question. For him, it was an escape from laity, from feeling the b I sows All of a sudden, he had terrible stomach cramps. He couldnt go on. He had to stop a moment. I begged him: Wait a little, Azalea. Soon, we will all come to a halt. We cannot run like this to the endow the world. // But, while running, he began to undo his buttons and yelled to me ; // He lowered his pants and fell to the ground. That is the image I have of him. I dont believe that he was finished off by an AS, for nobody had noticed. He must have died, trampled under the feet of the thousands of men who followed us. Quotes: My stomach aches, he whispered to me. L cant go on. My stomach is bursting Rabbi Alleluia: had headed a small congregation in Poland. A very kind man, beloved by everyone in the camp, even by the Kapok and the Blackstone. Despite the ordeals and deprivations, his face continued to radiate his innocence. He was the only rabbi whom nobody ever failed to address as Rabbi in Bun. He looked like one of those prophets of old, always in the midst of his people when they needed to be consoled. And, strangely, his words never provoked anyone. They did bring peace. He had lost his son in the commotion. He had searched for him among the dying, to no avail. Then he had dug through the snow to find his body. For three years, they had stayed close to one another. Side by side, they had endured the suffering, the blows; camp to camp, from selection to selection. And nowwhen the end seemed near fate had separated them. Quotes Perhaps someone here has seen my son? It happened on the road. We lost sight of one another during the Journey. I fell behind a little, at the rear of the column. I didnt have the strength to run anymore. And my son didnt notice. Thats all I know. Where has he disappeared? Where can I find him? Perhaps youve seen him somewhere? Had forgotten and so had not mentioned it to Rabbi Alleluia! But then I remembered something else: his son had seen him losing ground, sliding back to the rear of the column. He had seen him. And he had continued to run in front, letting the distance between them become greater. Hungarian Jew- Next to me lay a Hungarian Jew suffering from dysentery. He was skin and bones, his eyes were dead. I could Just hear his voice, the only indication that he was alive. Where did he get the strength to speak? But then perhaps my faceless neighbor, afraid of being among the first displaced, simply wanted to get rid f me, to free my bed, to give himself a chance to survive Rephrase he only wanted to frighten me. But then again, what if he was telling the truth? I decided to wait and see. Dont be deluded. Hitler has made it clear that he will annihilate all Jews before the clock strikes twelve. Quotes: Dont rejoice too soon, son. Here too there is selection. In fact, more often than outside. Germany has no need of sick Jews. Germany has no need of me. When the next transport arrives, youll have a new neighbor. Therefore, listen to me: leave the infirmary before the next selection! Dont be deluded. Hitler has made it clear that he will annihilate all Jews before the clock strikes twelve. l have more faith in Hitler than in anyone else. He alone has kept his promises, all his promises, to the Jewish people. Jewish Doctor I went to the infirmary. The doctor, a great Jewish doctor, a prisoner like ourselves THE DOCTOR CAME TO TELL ME that he would operate the next day. Every one of his words was healing and every glance of his carried a message of hope. It will hurt a little, he said, but it will pass. Be brave. Quotes: We have to operate! If we wait, the toes and perhaps the leg will have to be amputated. Dont be afraid, he said. Everything will be all right. Everything went well. You have spunk, my boy. Next, youll stay here two weeks for some proper rest and that will be it. Youll eat well, youll relax your body and your n e r v e s Then listen well: in two weeks youll be fully recovered. Youll be able to walk like the others. The sole of your foot was full of pus. I Just had to open the sac. Your leg was not amputated. Youll see, in two weeks, youll be walking around like everybody else. Prepared by: Sharon Denis University of Puerco Rich Intermediate English 2 -Course Proof. Pagan

Salaries and Benefits of US Congress Members

Salaries and Benefits of US Congress Members The salary and benefits paid to the Senators and Representatives of the U.S. Congress is a constant source of public fascination, debate- and most of all- fake news.   For example, one massively-sent email states, â€Å"Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term.† Well, maybe many citizens do not have that idea, because it is just flat wrong. Another infamous email demanding passage of a mythical â€Å"Congressional Reform Act† claims members of Congress do not pay Social Security taxes. That, too, is wrong Salaries and benefits of members of the U.S. Congress have been the source of taxpayer unhappiness and myths over the years. Here are some facts for your consideration. As of 2019, the base salary for all rank-and-file members of the U.S. House and Senate was $174,000 per year, plus benefits. Salaries have not been increased since 2009. Compared to private-sector salaries, the salaries of members of Congress is lower than many mid-level executives and managers. Rank-and-File Members: The current salary (2019) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year. Members are free to turn down pay increase and some choose to do so.In a complex system of calculations, administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, congressional pay rates also affect the salaries of federal judges and other senior government executives. Congress: Leadership Members Salary  (2019) Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members. Senate Leadership Majority Party Leader - $193,400Minority Party Leader - $193,400 House Leadership Speaker of the House - $223,500Majority Leader - $193,400Minority Leader - $193,400 Pay Increases   Members of Congress are eligible to receive the same annual cost-of-living increase given to other federal employees if any. The raise takes effect automatically on January 1 of each year unless Congress, through the passage of a joint resolution, votes to decline it, as Congress has done since 2009. Benefits Paid to Members of Congress You may have read that Members of Congress do not pay into Social Security. Well, thats also a myth. Social Security Prior to 1984, neither Members of Congress nor any other federal civil service employee paid Social Security taxes. Of course, they were also not eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act required federal employees first hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees Retirement System Act of 1986. Members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. They become vested after five years of full participation. Health Insurance Since all provisions of the Affordable Care Act or â€Å"Obamacare† took effect in 2014, members of Congress have been required to purchase health insurance plans offered through one of the Affordable Care Act-approved exchanges in order to receive a government contribution toward their health coverage. Prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, insurance for members of Congress was provided through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB); the government’s employer-subsidized private insurance system. However, not even under the FEHB plan was the insurance â€Å"free.† On average, the government pays from 72% to 75% of the premiums for its workers. Like all other federal retirees, former members of Congress paid the same share of premiums as other federal employees. Retirement   Members elected since 1984 are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS. As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes. Members of Congress become eligible to receive a pension at the age of 62 if they have completed a total of 5 years of service. Members who have completed a total of 20 years of service are eligible for a pension at age 50, are at any age after completing a total of 25 years of service. No matter their age when they retire, the amount of the members’ pension is based on their total years of service and the average of their highest three years of salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary. Can They Really Retire After Only One Term? Those mass emails also claim that members of Congress can get a pension equal to their full salaries after serving only one term. That one is partly true but mostly false. Under the current law, which requires at least 5 years of service, members of the House of Representatives would not be eligible to collect pensions of any amount after serving only one term, since they come up for reelection every two years. On the other hand, U.S, Senators - who serve six-year terms - would be eligible to collect pensions after completing only one full term. In neither case, however, would the pensions be equal to the member’s full salary. While it is highly unlikely and has never happened, it is possible for a longtime member of Congress whose pension began at or near 80% of his or her final salary could - after many years of accepted annual cost-of-living adjustments - see his or her pension rise to equal his or her final salary. Average Annual Pensions According to the Congressional Research Service, there were 611 retired members of Congress receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service as of October 1, 2016. Of this number, 335 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $74,028. A total of 276 Members had retired with service under FERS and were receiving an average annual pension of $41,076 in 2016. Allowances Members of Congress are also provided with an annual allowance intended to defray expenses related carrying out their congressional duties, including official office expenses, including staff, mail, travel between a Members district or state and Washington, DC, and other goods and services. Outside Income Many members of Congress retain their private careers and other business interests while they serve. Members are allowed to retain an amount of permissible outside earned income limited to no more than 15% of the annual rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive Schedule for federal employees, or $28,400.00 a year in 2018. However, there is currently no limit on the amount of non-salary income members can retain from their investments, corporate dividends or profits. House and Senate rules define what sources of outside earned income are permissible. For example, House Rule XXV (112th Congress) limits permissible outside income to salaries, fees, and other amounts received or to be received as compensation for personal services actually rendered. Members are not allowed to retain compensation arising from fiduciary relationships, except for medical practices. Members are also barred from accepting honoraria - payments for professional services typically provided without charge. Perhaps most importantly to voters and taxpayers, member of Congress are strictly prohibited from earning or accepting income that may appear to be intended to influence the way they vote on legislation. Tax Deductions Members are allowed to deduct up to $3,000 a year from their federal income tax for living expenses while they are away from their home states or congressional districts. Early History of Congress Pay How and how much members of Congress should be paid has always been a debated issue. America’s Founding Fathers believed that since congressmen would typically be well-off anyway, they should serve for free, out of a sense of duty. Under the Articles of Confederation, if U.S. congressmen were paid at all, they were paid by the states they represented. The state legislatures adjusted their congressmen’s pay and could even suspend it completely if they became dissatisfied with them. By the time the first U.S. Congress under the Constitution convened in 1789, members of both the House and Senate were paid $6 for each day there were actually in session, which was then rarely more than five months a year. The $6 per-day rate remained the same until the Compensation Act of 1816 raised it to a flat $1,500 a year. However, faced with public outrage, Congress repealed the law in 1817. Not until 1855 did members of Congress return to being paid an annual salary, then $3,000 per year with no benefits. Sources and Further Reference Brudnick, Ida A. â€Å"Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief.† Congressional Research Service (April 11, 2018).Feran, Tom. â€Å"Can members of Congress retire with full pay after just one term?† Politifact Ohio (January 11, 2013)