Mariam Lescovec tells Adam about her father's apprentice, who eventually turned against her family. She adds, "It's easier to think that someone is a coward than a bigot." Do you think this is true? Why or why not?

While Mariam Lescovec is being interviewed, she tells Adam about her father's apprentice, who eventually turned against her family, saying he grew scared to associate with Jews. She adds, "It's easier to think that someone is a coward than a bigot." Do you think this is true? Why or why not?

I do think that's true. I might not agree with another's actions, but those actions are at least fathomable when they're for self-protection. Bigotry, though, is nonsensical - there's no way to rationalize it, in my opinion - so it's harder to accept, particularly when it comes from someone you know.

I agree with this. Being a coward stems from fear. Being a bigot stems from hatred.

I believe that cowardice in some cases comes from hatred. In this story Mariam’s family was turned in by her father's apprentice. I think that it is very hard to betray someone whim you genuinely care about. This happened a lot during the Nazi occupation of whatever country that they were occupying. I’m sure that the hatred of Jews wasn’t invented by Hitler, he tapped into it and exploited it.The Nazi were experts at this. Many other people, who also had n opportunity to turn in their friends, bosses, and co-workers in, did not. I believe that it is hard to justify betrayal by saying, I was afric, I was a coward.

I think it can be very complicated when judging "cowardice" or "betrayal." It is one thing to sacrifice oneself to save another - but quite another to sacrifice one's children and family to save others.

In another context, I just saw the movie Till and Emmit's mother confronts the man who was housing her son and demands to know why - when he had a shotgun, he didn't shoot the two men to save her son. In the depths of his agonizing guilt, he says if he had done that, his own children and many other blacks would have been killed. She then says - so you sacrificed mine to save yours. But wouldn't she have done the same - isn't that, in fact, what she thought he should have done - saved hers at the expense of his? Again, it is one thing to sacrifice oneself - and I have absolutely no doubt that she would have done that to save him - even temporarily, but to sacrifice other children?

It is so easy to judge from a distance. Oh I would have hidden Jews and I would have confronted Nazis etc. But would you really - when it meant your children and your family would be tortured and killed?

I think Miriam's statement is true. In her father's case, he brought Piotr into his shop when he really needed help, taught him the fish business and came to think of Piotr as the son he never had. When the government changed, Piotr pulled away from her father and, after a time, refused to even acknowledge him. I don't think his actions were those of a bigot. Rather they showed how very terrified nonJewish citizens were of the Nazi regime. If he remained friends with Miriam's father, he risked not ony his life but the lives of his entire family.

I agree with Robynn. Well put! Cowards look to protect themselves. Bigots look to bully others.Cowards can be hurtful because there is a level of trust that is violated. Bigots are usually proud they are bigots, and others around them know they are.

I think in this case it is true. Mariam's father had a relationship with his apprentice for year's. The apprentice even continued to try to help the family immediately after he took over the business. I think when he turned his back on Mariam's father, he was just trying to protect himself and keep the business going. If he were a bigot, he would have deserted the family immediately and not let Mariam's father keep coming back and essentially step into his old role in the business.

I think that often it is hard to determine whether someone is a coward or a bigot. If you look upon someone as a coward you are seeing them as a weak person, perhaps even someone to feel sorry for because of their weakness. If you see someone as a bigot you see meanness or hatred in them. Perhaps in the end it is your perception because you don’t really know what is in someone’s heart.

I think it is true. Anyone can be cowardly under certain circumstances; it isn't a moral failing. Bigotry, on the other hand, is.

I think it is easier to make peace with one’s self when calling someone a coward rather than calling someone a bigot, as this may bring feelings of shame that are harder to grapple with. I agree with the previous comments that bigotry is a much more powerful form of perceived hatred.

I like what sallyh said. Bigotry is a moral failure.

I think it's absolutely true and the statement must be considered in context. She describes how Piotr became like a member of their family -- he slept in their home, ate at their table, learned the blessings. From all observations, he loved her family and, especially, her father. But how many stories are there of the Polish and German people willfully ignoring what was happening all around them because of their own fear -- for themselve and their families. They saw what the Nazis were capable of and to speak up solved nothing. The Nazis were quick to brutalize and execute anyone who opposed them. Such a tragic circumstance and so easy to judge with the benfit of hindsight. Her father was angry and expressed that he thought the Polish were against the Jews from the beginning, "always looking for a reason to shun us." But did Piotr always feel that way? To believe he did is to obliterate everything Mariam thought she knew about him. It's too painful, too big a betrayal, and means that Piotr was a vile individual who merely used there all along . . . for 25 years. I can see why she can't believe that and, rather, chalks Piotr's behavior up to cowardice inspired by fear.

I think most of us want to see the best in humans, and even though neither is a redeeming quality, bigotry is by far worse, than being a coward with your actions.

A coward or a bigot? These words take on a whole new meaning in a world gone crazy. Who can possibly judge? You see a man not answer fast enough and his entire family is lined up and shot, including babies. Does the fear you now live with, change the meaning of those words. If I lived in that world, I would not be able to judge anyone's actions.