"The Lottery" vs. "The Perils of Indifference"

Both "The Lottery" and "The Perils of Indifference" demonstrate horrible acts of discrimination and violence towards a person, or group of people. Many people, without even knowing, contribute in one way or another to the injustice that some people experience everyday .

As an example, although the United States were against the actions of Hitler's army and sent thousands of soldiers overseas, they still enabled Nazi Germany, and all under Hilter's control to commit the horrific acts of violence that took place in the second world war. The United States knew of the horrors that were taking place, yet continued to supply the Germans with the oil they needed to invade, and destroy the lives and homes of many innocents. "I don't understand. Roosevelt was a good man, with a heart. He understood those who needed help. Why didn't he allow these refugees to disembark?" On June 4th, 1939 the SS St. Louis was refused permission to land by the president. This cargo ship contained 973 Jewish refugees seeking asylum from the Nazis. Research done later by the United States Holocaust Memorial Musueum shows that of the passengers who returned to continental Europe, approximately 360 survived the Holocaust.

In "The Lottery", a small village condems an innocent to death, simply by a game of chance. All the villagers, including small children, gather in the town square for what seems to be a very entertaining game. However, later on in the story, you understand the twisted game is more than what it seems. As you read on, you see that it is not a good natured childrens game, but something more like russian roullete.