The banality of goodness

the long version

Giorgio Perlasca was an Italian businessman working in Budapest when the war left him stranded. Unable to stand idly by and allow innocent Jews to be tortured and murdered, Perlasca saw his opportunity to help when the official Spanish consul fled Budapest. Although he had no authorization to do so, Perlasca announced that he was the replacement charge d'affaires of the Spanish embassy. At the risk of his life, he orchestrated an elaborate scheme to save as many lives as he could by issuing false documents, maintaining eight refugee houses, and salvaging anyone he could among those awaiting deportation in the train yards. Even when confronting Adolf Eichmann, the architect of Hitler's plan, Perlasca did not waver. He acted quickly and spoke boldly. Perlasca's story helps us see our own potential for goodness, and the burden of responsibility when we encounter an opportunity to act in the defense of others.