When being asked what I would’ve done in Simon’s situation, I would’ve forgiven the SS man. If I endured the tragic events that Simon, as well as so many others did, I would want to move on and live the rest of my life to the fullest. I am a firm believer that the weak cannot forgive, this being said some of the strongest people are the ones who can release themselves from the imprisonment of past bitterness and anger. To forgive is to simplify your life and to let go of the poisonous aspects holding you back. People who can forgive are the people that live the most abundant lives.
The first person I connected with when reading each response was the Dalai Lama (129-130). He states,” I believe one should forgive the person or persons who have committed atrocities against oneself and …show more content…
Flannery (135-138). He stated,” It is a cardinal principle of Judeo-Christian ethics that forgiveness must always be granted to the sincerely repentant.” (136). I agree with Flannery, because I feel that if God can find it to forgive someone that I should also forgive them for their actions. The dying soldier seemed sincere. The way Karl reacted when Simons hand left his grasp, and wouldn’t continue speaking until it returned makes me believe that he is truly sorry for the crimes he committed. Therefore, he deserves to be forgiven. Flannery later adds, “The Sunflower story brings up the question whether Simon had a right to forgive Karl in the name of all Jews. The question appears to me as irrelevant. The dying SS man did not ask him to speak in the name of all Jews or, for that matter for the harm done to all Jews but only for what he had done.” (137). Due to being a victim of starvation, intense labor and torture, Simon has every right to forgive Karl. Simon may not be able to forgive him on behalf of all Jews, but he has been through enough himself to have a piece of mind that forgiving the dying soldier is the right
The first person I connected with when reading each response was the Dalai Lama (129-130). He states,” I believe one should forgive the person or persons who have committed atrocities against oneself and …show more content…
Flannery (135-138). He stated,” It is a cardinal principle of Judeo-Christian ethics that forgiveness must always be granted to the sincerely repentant.” (136). I agree with Flannery, because I feel that if God can find it to forgive someone that I should also forgive them for their actions. The dying soldier seemed sincere. The way Karl reacted when Simons hand left his grasp, and wouldn’t continue speaking until it returned makes me believe that he is truly sorry for the crimes he committed. Therefore, he deserves to be forgiven. Flannery later adds, “The Sunflower story brings up the question whether Simon had a right to forgive Karl in the name of all Jews. The question appears to me as irrelevant. The dying SS man did not ask him to speak in the name of all Jews or, for that matter for the harm done to all Jews but only for what he had done.” (137). Due to being a victim of starvation, intense labor and torture, Simon has every right to forgive Karl. Simon may not be able to forgive him on behalf of all Jews, but he has been through enough himself to have a piece of mind that forgiving the dying soldier is the right