Unforgivable Crimes
Forgiveness is a precious opportunity that can destroy a person, or rebuild a person. Just as the forgiveness is an opportunity, life is a precious gift. These two treasures can cause happiness and contentment, as well as discord and evil. Many factors go hand in hand when talking about life and forgiveness, but there are many instances where forgiveness cannot be granted for the harm caused to life. In light of what I learned about Nazi propaganda and after reading what Abraham Joshua Heschel said about forgiveness, I would not forgive Karl.
The Nazi propaganda promoted the idea of genocide and subdivision in German people. For example, Hitler and the Nazi party spread the idea of, “Jew was systematically portrayed as a …show more content…
For instance, Heschel tells a story of a rabbi traveling to his hometown on a train, wearing normal clothing and amongst men playing cards. While the rabbi was being aloof, the men were annoyed and threw the rabbi out, thinking that the rabbi was a normal salesman. Later that day, the man who threw the rabbi out of the train compartment found out the rabbi’s real identity and tries to apologize, but the rabbi will not forgive the man because he cannot forgive something done to a common man ( Heschel 170-171). This story tells of how a man can never be forgiven for his crimes, because the man he offended is not the man he is asking forgiveness from, which is similar to the situation of Karl asking Simon for forgiveness. Heschel thinks of acts like this to be ridiculous because of that fact. Moreover, Heschel claims, “ It is therefore preposterous to assume that anybody alive can extend forgiveness for the suffering of any one of the six million people who perished” (171). Heschel is stating that there is no right for someone to ask forgiveness for the crimes done to to others who, in Karl’s case, are not even living anymore. Furthermore, Heschel appoints the Jewish tradition which states, “... even God Himself can only forgive sins committed against Himself, not against man” (171). Even God cannot forgive the deeds done against him, so any man will have no privilege of having …show more content…
Nazi propaganda influenced every aspect in life and was targeted to the youth but still propagated on Germans of all ages. Karl was influenced by this propaganda ever since his youth until his death, causing him to go in the path of Hitler at a young age. Abraham Joshua Heschel stated that one cannot be forgiven by someone for crimes done to others. Considering these factors, I would not forgive Karl, as I fully support Heschel’s claim on forgiveness. Not only can one not be forgiven for the crimes he did to others, but being a part of a genocide is unforgivable in Karl’s situation. Karl was fully aware of what he was doing while in the SS, and while in the Hitler Youth, he was shown signs by his parents that what he was doing was wrong. Forgiveness is a precious opportunity that I think Karl does not
Forgiveness is a precious opportunity that can destroy a person, or rebuild a person. Just as the forgiveness is an opportunity, life is a precious gift. These two treasures can cause happiness and contentment, as well as discord and evil. Many factors go hand in hand when talking about life and forgiveness, but there are many instances where forgiveness cannot be granted for the harm caused to life. In light of what I learned about Nazi propaganda and after reading what Abraham Joshua Heschel said about forgiveness, I would not forgive Karl.
The Nazi propaganda promoted the idea of genocide and subdivision in German people. For example, Hitler and the Nazi party spread the idea of, “Jew was systematically portrayed as a …show more content…
For instance, Heschel tells a story of a rabbi traveling to his hometown on a train, wearing normal clothing and amongst men playing cards. While the rabbi was being aloof, the men were annoyed and threw the rabbi out, thinking that the rabbi was a normal salesman. Later that day, the man who threw the rabbi out of the train compartment found out the rabbi’s real identity and tries to apologize, but the rabbi will not forgive the man because he cannot forgive something done to a common man ( Heschel 170-171). This story tells of how a man can never be forgiven for his crimes, because the man he offended is not the man he is asking forgiveness from, which is similar to the situation of Karl asking Simon for forgiveness. Heschel thinks of acts like this to be ridiculous because of that fact. Moreover, Heschel claims, “ It is therefore preposterous to assume that anybody alive can extend forgiveness for the suffering of any one of the six million people who perished” (171). Heschel is stating that there is no right for someone to ask forgiveness for the crimes done to to others who, in Karl’s case, are not even living anymore. Furthermore, Heschel appoints the Jewish tradition which states, “... even God Himself can only forgive sins committed against Himself, not against man” (171). Even God cannot forgive the deeds done against him, so any man will have no privilege of having …show more content…
Nazi propaganda influenced every aspect in life and was targeted to the youth but still propagated on Germans of all ages. Karl was influenced by this propaganda ever since his youth until his death, causing him to go in the path of Hitler at a young age. Abraham Joshua Heschel stated that one cannot be forgiven by someone for crimes done to others. Considering these factors, I would not forgive Karl, as I fully support Heschel’s claim on forgiveness. Not only can one not be forgiven for the crimes he did to others, but being a part of a genocide is unforgivable in Karl’s situation. Karl was fully aware of what he was doing while in the SS, and while in the Hitler Youth, he was shown signs by his parents that what he was doing was wrong. Forgiveness is a precious opportunity that I think Karl does not