Should one be forgiven for their horrendous actions? Should someone be forgiven if they really meant it? How could one be sure they are sincere? What if the atrocities were so unhuman, and disgusting? These are the questions I was left with when reading The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal. Mark Goulden a passionate British journalist that would not forgive Karl if it was up to him. I find myself agreeing with him due to the fact that anyone on their death bed is going to feel guilt, remorse, and want some kind of forgiveness to make peace before departing. I was reminded of a quote from Mark in which he said; “Some may say that the whole subject is slightly jejune nowadays, for there is evidence that the whole world has conspired to forget the
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He felt Karl was not naive and knew what he was doing when he was slaughtering the innocent Jews. Karl made his choice when he saw Hitler was going to prevail or so he thought. “He chose to do evil when he was sure that the murderers whom he chose to join would succeed” (166). Even though he was being influenced at a young age by the Hitler youth group he was a part of, he still was able to distinguish the difference from right and wrong yet, he chose to kill in cold blood. How can a monster like this be forgiven for these atrocities? I can’t see myself forgiving him after all he has done. The power forgiveness is incredible and freeing, and to process the power to forgive is a blessing. One quote from Arthur that stayed with me was “Why did man and God, fail so horribly?” (169). During that time both God and man failed by allowing war and bloodshed. Where was god during the holocaust? God is the only one that will truly be able to decide whether or not to forgive Karl. Many will try to argue that not forgiving a man on his deathbed is horrible crime as well but, I believe it isn’t our place to be able to forgive those kind of crimes. Lives were lost and that is something that a simple sorry will not be able to restore. Even though I believe Karl shouldn’t be forgiven I can say I did try to give him the benefit of the doubt. I tried to find something that could possibly
He felt Karl was not naive and knew what he was doing when he was slaughtering the innocent Jews. Karl made his choice when he saw Hitler was going to prevail or so he thought. “He chose to do evil when he was sure that the murderers whom he chose to join would succeed” (166). Even though he was being influenced at a young age by the Hitler youth group he was a part of, he still was able to distinguish the difference from right and wrong yet, he chose to kill in cold blood. How can a monster like this be forgiven for these atrocities? I can’t see myself forgiving him after all he has done. The power forgiveness is incredible and freeing, and to process the power to forgive is a blessing. One quote from Arthur that stayed with me was “Why did man and God, fail so horribly?” (169). During that time both God and man failed by allowing war and bloodshed. Where was god during the holocaust? God is the only one that will truly be able to decide whether or not to forgive Karl. Many will try to argue that not forgiving a man on his deathbed is horrible crime as well but, I believe it isn’t our place to be able to forgive those kind of crimes. Lives were lost and that is something that a simple sorry will not be able to restore. Even though I believe Karl shouldn’t be forgiven I can say I did try to give him the benefit of the doubt. I tried to find something that could possibly