Dimensions Of Forgiveness By Simon Wiesenthal Analysis

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Recommended: Introduction about forgiveness

To Not Forgive
Many people have forgiven others, but do we really have a responsibility to forgive each other? There are many examples of crimes in our society, including: The Holocaust, 9/11, and many more. Although these crimes happened many years ago, the severity of them have been unforgivable. A story that supports this idea is The Sunflower, Exploring Dimensions of Forgiveness, by Simon Wiesenthal. In Simon's story, he explains that he was in a concentration camp when he was called to the hospital. At the hospital, an SS soldier asked him for forgiveness after killing many Jews; which he did not forgive him after his wrongdoings. Another example of not forgiving is a response by Sidney Shachnow to Simons book. Sidney explains that the SS man can not be forgiven, because he murdered everyone that could. People do not always have the responsibility to forgive others for their acts or wrongdoings.

In many cases of asking for forgiveness, many people only forgive from feeling remorse of not forgiving. This impacts people's choices a lot when deciding to forgive. In Wiesenthal's book he states,”Ought I have to forgive him? Was my silence at the bedside of a dying Nazi right or wrong?” This shows that after many years, Simon is pitying the soldier only because he was dying. Which, is not good because he was not …show more content…

This idea can be supported by many people who have survived or been through these atrocities. Sidney Shachnow makes a good point of this in a response email to Wiesenthal stating,”But those individuals who were directly and personally involved in these atrocities deserve no mercy.” On the other hand, people think that people should be forgiven no matter the circumstances. This is not right at all because why ask for forgiveness when the person could have avoided the wrongdoing. Or even doing anything to ask to be

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