Everyone has the control within them to forgive or not to forgive someone. Forgiveness comes down to taking responsibility for the choices we make and doing what we believe is right. By forgiving others, authority of our own lives can be regained by letting go of the conflicting objects from the past and moving into a more significant direction. The world today is full of conflict and people are being hurt every day. Conflict is seen today in politics, between countries, and between your average everyday people. Conflicts such as those listed above are often shaping the atmosphere we live in and shaping the person we are today. We can see that forgiveness is a place to start when trying to resolve conflicts, but not everyone will …show more content…
It is instead a lesson to be taken in and learned from the past by looking ahead without holding in the pain. In the case that an agreement cannot be met, there will instead be an opportunity to learn from the past. In the Sunflower, Simon Wiesenthal was one of the many Jews working in a concentration camp of the Holocaust (Wiesenthal 3). Wiesenthal was one of fifty men chosen to work at a hospital for Nazi soldiers when the work at the concentration camp was done (Wiesenthal 11). As the Jews marched to the Nazi hospital they came across a cemetery of dead soldiers (Wiesenthal 14). Wiesenthal envied each of the soldiers, as every one of them was connected to the earth by a sunflower on top of their gravestones (Wiesenthal 14). He states, “For me there would be no sunflower. I would be buried in a mass grave, where corpses would be piled on top of me” (Wiesenthal 14). As Wiesenthal sat inside the hospital and listened to the dying Nazi man, he found the man soon asking for forgiveness for the sins he had committed against the Jews (Wiesenthal 54). Wiesenthal did not grant forgiveness to the dying Nazi man as he felt he could not speak for every Jew that had been tortured or even killed (Wiesenthal 98). Many people often get caught up in the desire to be forgiven that they forget to think about who can grant forgiveness before approaching them. In the instance that Wiesenthal did not forgive the man
When it comes to the topic of Simon Wiesenthal not forgiving a dying SS soldier for his crimes, most of us will readily agree that it’s a debatable topic. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of if Wiesenthal should have forgiven the soldier. Whereas some are convinced that he made the right choice in not forgiving the soldier, others maintain that he should have let the soldier die peacefully, guilt free, and forgiven. I agree with Wiesenthal’s decision to not forgive the dying SS soldier because he cannot speak for all the other Jews who have been killed by this man. In Simon Wiesenthal’s book, The Sunflower, he asks the reader what they would have done in his position with the SS soldier. If I was Wiesenthal, I wouldn’t have forgiven the man as I cannot make decisions for others and because the soldier was not sincere in his apology for the crimes he was involved in.
Vince Lombardi, an American football player, and a coach, once said, “Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.” With these words, Lombardi highlights that people are nurtured to become a leader and a follower. For instance, Lombardi asserts that a person is trained, whether to be a leader, or a follower, through eagerness and determination. The book, The Sunflower, written by Simon Wiesenthal, an author and a Jewish holocaust survivor, who focuses on one of the most controversial topics during and after World War II, forgiveness. In this book, Weisenthal talked about a questionable case in which Karl, an SS soldier who murdered plentiful of people, asked Weisenthal for forgiveness for all the pain he had done towards all the people that were affected by him. When it comes to the topic of whether people are born to become leaders or followers or is one trained by the environment, most people will readily agree that people are conditioned to become a leader or a follower, where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of, “What makes a person a leader?” Whereas some are convinced that people are natural born leaders. Becoming a leader consists with a few reasons such as developed leadership skills, the bystander apathy, and the diffusion of responsibility.
Even though the Holocaust was something he experienced for himself, it was still a historical event known by all around the world. Indifference to him was learning that the American government knew what was occurring is Auschwitz yet it took so long to take action. Wiesel reflects on the matter, “If they knew, we thought, surely those leaders would have moved heaven and earth to intervene” (3). In this next example, indifference is shown when the president turns away Jewish refugees. He mourns the ship St. Louis, “Sixty years ago, it’s human cargo – nearly 1,000 Jews – was turned back to Nazi Germany… Why the indifference, on the highest level, to the suffering of the victims?” (3). Wiesel knows they cannot deny it happened. He wants to be sure they remain aware so such indifference will not occur again. With a new millennium dawning upon the human race, he makes one final plea against the sin of
“Forgetting is something time alone takes care of, but forgiveness is an act of volition, and only the sufferer is qualified to make the decision” (“Quotes”). Simon Wiesenthal took a stand in history by bringing to justice over 1,000 Nazi criminals after WWII (“About”). Although a silent protagonist, he helped the world realize how the Holocaust impacted the millions of Jews in concentration camps. In the short-term, his efforts brought hundreds of war criminals to trial and served justice to those involved in the violence of the Holocaust. While in the long-term, his efforts brought global awareness for the victims of the Holocaust.
First off, Karl should not be forgiven because Wiesenthal had no right to forgive him. Wiesenthal wasn’t affected by the crimes Karl committed, “ then another truck came full of more Jews and they too were crammed into the house with the others”. (Wiesenthal,41). Wiesenthal was not one of these Jews that was thrown into the house to burn. Therefor, he has no right to forgive Karl because he didn’t feel the pain the Jews did. Also, Wiesenthal isn't in position to forgive Karl because he has not “suffered nothing because of him, and it follows that what he has done to other people you are in no position to forgive”.(Wiesenthal,65). Wiesenthal has no right to forgive Karl because he wasn't the one that was affected by his actions. He has no rights
. . an uncanny situation” (25). In such a state of mind, how could Wiesenthal make a decision? Wiesenthal's choice to remain silent was the only answer he had the right give, and while it did not satisfy him, neither would any other. If he had forgiven Karl, Wiesenthal himself would feel guilty for doing so, and he himself would be condemned by others for forgiving him, whereas if he condemned Karl he would still feel the guilt of being so needlessly cruel, and would still be condemned by others.
There are many moments in one 's life, where a choice has to be made , but there are only a few times where one collides with a split second decision. Although you only have a few breaths, a minute at most, to decide what to do, your decision, impacts the rest of your life. Simon Wiesenthal 's had many times in his 96 years of life, where he faced difficult choices , yet the one he faced the day he spent at the bedside of a German soldier was undoubtedly a moment which shaped the rest of his life . Dying Karl Seidl, the soldier in question, told Simon of the deeds he committed, towards the Jews, but as the final attempt to cleanse himself of his actions, Seidl asked Wiesenthal for forgiveness. Whatever choice Simon made, would lead
In The Sunflower book by Simon wiesenthal there is a passage that includes a delama; Karl ( a dying nazi soldier) was asking for forgiveness for his actions from Simon (a jew). When forgiveness is asked, the person giving the forgiveness has to at times think about their religion and think about who has the ability to forgive him/her. In the book karl admitted to seeing the family that he shot at jump out the window then Then from the other windows fell burning bodies…We shot…" Religion has a big impact on if he/she should forgive the wrongdoer. Since many jews don't believe in the next life and forgiveness is not a requirement and if i was in simon's situation i wouldn't forgive him either.
Whilst the shooters were not successful in their actions does not mean we should overlook what they intended to do. So did Simon Wiesenthal have the right to forgive the SS soldier, Karl, on his deathbed? Should he have told Karl’s mom what her "good” son has done throughout his life? Was it fair that he even requested forgiveness for things he did not do to Simon himself? The above-mentioned questions brought to surface the greater idea concerning, “ What are the limits of forgiveness, and is repentance---religious or secular---enough? [And] is it possible to forgive and
Victims searched for someone to be punished. They wanted someone to suffer and take responsibility for all the pain and suffering that they endured. All of the, “precedents set in trials against Holocaust perpetrators have guided a new understanding of justice as a tool for seeking accountability, providing affirmation to victims, warning perpetrators, and reflecting society’s highest ideals about truth and justice” (2011 Days of Remembrance). The trials are a crucial stepping stone to the road of justice. They act as a permanent reminder to the world of the mistakes that were made. Germany has paid for its mistakes and has now moved on to become an ally to many nations. This alliance can be taken as a message. The countries can forgive, however, they will never
It is without a doubt that the Holocaust will forever go down in history as one of the most heinous crimes against humanity. Even years after the Nazi leadership, effects of the war still haunt the streets of Germany and the memories of the few survivors still alive today. Hitler and his Nazi regime held power in Germany from 1939 until 1945, when they were defeated by the Allied forces (Davenport 10). Within that time, Hitler was responsible for the death of six million Jewish people, and millions of other non-Jews. (Davenport 10) However, when the war ended, it was a big question as to who to blame for these horrendous crimes. Several of Hitler’s head leaders, and Hitler himself, either committed suicide or went into hiding before they
In the book The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal is about his own experienced being imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp.While working to help wounded soldiers, He was later taken to meet a dying SS soldier, named Karl who wanted to confess to a Jew. Wiesenthal was silence when the Karl asked for his forgiveness. But years later after the war has ended, he still question himself and asked reader “ what would I have done. ” But the issue of Karl’s forgiveness is complex, especially when thinking about Hitler Youth and the ideas introduced by Dith Pran. At the age of sixteen Karl joined Hitler Youth. Knowing that Karl was brainwashed into joining Hitler Youth at a young aged, explains why he later became an SS soldier. After learning more about Hitler Youth, reading about fragments of Karl’s life from The Sunflower, and considering the ideas of Dith Pran, and on forgiving him.
In the book The Sunflower written by Simon Wiesenthal, Simon is telling the story about a dying SS soldier named Karl who had asked for forgiveness from a Jew, being Simon, for all his wrongdoings as a Nazi soldier. Although he stayed and listened to him, Simon did not forgive him as he just got up and left without a saying a single word. That moment is stuck on Simon’s mind as he questions at the end of book “What would I have done?”
In The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal, Simon makes what could have been considered the hardest and most controversial decision of his life. He is living in a concentration camp in World War II when he encounters a dying SS soldier. On his deathbed, the soldier explains the heinous crimes he has committed towards the Jews and other minorities. He makes what Simon describes as a heartfelt confession and, since he is a good Catholic, needs forgiveness to die in peace. Simon patiently and respectfully listens to the confession, however, when asked to forgive the SS soldier, he stand up and leaves without saying a word. Simon wrestlers with his decision for the rest of his time at the concentration camp and for the rest of his life. Simon later explains that, because he is a Jew, he himself cannot forgive the man, for the crimes were not directed towards him personally. In the back of the book, Simon asks many well-known people to put themselves in Simon’s position and think… “What would you do?”. After reading four essays,
The point to ponder upon is that what happened to the Nazi leaders who were the master minds of this game plan in the war. The Nazis ' highest authority, the person most to blame for the Holocaust, was missing at the trials. Adolf Hitler had committed suicide in the final days of the war, as had several of his closest aides. Many more criminals were never tried. Some fled Germany to live abroad, including hundreds who came to the United States.” Hitler and Gospels committed suicide in the spring of 1945 much before the trials and hence they were never in the scene when time came to take the responsibility of their deeds and go through the penance of their deeds.