Reddit reviews The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness (Newly Expanded Paperback Edition)

Both of their actions should be appreciated.

People should be commended for owning up to their mistakes and for forgiving others.

While I'm here, linking this book on forgiveness

I don't have an answer for you on the topic of forgiveness but I want to direct you to The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal which is a collection of essays on the topic. The moral dilemma of the book concerns a Nazi begging the forgiveness of a Jewish prisoner during the height of the holocaust and the Jewish prisoner refusing to give it. After setting up this tale the rest of the book is various writers, thinkers, religious and political leaders giving their two cents on the nature of forgiveness.

One common theme throughout the book is the idea that forgiveness is something that cannot be given on behalf of someone else. Who is this Jew to forgive the Nazi for what he has done to other Jews? Applied to this case, maybe direct family members have some standing to offer forgiveness, but the person who was killed is the person the killer should look to for forgiveness. Obviously the killer can't, murder is unforgivable with this logic.

However, the exact opposite opinion is also expressed by many writers. Rather than let the question languish in this paradox where the only person able to forgive is dead, these writers insist that the only way forward is to allow someone else to get the ball rolling. I don't know that I have an opinion on the issue, I just think if you are genuinely curious and want to be challenged on the issues by some of the best ethical theorists of our age - look into this book.

There are thousands of images from this time - too name all the sources on the internet and books would be impossible. The best site if you want to browse is http://www.yadvashem.org/

Just an FYI : It does not include any images - and is not a book about the facts of the Holocaust - but it is something I would recommend everyone read The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness by Simon Wiesenthal.

read "The Sunflower" by Simon Weisenthal

This will get buried, but read the book: "The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness"

Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Sunflower-Possibilities-Forgiveness-Paperback/dp/0805210601

You do not have to click it, but it is not a referral link. Basically the premise of the book is a Jewish man in a concentration camp was brought to an SS officer (this is a true story). The man was dying and wanted forgiveness. He wanted absolution from a Jew, and had one brought to him, who he then proceded to confess to. When asked for forgiveness, he said nothing.

He always wondered whether he did the right thing and wrote this book to explore that idea. Should he have forgiven him? Condemned him? It also has writings from others on the same topic. Anyway, it might be worth checking out.

This debate on whether you should forgive or even if you can forgive reminds me of a book on the same question. It's called The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness and is basically about Simon Wiesenthal; him being asked forgiveness by a Nazi officer on his deathbed during his internment at a concentration camp, his response, and various other notable people's opinions on how he should have responded.

It's a fantastic book on the nature of forgiveness, might help you on your decision.

I personally cannot give you advice on what you should do. But you might find it helpful in the long term to read The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal .

There's some cool stuff in "The Sunflower". It's a collection of essays and short stories written by average people as well as some famous ones. I think the Dalai Lama wrote one of the essays. It might give you some inspiration.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Sunflower-Possibilities-Forgiveness-Paperback/dp/0805210601