If I were a prisoner in a concentration camp would I forgive the soldiers? Simon Wiesenthal explains the reality of a fifty year old decision that continued to make him question his response to Karl’s plea for forgiveness. When Wiesenthal was throwing away rubbish at a hospital that was his old school, a nurse came up and asked him simply “Are you a Jew?”. He is then escorted to a young dying SS Soldiers bunk. The Soldier recalls all of the evil he has seen and committed and asks Simon to forgive him. Once done, Simon stands up and leaves Karl with silence to his question and reflects fifty years if he did the right thing. Comparing the responses of José Hobday, Hubert G. Locke, including my own to try to answer Wiesenthal’s question of “What would I have done?”. I would forgive but not forget. …show more content…
He shines the light on the discrimination he felt and shares his mother’s reply. Wanting revenge and wanting to retaliate because of the horrible atrocities committed against his people, his mother provides words to change his views. His Seneca mother suggests “ Do not be so ignorant and stupid and inhuman as they are. Go to an elder and ask for the medicine that will turn you heart from bitterness to sweetness.”. She gives insight to never fall down to the same level as those who are committing evil unto you a statement in which I too believe in. Hobday believes that forgiveness and forgetness are together mainly since forgiveness is of the heart. He believe’s that he would be able to forgive Karl as well as have it for his own peace. Hobday finishes of with “ Forgiving is the real power” indicating that it takes strength and courage to get there but it is much better than resorting to