Journal Entry 7-12-10

In this class I was exposed to literature that I would not have read on my own, and I love that. I love to read and to learn, and this class allowed me to do both. One of the big topics we talked about was forgiveness in class, associated mainly with the book ‘The Sunflower’, and it has opened my eyes to some of the different views on it. I like the views expressed in the book as well. Originally, I thought that it was very rude of Simon to simply walk out on the man without telling him anything. As the book went on and the situation was discussed with the men in his block, it was Josef’s testimony that really brought me around. He was introduced to us as a holy man, and I normally think of them as self-sacrificing and always forgiving. When he said that it would have been wrong for Simon to do anything other than what he had done, that Simon had no right to forgive the SS soldier on behalf of people who were wronged that were not Simon, I understood more why he did what he did. As I said in class, I tend to do the same thing the SS soldier did, in grouping together people of the same religion as family. I don’t like or agree with all Catholics, nor would I discriminate against any other person of a different religion if they asked me for help of some kind. However, I do view those that I attend Mass with to be family to me. So while I understand where the SS man was coming from, I also agree with the action of Simon, and this surprised me.