This book had me wanting to write my own essay through the whole symposium. I never thought I would end up having such a vivid opinion on the subject, but after reading 53 responses I really felt strongly about my own personal view.

I felt the memoir at the beginning was not nearly as powerful as other Holocaust memoirs that I have experienced previously. I think Simon told it well but didn't reall drag me into it as much as other have. Additionally, I felt that many of the essays in the symposium were redundant - understandable, but hard to get through by the end. My final qualm with the book was that really only people of religion were asked to respond to this memoir. I would have liked some more varied opinions. For example - yes, I have grown up in a Christian society, but other than that I have no connection whatsoever with religion (the only religious service I have EVER attended was a Jewish one last year for a class assignment.) And yet I lean toward the idea of forgiveness - which the book claims most Christians believe in. I would like to see what other non-relgion influenced people thought about the situation.

Ultimately, for me, I think it's so much easier to be harsh, to be unable to forgive. I beliee it is in our nature as humans to hold grudges - which is why I think so many people said they could not forgive, that Simon had no right to forgive, that there is that limit on forgiveness. I'm not so sure. I think that, no, Simon could not have forgiven Karl for what he did to those people, never, ever. But I think he could forgive him for himself - meaning that Simon could have, if he had wanted to, said something to the extent of, "For my own, I forgive you. I understand you pain and will not hold it against you. But I cannot and will not speak for anyone other than myself." - And what would that have done? Maybe it would have released some bitterness. Maybe, if we humans are ever able to truly rise to that compassion, maybe we can stop a lot of terrible things from happening in the world. After all - what drives all wars? Resentment? Revenge? Misunderstandings? If we all had the ability to forgive, maybe the world would be a better place. That being said, I know that I am in no position to understand and pass judgement. Do I think the Jewish people should forget? Absolutely not. Do I think the Holocaust should be forgiven? Also, probably not. If I were in Simon's should I probably would have done the same thing he did. I think forgiveness is an individual basis and that only individuals have the ability to say, one-on-one what that means.