Response to the Book SuNFLOWER
James Piccolo
Response to Sunflower
My brother passed away about a year ago. He died of cancer, and although he was only six years older than me, it seemed as if he was light years ahead of me. He left home at eighteen, never to live in the house again. He served in Viet Nam twice and moved upstate New York about thirty-five years ago. So not only was age a difference but distance became a problem. You might ask; why is he carrying on about this? Well, it’s about “all Moms’ money.” About ten years ago, my brother called me a liar, hung up the phone, and we never spoke until he called to tell me he had cancer. I don’t recall either of us ever saying we were sorry or forgive the other. How hard must it have been for Wiesenthal? After all the pain and degradation that the Nazis inflicted on his family in Austria, and the concentration camps, how could he even look at the SS officer, let alone listen to his death bed confession. How could not simply walk away or not put a pillow over his head? On page 53, the officer says, “I cannot die…without coming clean. This must be my confession.” How can he believe that he will be “clean” after this? I know we are taught in the Catholic religion that if we are truly sorry, we will be forgiven. I know it says that but I can’t believe that God is so forgiving that He / (She) has this SS officer sitting next to Mother Theresa in heaven. How hard was it for Wiesenthal to listen and not scream or shout at him? He did what most others would do; he walked out without saying a word of forgiveness. I don’t believe it was his place to forgive. Particularly, to forgive the officer for actions he did against other Jews. When he returns, the nurse follows the Soldiers request and attempts to give Wiesenthal all of his worldly belongings except for the watch. This is where I lose Wiesenthal’s thinking. He will not forgive the dead soldier, but goes to visit his mother. Is this the same as not
Response to Sunflower
My brother passed away about a year ago. He died of cancer, and although he was only six years older than me, it seemed as if he was light years ahead of me. He left home at eighteen, never to live in the house again. He served in Viet Nam twice and moved upstate New York about thirty-five years ago. So not only was age a difference but distance became a problem. You might ask; why is he carrying on about this? Well, it’s about “all Moms’ money.” About ten years ago, my brother called me a liar, hung up the phone, and we never spoke until he called to tell me he had cancer. I don’t recall either of us ever saying we were sorry or forgive the other. How hard must it have been for Wiesenthal? After all the pain and degradation that the Nazis inflicted on his family in Austria, and the concentration camps, how could he even look at the SS officer, let alone listen to his death bed confession. How could not simply walk away or not put a pillow over his head? On page 53, the officer says, “I cannot die…without coming clean. This must be my confession.” How can he believe that he will be “clean” after this? I know we are taught in the Catholic religion that if we are truly sorry, we will be forgiven. I know it says that but I can’t believe that God is so forgiving that He / (She) has this SS officer sitting next to Mother Theresa in heaven. How hard was it for Wiesenthal to listen and not scream or shout at him? He did what most others would do; he walked out without saying a word of forgiveness. I don’t believe it was his place to forgive. Particularly, to forgive the officer for actions he did against other Jews. When he returns, the nurse follows the Soldiers request and attempts to give Wiesenthal all of his worldly belongings except for the watch. This is where I lose Wiesenthal’s thinking. He will not forgive the dead soldier, but goes to visit his mother. Is this the same as not