Introduction
"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." - Mahatma Gandhi
Before we began reading Night we talked a bit about a lady, Eva Kor, who has forgiven those who committed attrocities against her. Today, we are going to take a pause from reading to explore the idea of forgiveness further.
Task
To complete this assignment, you will need to go through and read a few different items, write refelctions to them, and write about your own opinions.
All of the readings can be found here or will be provided as links. Your work to answer the questions should be done on the handout.
Process
Complete the following activities:
Activity #1
Define forgiveness in your own words.
Go to the following places and write a better/new definition of forgiveness
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgive
http://www.candlesholocaustmuseum.org/learn/about-forgiveness.htm
Activity #2
Write your own opinions to the following questions on your handout.
What does it mean to forgive?
Is there power in extending forgiveness?
Is there power in withholding forgiveness?
Who has the right to forgive?
What do you actually "give" when you grant forgiveness?
Are there actions that are unforgivable?
What would the world be like without forgiveness?
Activity #3
Read the following brief stories and answer the questions on your handout
Chris Williams
In 2007, a young drunk driver caused a car accident in which Chris Williams’ pregnant wife and two children were killed. Through his pain, Williams realized that he had to let go of any negative feelings toward the driver. That driver, 17 year old Cameron White, was charged and imprisoned, and Williams has been able to let this young man know of his forgiveness.
Chris Williams published a book about his journey of healing and forgiveness, Let It Go: A True Story of Tragedy and Forgiveness.
Amish Community
In October 2006, the milk truck delivery man who served an Amish community in Pennsylvania went into a school and shot ten girls. Five of them died, and he killed himself as well. It was a terrible tragedy for a close-knit community - one that the whole country mourned.
In a remarkable act of love and forgiveness, the grieving Amish families reached out to the wife and children of the murderer. They donated money to help the confused widow and family, as well as offering condolences for their loss.
There’s a book about these events, Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcends Tragedy.
Corrie ten Boom
Corrie ten Boom lived in Holland with her family at the start of World War II. They worked to hide and protect Jews from the Nazis because they were being taken away to concentration camps. Eventually, the ten Boom family was caught. Corrie and her sister Betsy were taken to camps in Holland and later Germany, suffering terribly but never forgetting their faith. After surviving the camp, Corrie wrote The Hiding Place, which was also made into a movie.
Famously, ten Boom said “forgiveness is an act of will,” reminding us all that we have a choice in how we react to the things that come our way. One story of her forgiveness can be found here. (click on and read this)
Activity #4
Go to the following website, http://journalbuddies.com/journal_prompts__journal_topics/journal-prompts-global-forgiveness/ and pick one of the 56 propmts to journal about on your handout.