Pages 52-55

A dying man asks for pity for the crimes he committed against the Jewish people. However the person he asked was Jewish and related to many of those who died. So here's the problem:  a man responsible for hundreds of deaths felt a need to confess his sins "I cannot die... without coming clean. This must be my confession. But what sort of confession is this? A letter without an answer..."   Simon, however, was unable, to offer the requested help.  "I stood up and look in his direction, at his folded hands. Between them there seemed to rested a sunflower. At last I made up my mind and without a word I left the room".
Two men brought together by faith and separated by hatred were unable or unwilling to find enough pity in their hearts to extend forgiveness.

If two boys open fire in a high school, killing several and wounding many others, I feel their actions should not be forgiven. If this were to happen at Batesville High School it is likely I would know the people who were killed or wounded. It is also likely that I might know the shooters. Whenever a shooting like this occurs, it is almost always students from that school doing the shooting. Because I would know all of those involved, I would not be able to separate my grief from my need to blame someone. Somehow, by extending forgiveness, there would be no one left to blame. I know, in my mind, every sin is able to be forgiven but when it involves someone I know my heart needs to place blame in order to deal with the tragedy.