The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal
Page 92 "Was sorrow our common link? Was it possible for grief to be an affinity?"
Within this scene Wiesenthal is meeting with Karl, the SS man's, kindhearted mother who is speaking about what a good boy he was. Yet as she says this Wiesenthal wonders if he should tell her the "naked truth" and about all the things that Karl did when he was alive. However as he sees the grief within her, he understands his own grief and now feels a connection with this woman who birthed the man who could have killed him or someone he knew, yet he cannot tell her. He doesn't want to cause this poor woman any more pain than she has already found with the loss of husband and son.
In this world we are all divided by race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and money, friends, and so much more. We all act superior to one another and people usually just lay back and accept it. In school the board holds jocks and cheerleaders about those on say drama club or archery. But when tragedy strikes we find one bond in a million differences. We find ourselves caught up in the moments of heartache and grief and we can see an invisible connection between us.
For example in the junior high a year ago, a retired teacher passed away. I personally never knew her, she had long since retired before I attended this school. Yet I saw one of my best friends finding comfort with girls she always claimed to not like very well. They were all crying together in the office and comforting one another: cheerleaders and nerds; stylish and the not; the sweet and the not-so-kindhearted. Grief is our affinity. I witnessed it myself.
Nice job, Skye! I love your observation that times of grief will often bring us together, regardless of personal backgrounds. This really ties to ideas about a common humanity; most of us experience sorrow and pain in the same way, even though our lives take us in such different directions.
ReplyDelete"We all act superior to one another and people usually just lay back and accept it."
ReplyDeleteUhm, maybe that's just you-- Most people don't act as if they know for that there's only ONE reason for abortion, and obviously it must be selfish every time (your previous post). And of course, I am not lying back and accepting that you're like that.
for fact*
ReplyDelete