What can we say about the truly wicked of the world—Hitler or Stalin, dictators and torturers who showed no remorse or human feeling? If forgiveness means amnesty, we cannot grant it. If forgiveness means that we will not allow our fury at their crimes, our resolve to combat them—that we will not allow such feelings to poison our lives–then forgiveness serves a purpose and has a place even with the wicked.

We can understand another without excusing them. We can believe that ultimate judgment is not our own, but know that to ask total forgiveness at times may be impossible when wickedness reaches such a gargantuan scale.

Do you know someone you will never be able to forgive? Why? And what, if anything, would allow you to let go of the anger?

–David Wolpe