Podcasts in the Morning

I have spent my morning listening to This American Life with Ira Glass via podcast. Rarely listen to it live, but usually sit and listen to several episodes in a day…today is such a day. I am currently listening to “The Devil in Me.” The first Act deals with an American veteran who came home from Iraq with post-traumatic stress disorder. He had developed a fear of people of Middle Eastern descent and Muslims. To combat this fear he saw a therapist, and he joined the Muslim student organization on campus [he had enrolled in college after the war]. The students in this group accepted him! Not that they weren’t without fault; they were skeptical of his intentions, possibly a spy, but eventually they came to know and befriend him. One boy in particular befriended the veteran, and watched a video of his friend demeaning the boy’s people. The boy tells the reporter that he has forgiven his friend for his racism, hatred, etc. The soldier in the video and his friend were two different people.

I guess that is my problem…I don’t know if I would be able to forgive someone for killing people in my homeland. I know a person should be able to forgive, but I don’t know if I as an individual would be capable of it. I suggest everyone check out This American Life podcasts.