A man lies in the rubble of a building that has been blown apart by a bomb. He will survive, but his daughter crushed there beside him will not. He holds her hand as she lies dying. Later, when he has been rescued, he says that he forgives the terrorists who have killed his daughter; he wishes them no ill.

Many people would regard the unconditional forgiveness that is offered in this case as absolutely admirable, even saintly, in its ability to rise above the hatred and enmity that would be a natural response to so terrible an event. (In fact, many people did so regard it, since this is the case of Gordon Wilson, who lost his daughter in the Enniskillen bombing in Northern Ireland). But some would not and did not find it admirable, thinking that forgiveness isn't the right response, the appropriate response, to those who deliberately choose to murder innocent and helpless victims. Whether forgiveness is always appropriate and admirable is something that people disagree about, sometimes quite strongly, and often they find it hard to understand the position of those who don't share their views on this troubling topic. On the one hand, some say, how can we fail to admire a person who rises above rancour and hatred and vengefulness, and offers goodwill to those who have injured him so badly? On the other hand, comes the rejoinder, how can we fail to be angry and outraged at the offender's terrible crimes, and why should we pretend that they don't matter and that a just punishment for them isn't important?

This is an issue that matters in everybody's life.