GraceK said:
I also see that in my father in particular as he was a concentration camp survivor who certainly lost all the 'sweetness' in life long before I was born. Perhaps that sort of experience changes our DNA over time? Who knows? Only we do, I think, somewhere deep down. :think:
Wow. I visited Auschwitz a few years ago with an Israeli friend of mine (whose relatives died there). It was in the middle of February, in 4ft of snow, and we were the only people on the Auschwitz B (the concentration camp). I'm not a spiritual person, but the whole experience was very moving and affected me deeply. I'm going to take my son when he is older, so he can understand for himself what hatred and intolerance look like when taken to an extreme.
I also think that this book:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_This_Is_a_Man
shows the most amazin dignity of the human spirit, and how someone can suffer the most terrible atrocities and not be motivated by revenge or hatred.