More on the “redemption” theme

Here is the quote, MY quote, that I want to be buried with:

“Redemption is more important than forgiveness.“

And moreover: Forgiveness without redemption is meaningless. Forgiveness of persons who don´t ASK to be forgiven–this being the most trivial and cheapest form of redemption–isn´t saintly. It´s simply pathetic.

That entry about Berlin (which is still amazing and everything, although the bloom is a bit off the rose with the smoking thing, which while an improvement over Köln has really been getting on my nerves increasingly, espcecially when an asshole, a cute musclebear type but an asshole nonetheless, lights up not one but TWO Gauloises seriatim sitting next to me at a sushi bar the other day) has has me pondering this whole theme of redemption and why and how I am so very atttracted to it. I love movies where characters are redeemed. I loved the stage version of Tommy because evil cousin Kevin is redeemed in the end (not so in the film version). I love this. But unilateral “forgiveness,” especially when, say, the villain escapes by dying without any trace of attempted redemption? No.

Back to the regularly scheduled vacation, which is going superbly.