Achieving reconciliation after an unfavorable event can be difficult and cause those involved great deals of grief. Both Volf and Tutu address forgiveness, justice and forgiveness. Volf tells the story of his late brother Daniel and the events of his passing. He then speaks on how his family grieved and forgave those involved in the horrific situation. Tutu provides an explanation to reconciliation on a much larger scale as he describes the tragedy of mass homicide in Rowanda. He then discusses the aftermath of this tragedy. While these events are obviously different in scale, both Tutu and Volf had similar opinions on the matter and how to reconcile. Both turned to Christianity and used references in relation to God in what to do in times …show more content…
Volf’s parents were undoubtedly stricken with grief and bitterness towards both the aunt and solider. Volf, whom was also young at the time, was completely oblivious to the fact that his aunt was at all at fault and still adored her throughout childhood. When the solider went to trial, Volf’s father was there not, to convict him but to let him know that he was forgiven. The Volf family felt that no other families should be grief stricken, and that no justice was nessecary. Volf speaks about his father in this matter, “He was concerned for the soldier and wanted to talk to him once more of God's love, which is greater than our accusing hearts, and of my parents' forgiveness.” Volf’s father did not want the solider to feel judged, rather he wanted him to know that God’s love was greater than the wrong …show more content…
Both Tutu and Volf turn to God and religion as an explanation to why forgiveness is nessecary. Tutu states: "The Word of God tells us to forgive as God in Christ has forgiven us" He then moves on to speak of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and the promise of forgiveness from God. Volf also speaks of Jesus on the cross but in a slightly different respect. Volf states: “Jesus says, "And when I am lifted up from the earth I shall draw everyone to myself" as he hangs from His cross with outflung arms, thrown out to clasp all, everyone and everything, in a cosmic embrace, so that all, everyone, everything, belongs.” Tutu speaks more of this monumental event in relation to God’s intent for everyone to live together in peace. Volf’s now feels that “the pain of that terrible loss still lingers on, but bitterness and resentment against those who were responsible are gone.” Concerning the bitterness in Rowanda, the people have chosen peace and forgiveness to avoid further bloodshed. Both Tutu and Volf agree on one key thing: forgiveness is nessecary to move
In FYS we were taught many ways to live in the world through the stories we read, speeches we listen to, and the projects we did. In the book, Ordinary Grace, by William Kent Krueger, The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, and Destiny of The Republic, by Candice Millard, I saw a few prominent themes of how one should live. In these three books I learned about the author 's voice through their writings. I saw how one should live their life. In these books the authors shared common themes through their writings. The authors showed how to live life with forgiveness and live life with faith. Krueger and Potok both showed me through their novels how to forgive someone and they did this by showing that there is a bigger picture in
Forgiveness is the key part to peace. Peace is only achievable when one does not have negative emotions towards another. Those who have forgiven are also given a chance for peace. When you give forgiveness, you receive peace. Peace and forgiveness are closely intertwined and affect one another. The relationship they share is inseparable and closely related.
After moving from camp to camp, he ends up in Auschwitz. Where he begins to question his faith within God due to the atrocities surrounding him, “What are You, my God? I thought angrily, he said. How do You compare to this stricken mass gathered to affirm to You their faith, their anger, their defiance?” (Weisel, 66).
The understanding and applicability of post genocide reconciliation and transitional approaches has been a challenge over the years. The subject of which approach seems most applicable to one country or the other has been a debate, and in some cases, as these approaches have been a failure and resulted to the escalation of conflict in the process of providing solutions for restoration of peace. As the United Nations emphasised, in discussing the effectiveness of governance in restoring peace in conflict ridden countries, states that “[the] experience with post conflict reconstruction and recovery…for creating [and securing]…long term political stability… has changed over time as governments and external support organizations learned more about the complexities and challenges in crisis and post conflict countries” (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs; United Nations Development Programme, 2007, p. 8). In this same manner, Helena Cobban (2007) engages in an ethnographic study of a comparative analysis on the post genocide solutions applied in Rwanda, South Africa and Mozambique - restorative justice: truth and reconciliation process; prosecution-based approach/retributive
This selfishness is also reflected in to whom they are addressing, the next weakness in the sincerity of their apologies. Rather than asking the victims for forgiveness, the most effected by their actions, many of these prisoners seem to be more worried about receiving forgiveness from God, and protecting their own futures. Fulgence epitomizes this attitude when he claims that the
All this catastrophe all because he was a Jew. Going through everything he faced, he wouldn’t want anyone ever to relive his story. ““ Was it to leave behind a legacy of words, of memories, to help prevent history from repeating itself ?”” ( pg vii). ““What I do know is that there is a “response” in responsibility”” ( pg xv).
The dividing force of hatred can drive friendships, families, and even entire nations apart. It is a disease that can spread so rapidly throughout time, and can only be healed by the power of forgiveness; forgiveness forms whole persons, friendship bonds, and unified countries. Covering this very topic and having been given the 2001 Michael L. Printz award for excellence in young adult literature, Many Stones by Carolyn Coman certainly is an easy read, yet an immensely complicated book. One can read it over and over and find much to ponder about each and every time. Through the point of view of the main character, Berry, the reader examines a history of death and grief spread throughout her family and the country of South Africa, a connection
Mandela’s vision was no different in Liberia’s civil war where the unity of Christian and Muslim women used prayers to appease the violence in their country. As the LURD forces were near the homes of Monrovia, the families gathered at their churches. They felt safe there and began praying for peace. The Christian and Muslim women were telling each other tales of atrocities. The sisterhood of these women, ordinary mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and daughters, both Muslim and Christian had a goal, to bring peace to their shattered Liberia. These women learned that one way to bring the peace to all Liberians they needed to raise their voice against war and restore peace. The Christian-Muslim cooperation helped to create a network that throughout
Desmond Tutu was very keen to hear the stories of the people, especially the ones in small towns, faraway places who were ignored for so long. All those testimonies of suffering in some extend has deeply affected Desmond Tutu. Although he was trying to focus on their victims he could not control his emotions. The people that were testifying whether they were Christian or not they wanted to be touched by Desmond Tutu, his presence was important to them. He had the sense of what people wanted and what people needed and what he could give to them. Despite the fact that terrible crimes were been recalled, forgiveness was central to the commission’s aims, it is opening wounds cleansing them so that the people could heal and although forgiveness is not easy he was trying to show that there was something therapeutically when people publicly told their
This verse explains my entire query. Jesus Christ is the epitome of forgiveness. He frequently mentions His opposition to sin, but with that comes His willingness to forgive and forget. In Isaiah 15:16, it explains that “Your hands are full of blood! Wash and make yourselves clean.
“No one possesses a magic wand which the architects of the new dispensation could wave and, ‘Hey presto!’ things will be transformed overnight into a promised land flowing with milk and honey” (Tutu 3). After the apartheid, South Africa needed a way to reconcile the wrong that had taken place throughout the country. Instead of modeling the Nuremberg Trials from World War II, South Africa implemented Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRC). This process “guarantees pardon for any confess crime ‘associated with a political objective’” (Ruden 2). Desmond Tutu, the archbishop of the Anglican Church in South Africa, praises and advocates the TRC; whereas, Sarah Ruden, an American living in South Africa, criticizes the RTC process based on two main objective points. Ruden sees the RTC process as not enforcing the laws as well as not giving victims enough reparations. While Ruden does present logistical evidence in her negative assessment of the TRC process, Tutu presents a more convincing assessment of the TRC process since he disputes using a trial system, while also explaining why economically and socially the TRC process was a successful solution to the post-apartheid society in South Africa.
Yesterday the United Nations observed a Day of Remembrance for victims of the Rwandan genocide. This week marks the 19th anniversary of the beginning of a 100 day period during which hundreds of thousands of Rwandan men, women and children were murdered, and countless others forcibly displaced. Fifty years after the international community said ‘never again’ to the atrocities of the Holocaust, the world let the people of Rwanda down.
In regards to its effectiveness as a reconciliation technique, the foundation’s head facilitator Liz Calvert stated that “each participant worked successfully on forgiving their families, the community, alcoholism, and creating a vision for the future,” (Beyond Forgiving). Calvert's statement demonstrates that the foundation is effective as it ensures that participants are collectively focused on forgiving each other, themselves and improving for the future. Furthermore, one participant was quoted as saying “it was time he forgave his dark side. He has a dark side and it’s time for him to let it go,” (Beyond Forgiving). Therefore, not only from the perspective of the facilitator, but from the participant’s perspective, reconciling through this means is effective. In addition to promoting forgiveness, the focus on the development of the future indicates that South Africans are cooperating. This is compelling evidence to show unification amongst South Africans. Despite the supporting evidence, it is important to address the economic setbacks. Without any external financial support, the Lyndie Fourie Foundation isn’t able to have a wide-spread influence within the
Michael R. Marrus argues that there are four contexts that need to be addressed when trying to develop a strategy for reconciliation. These are political, legal, material, and cultural. These different areas of concern
The Truth and Reconciliation committee was established after the end of Apartheid. It functioned like a court which heard grievances from anyone who felt they were victims of ‘gross human rights violations’ Similar to the ICTY the TRC had a head of the commission. Desmond Tutu chaired the commission and navigated the proceedings. This commission required people to face demons of the past and seek reconciliation at both National and personal level. This latter point is well authenticated in the article, ‘No future without justice’ where Desmond Tutu noted that, ‘I wish to make these poor people whole again. I wish I could wipe the old South Africa out of everyone’s past.’ This to me is one of the reasons why South Africa still face deep structural societal inequality and the general unhappiness of the people by whites who still perpetuate themselves in position of power and wealth in this