If we resort to
forgiveness and humility, we can restore security to Jews,
Ahmadiyya, Baha’i and others. For our own mental well-being, we
need to redeem justice to Native Americans, Palestinians,
Rohingis (Burma), Falun Dafa (China), Shia (Bahrain), Christians
(Asia), Hindus (Pakistan) and others.
Texas Faith is a weekly column at Dallas Morning News managed by
Editors William McKenzie and Wayne Slater, the material is
contributed by several panelists including Mike Ghouse, for all
responses visit http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2012/06/texas-faith-should-nations-forgive-too.html/
How should
the concept of forgiveness play out between countries?
MIKE
GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas
Whether it is an individual or a nation, the
concept of forgiveness remains the same. It releases one from
the bondage of living in the disturbing past.
A month before
my late wife passed away from cancer, I reflected with her and
listed about 12 items that gave her discomfort. One of the
examples was a man whom she had conflict with in a leadership
role. Whenever that person was at a party we went to, either he
ran off or my wife would whisper to me to get out of the place,
excusing herself with a headache. I called the man and others
with different situations to visit her. They all denied the
problem, but when they visited there was a genuine release from
the bondage. They were free at last.
Michami Dukadam
is a phrase commonly used in Jain faith to start their new year.
Simply put, it is about two people forgiving each other and
starting the new moment with a clean slate. My late wife and I
had a perfect Michami Dukadam.
When it comes
to nations, we have to seriously think about the implications of
forgiveness. Jesus’ central message was forgiveness, so was
Krishna’s and Jain teachings. In Quraan, God declares the
dearest human to him is the one who forgives. Let’s do it
because it is beneficial to us in living a life without anxiety.
The arrogance
of nations prevents them from asking forgiveness or forgiving
others. They assume it is a weak thing to do. Or they do not
want to free the other.
Brave nations
and humans ask for forgiveness. Every religion has emphasized
it, and God knows what is good for us in the long haul.
In a conference
organized by the Memnosyne Foundation in 2005, one of the
Shamans from an American Nation expressed her pain about zealous
missionaries that destroyed and humiliated her tradition. As a
part of reconciliation, she offered a head band for a Christian
to accept. A Presbyterian minister stepped up and accepted it.
What a relief it was. Forgiveness is powerful.
If we resort to
forgiveness and humility, we can restore security to Jews,
Ahmadiyya, Baha’i and others. For our own mental well-being, we
need to redeem justice to Native Americans, Palestinians,
Rohingis (Burma), Falun Dafa (China), Shia (Bahrain), Christians
(Asia), Hindus (Pakistan) and others.
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