Forgiveness cont.

Nelson Mandela, an activist and leader who was imprisoned from 1964-1990 for his opposition to South African apartheid: "If you want to make peace with your enemy you have to work with your enemy. Thus he becomes your partner." Mandela stressed the importance of healing a nation through reconciliation and forgiveness instead of retaliation for the injustices that had been done. He himself was equipped to do this because he had learned to hate apartheid without hating South Africans.

Amish, a community in Nickel Mines, PA that in October 2006 after a horrific shooting in an Amish schoolhouse: Goshen College Professor of History, Steve Nolt, describes the forgiveness of the Amish people: "It's not pretending that nothing happened or that the offense wasn't so bad. It's not a pardon or saying that there should be no consequences for actions. It is about giving up: giving up the right to revenge and giving up feelings of resentment, bitterness and hatred...and treating the offender as a fellow human being." Nolt goes onto explain, "Although the Amish never anticipated the horror of Nickel Mines, they were prepared to respond long before they needed to.....Amish forgiveness is not an easily transferable technique because it grows out of a collective life and culture."

Jesus Christ, the innocent and perfect Son of God while dying on a cross pled, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

Paul Boese sums it all up quite well with his words, "Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."

Tomorrow we'll see what we can glean from these noble individuals that can benefit our diverse learners.