BusinessDay - Forgiveness debased

Forgiveness debased
Michael Rice	Published: 2009/10/26 06:22:05 AM

It was to be expected, and I am sure Jonathan Jansen anticipated the furore that followed his inauguration speech, which, with a few exceptions, such as those responses by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Aubrey Matshiqi, has been characterised by bloodthirsty calls for revenge.

The politicians, who should be providing moral leadership and setting the tone for reconciliation, have gleefully seized the opportunity to advance their own careers by inflaming racial hatred and prejudice in an already overwrought situation.

I wonder what those who committed themselves to compassion and reconciliation after Amy Biehl ’s murder and the St James massacre feel now, when they see their commitment to reconciliation and forgiveness being debased and perverted by cynical, grandstanding, self-righteous opportunists?

Moral leadership, wisdom and vision are needed now more than ever.

Michael Rice

Via e-mail

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By: hilly1963	On: Oct 26 2009 3:41PM
Students do the craziest things, and often end up in trouble with the police. That older people who remember apartheid better are acutely embaressed by the incident is understandable. Yes puritangenes, pissing into someone's beer is also an acceptable prank at that age, of course if they were as old as you probably are it would be criminal. And for all those on that think they have found the moral high ground at last, forget it. You are looking at one incident and trying to set an example, it is not the 4 students that are making themselves famous, you are making them famous, you are setting them as an example of the white man during apartheid and tyrying to execute them for your own failings, I don't see anything brave or glorious about that.

By: Spikiri73	On: Oct 26 2009 4:19PM
Have we not learnt anything from history? no one can forgive on behalf of the other. Forgiveness has to come from the victims, and I believe it is always as a result of the pepertrator acknowledging wrong-doing and offering a sincere apology. It can't be academic.

By: PuritanGenes	On: Oct 26 2009 8:34AM
"bloodthirsty calls for revenge"? So it's acceptable to piss into workers' food and give it to them? It's "bloodthirsty" to demand justice for the victims of such acts? Are you serious?

By: shannig	On: Oct 26 2009 9:30AM
I also have problems with the absolution of the unrepentant terrorists responsible for the 1993 St James Church massacre, two years after the repatriation of former terrorists. That's why repentance and attempts to obtain the forge prerequisites not to be flouted.

By: shannig	On: Oct 26 2009 9:33AM
Corrected: I also have problems with the absolution of the unrepentant terrorists responsible for the 1993 St James Church massacre, two years after the repatriation of former terrorists. That's why repentance and attempts to obtain forgiveness should be prerequisites not to be flouted.

By: geanann	On: Oct 26 2009 12:48PM
Forgiveness has to be selective otherwise it is racist. See http://letterdash.com/g.annandale/malema-and-the-reitz-four

Forgiveness debased

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