“A truly great nation is one that can acknowledge its failures”
We are discussing the topic of the best way for our society to address racism. Do we just say, “slavery and Jim Crow is in the past, let’s don’t discuss it further and move on” or will our society be better served with a full discussion on our history and clear identify where we did wrong. I ran across this post from Ken Burns that aligns with what I and I expect most Dems believe on this topic. I will continue with more groundwork next post. Ultimately, I believe that the guidance from Jesus’ teachings is to reveal and display the truth rather than hiding it under a basket. Let’s do a bit more background work before we get to making that point.
Most Relevant Comments
Jamsie Treppendahl l’m proud to be on the same planet with Ken Burns and some others.
JC Cartwright I agree with Ken Burns and putting the subject into a Christian Context let’s address one of the base teachings that Jesus gave us all.
Forgiveness should go two ways to be effective and lasting and it does not mean forgetting, but rather acknowledging and then moving on, never to repeat the wrong. There is the offering of forgiveness and then there is the accepting of forgiveness.
Today, it seems to be a one way affair with the subject of the wronged party continuing to throw that past mistake in the face of all who might cross their path and shared the abuser family trait of having the same color of skin.
I will posit a simile or a metaphor here, a short lesson.
There was a couple, they lived on an island and whose relationship was harmed by the husbands horrible treatment of his wife. The husbands family was not a very good one as most of them had the same attitude towards women in general as well. This went on for years and the wife had no recourse except to endure it, she was not free to leave that relationship or the island. Then one day this couple was forcibly separated by another family whose attitude was antithetical to this abusive family and the two families still had to live on the same island.
The husband was still an unrepentant abuser at heart, and his family, while still mostly abusive began to change their heart and over the years, came to realize that they were really not a very good family and repented and asked for forgiveness. The family as a whole (not everyone but a vast majority – it was a very large family) changed and accepted women as worthy of respect and dignity.
They asked forgiveness, but it was rejected and not given by many (not all) in the female community on that island.
Now, how long can that situation last? The women whose ancestors were abused by this family and whose personal lives are no longer affected by those past abuses keep harboring a deep resentment that eats at their souls because they will not forgive the past wrongs. They pass this resentment and hate on to their children, generation after generation.
When will it end and what has it done to their souls.
I know that this needs to be polished and an entire book could be written on the subject of forgiveness. This abusive family trait is no longer the norm for that family and most of those in the extended family of former abusers would no more abuse another woman than they would their own children. Yet, they are ALL still viewed in the light of an abuser. When will that change? When will those whose ancestors were the subject of the abuse take a step back and change their hearts as that family of former abusers have changed their hearts and no longer abuse. When will forgiveness be offered?
What is a possible outcome if forgiveness is never offered?
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