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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Texas Faith: Should nations forgive, too?

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.

If we follow the sound principles of forgiveness and get out of the arrogance, we all can live with a clean conscience.

MikeGhouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairsIslamIndiaIsrael, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.com is updated daily. 

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