Posted by
Phillyfanatic(KGK) on Sunday, April 22, 2007 10:08:14 PM
If one is from a Biblical background, a Judeo-Christian heritage, forgiveness is one character trait that Jesus demands from a believer. On a personal level that is hard but it can be done with God's strength. On an international level, one can forgive the horrors of a dictatorship but it is really really really hard; ala the Nazis, Communists and now the Islamofascists. I have a new wrinkle on this. One must pray for their personal enemies, say that character that is always hurting you with words, attitudes , motives and just plain silly non-thinking. You then can, if prompted, actually renew a relationship and carry on with life. It can be done though it is difficult with some high maintenance people. Still, Jesus does it for 6 billion people a day so one is apt to be a bit humble when one tries to stay above the fray and do nothing. Non-forgiveness usually hurts even the hurt if it is not practiced. On an international , political, cultural level, one can actually forgive and not forget. I don't mean get even. I mean stand up for the truth, the facts, the good over the evil if it goes that far. Praying is a powerful weapon and joining groups to have an impact to redo legislation, get good laws, lawyers, jurists, etc is a must because one person is pretty powerless against a huge bureaucratic monopoly. One can also support our military when they fight evil, send them things, pray for them and uplift their families. One can even pray for Harry Reid and other people who seemingly undermine that same military and at the same time can forgive him and flood his office with mail without malice to show him the way. One can do that to any politician as if you do it with prayer, forgiveness, you can actually tell him or her the truth in , yes, love.