Devon Dick

On Sunday, July 22, the Boulevard Baptist Church, as a way of marking the end of the heinous slave trade in Jamaica, had a worship service planned around the theme of forgiveness.

Based on reported negative political incidents, at the 11th-hour it was decided to invite political leaders to this service.

In attendance were the general secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and MP for North Central St. Andrew, Karl Samuda, and Julian Robinson, deputy general secretary for the People's National Party (PNP) and councillor and caretaker in the Mountain View area, scene of some disturbances.

They supported forgiveness. Forgiveness was offered as being helpful for individual whole-someness, personal relationships and national development.

The issue of forgiveness was recently in the news again. The Gleaner of July 17 carried a report that a judge approved a US$350 billion settlement between the Roman Catholic diocese and the approximately 500 victims of clergy abuse with each victim getting approximately US$70 million.

Moving beyond the hurt

Roman Catholic Cardinal Roger Mahoney apologised after the settlement was approved. Ray Bouchet, lead attorney for the victims, said, "I know its hard for most of the victims whose scars are very deep . . . and I know many will never forgive the cardinal." (Gleaner, July 17).

Many will never forgive and some will find it hard to forgive. Victims admitted that sexual abuse is an awful experience. To forgive after sexual abuse is not easy because the scars are deep, the pain is acute, the memory is haunting, the hurt is real and the anger rages.

When we are bitter, angry and full of hatred because of the heinous acts committed against our loved ones or ourselves, forgiveness is highly improbable and retaliation and revenge seem the natural and better response.

How can we move beyond the pain and hurt? Let us look at forgiveness again. The payout to the victims is 600 per cent more than the entire budget of US$99 million presented by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt of Dominica. This is a huge sum. However, money is inadequate compensation to deal with the pain.

First, there needs to be forgiveness of the offence, wherein the victim recognises that it is better to forgive than to retaliate. And after that the restitution money could be meaningful.

Forgiveness is not a romanticising of the problem. Nor is it an attempt to ignore the seriousness of the hurt nor a means of allowing the offender to get away. Forgiveness, as a process, seeks to follow the example of God as revealed in Jesus, who forgave us all our sins. Forgiveness allows us to hate the offence while pardoning the offender.

To forgive is making a statement that th retaliation, is a worse option. Seeking retaliation is a futile activity.

Revenge creates problems

According to the Jamaica Observer of July 21, the grieving father of slain Sanjay Ebanks, JLP office manager, wanted revenge.

However, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding said in the wake of the killing, "every retaliation invokes a retaliation to that retaliation and there is no point in going that way" (Gleaner, July 21,)

Revenge begets revenge and it is a dangerous cycle, which knows no end. It does not solve the problem but creates more problems. It is better to forgive than to retaliate.

Dr. Keith Mitchell said recently that those who killed former Grenada Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and other cabinet members and who were released recently should earn forgiveness by exhibiting remorse.

However, I beg to differ with the honourable PM and state that forgiveness is not dependent on the offender's attitude. Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation or restitution. It is good for the victim and relatives and friends of the victim to forgive just as how God forgives -unconditionally.

Tomorrow, Emancipation Day, we recall the atrocities of slavery and it is good to forgive those who contributed to such cruelty.

In addition, during the break from public political campaigning, it is good for us as a nation, as we seek peace and prosperity, to reflect on the maxim, "It is better to forgive, than to retaliate."