What is forgiveness? Does politics involve forgiveness. Whether Nixon on Watergate or Clinton on Monica, the answer is a resounding "yes". Politicians are people and people get angry, say/do uncalled for things, following that is regret, sometimes genuine and sometimes constructed for fear of loosing power and what comes with regret is a call for forgiveness.
Forgiveness to me is the ability to forget and absolve another human being of causing pain. Why do I bring this up? Well just recently, I made a terrible mistake of hurting someone I love very much. It is the second time in a space of 2 years that I did the same thing, something I had been requested not to do but I did anyway. Do I deserve to be forgiven? I don't know. I did not commit a crime but I did hurt someone's feelings and cause them unnecessary stress and pain. Well now you will ask, if I knew that: Why did I do it? The answer is again I don't know...loss of control, or even fear or the loss of rational thinking. Maybe a combination of all. Am I sorry for what I did? Yes, I am but does that take the pain that I caused away? No, nothing can. Can I turn back the clock and undo what I did - No. Do I wish I could do that - Yes.
The desire in me to be forgiven led me to some further delving into the RCA of forgiveness...
Second in a multipart series of emotions in politics, first here
Politicians around the world have learnt about forgiveness from Nixon
The Oxford English Dictionary defines forgiveness as
To grant free pardon and to give up all claim on account of an offense or debt
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The wise words of Mother Teresa
If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive. - Mother Theresa
Alexander Pope once said,
To err is human; to forgive, Divine.
Robert Muller To Forgive Quote:
To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness
More forgiveness quotes
Forgiveness, the basis remaining the same takes on slightly different meanings in different religions.
CHRISTIANITY
In Christian teachings forgiveness of others plays an important role in spiritual life. The Lord’s Prayer best exemplifies this attitude, notably in these words: " And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" ( Matthew 6:9-13).
BUDDHISM:
Forgiveness is a practice for removing unhealthy emotions that would otherwise cause harm to our mental well-being.
SIKHISM:
Forgiveness is viewed as the remedy to anger. You forgive an offender when aroused by compassion. Compassion generates peace, tranquility, humility and co-operation in human interactions.
JUDAISM
Ideally a person who has caused harm, needs to sincerely apologize, then the wronged person is religiously bound to forgive. However, even without an apology, forgiveness is considered a pious act
All-in-all, forgiving someone is a virtue to the one forgiving.
Are the good deeds completely overshadowed by the wrong doing? Most of the time, the answer is "yes". It is /mass nature to remember and repeat the one wrong thing and trivialize every other good thing that a politician or another human being might have done. Were the poiticians forgiven for their deeds. Some were - By law, others not by public but with time, it was forgotten.
Will I be forgiven...remains to be seen
To continue, I wasn't forgiven but I was punished..
An important thing that I learnt is that people who have a lot of love, support already in their life continue to get more of it where as those who lack in it and have few people for support...that support system also drops one by one till what is left is just you.
Today I am filled with a deep void and a sense of regret for who I am. Even when I give everything I have to people, all I get back is hurt, deceit and rejection but since God has a destiny for all of us...maybe this is mine.