A Forgiving Society
These messages describe the backgrounds of those who taught us to forgive others.
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Ralph Lazo: A Volunteer for Injustice
Ralph Lazo was born in 1924 to parents who were Mexican and Irish American. His mother died when he was seven, and he was raised by his father. Discrimination was a fact of his life. He was born in a hospital for African Americans. He spent time as a young child on a...
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Forgiveness and Respect
It’s a monument (see below) to the Irish brigades who fought at Gettysburg (the 63rd, 69th, and 88th) New York Volunteer Infantry Regiments. We don’t often think of immigrants who fought to preserve our union. The Celtic cross with the Irish wolfhound at its base...
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A Poem for Humanity
Emma Lazarus was born into a Sephardic Jewish family who immigrated to what was to become the United States of America prior to the American Revolution. Emma’s family was wealthy allowing her to be educated by private tutors. She was especially interested in poetry...
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Forgiving Rather than Festering
Henry was devastated when he learned that his grandson, Eric, had been suspended from school for remarks he had posted online about a fellow student. Since Eric was due to take Henry to the hospital, he decided to use the trip to discuss the suspension. Henry: Son,...
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Overcoming Flaws
It was a magnificent slate of marble and it promised to yield a statue that would be spectacular. But two sculptors gave up on the project. The flaws inside the slab made it unusable. The slab remained untouched in a courtyard for 25 years. A 26-year-old accepted...
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Redemption
Elaine Roulet was called to a life of religious service and became a Roman Catholic nun. She dedicated her life to prison reform for women. Her basic belief was that children of women in prison shouldn’t be adversely impacted by their mothers’ wrong doings. She...
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Forgiveness by Doing
In what has become accepted as one of the most shameful acts in American history, Japanese Americans were removed from their homes during World War II and sent to internment camps. Most were U.S. citizens, and a majority were 2nd or 3rd generation Americans. Rather...
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Starting Healing Discussions
Wohali and Danuwoa had grown up as the best of friends in the Cherokee family, but for the past year they had become estranged. Both were thought to be prime candidates as the new tribal chief since the current chief was close to death. While both Wohali and Danuwoa...
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Reconciliation With the Past
Ted DeLaney had planned to attend Morehouse College, but his mother persuaded him not to accept the scholarship. The situation in Atlanta around civil rights made attendance risky. Ted decided to stay at home in Lexington, VA and took a custodian job at Washington and...
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