Justice vs. Forgiveness

Something that I have seen in the last few years is the increase in people demanding justice from the whites. What I find disturbing is the complete inability to see that forgiveness is far more constructive than the demand for justice. Now I agree, people who have committed crimes against other people during apartheid could be placed on trial for their actions and it would have a certain level of healing effect, but I have experienced in life that when you forgive you are set free. If you don't forgive YOU become the slave. Not the one who committed the offense. I definitely don't downplay the atrocities committed during the apartheid years, it was very real and very evil, but for this nation to become a first world leader we would all need to lay down that dark past and move on. We acknowledge the blood and commitment of the freedom fighters who gave all for the cause, thank you to all of them. But I know this, if this nation can rise up en masse and forgive, we will see the most powerful transformation on all levels of society. Let us remember that One went before us and He also endured injustice and He was God. He forgave us, no strings attached, now we can forgive.