Thursday, July 29, 2004
MENDING THE TRANS-ATLANTIC
RIFT
Second-Generation
YWAMer Promotes September 11 As Forgiveness Day
By
Michael Ireland
LINDALE, TEXAS (ANS) --
Second-generation YWAMer, Jeff Rogers, of Lindale,
Texas, has decided to take a first step towards trans-Atlantic
reconciliation after reading a July Fourth article on the CNN website,
on why Europeans have lost respect for Americans, writes Jeff Fountain
of YWAM Europe in his Weekly Words column.
“He’s a Texan, married to a Brazilian. His twin’s wife is French and
his younger brother is married to a Swede. Imagine the interesting
discussions at family gatherings these days!” says Fountain of Rogers.
Fountain says that with Commission reports related
to 9/11, Iraq and the war on terrorism coming thick and fast on both
sides of the Atlantic, determining who lied or didn't lie about what
and when, and with what consequences is a tricky business.
Rogers writes on his website: "As a 'United Nations family,’ we've had
some interesting times of forgiving and asking forgiveness, as you can
imagine. Without forgiveness, we would be bitterly divided. By
forgiving, we are united, though differing in cultures and opinions. It
works for us -- it can work for the world."
So he has begun promoting the idea of a global Forgiveness Day on
September 11 through an online petition site, emailing friends and by
word of mouth.
Rogers says the ultimate goal of a global Forgiveness Day is to get
people around the world to read aloud and adopt a Forgiveness Day
Statement on September 11. He believes the ongoing conflicts following
September 11 are not just political or military.
"They are personal to everyone. Hopefully this Forgiveness Day can help
turn our day of bitter mourning, into a time of healing for us and
others," Rogers says.
Rogers opened a website, www.forgivenessday.tk,
explaining the Forgiveness Day concept, offering various press releases
and proposing a Forgiveness Day statement to be read on the anniversary
of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Fountain writes the website says that the Forgiveness Day "is not a day
for political agendas for or against Bush and armed conflict. Nor is it
for shallow sentimental expressions without sincerity...It is a day to
forgive and be forgiven."
Fountain says: “Events like the Abu Ghraib tortures and unintended
victims in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are a few of the potential
topics for Americans to ask forgiveness for; while terrorist attacks in
New York and around the world are some of the things that could be
forgiven.”
Rogers has had more exposure to the world than most in the Lone Star
state. In the '90's, he traveled with a YWAM rock band through the
Balkans and saw the havoc wreaked by centuries-old feuds and injustices
there, writes Fountain.
"When I visited the countries of the former Yugoslavia I made friends
from each people, Sasha, a Serb; Dado, a Bosnian; Danjela, a Croat, and
many others. I loved learning the richness of culture and history of
each people. Their land is beautiful, but they are a bitterly broken
Family,” said Rogers.
"The recent conflicts in Kosovo and Bosnia are part of an unbroken
chain of violence stretching over hundreds of years. Unforgiveness has
fueled the hatred that fueled violence. Before Sarajevo's siege in the
90's there were Croatian Yugoslavs joining the Nazi's to kill Serbian
Yugoslavs. Before that a Serb assassinated Archduke Ferdinand and
triggered World War I. Every generation has passed the grudges and
injustices on to the next.
"The Muslims, Orthodox and Catholics in the former Yugoslavia have all
committed atrocities against each other. True forgiveness seems beyond
impossible in light of the history. But only forgiveness can break the
cycle."
Fountain commented that:“ In Europe, we too easily forget that
forgiveness was a necessary component in the rebuilding of post-war
Europe, and in the founding of the European Union. The story of Robert
Schumann and Konrad Adenauer involved a choice to forgive. Forgiveness
has been the basis of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South
Africa. As Bishop Tutu has repeatedly stated, without reconciliation
there is no future.”
Fountain says: “Perhaps this young Texan is on to something we should
all support. Check out the website, and the following Forgiveness Day
Statements:
-- Giving Forgiveness: “Without true forgiveness, our hurts and
conflicts never heal. Forgiving does not mean the offender was right,
or is sorry, or that I should trust them. It does not mean they should
not be punished or make amends. Forgiving is a daily choice that says
‘even though it was wrong, even if I don't feel like it--I choose to
personally let it go. I want to be free from my unforgiveness to have a
right attitude of love toward you. I forgive you.’
-- Asking Forgiveness: “Even if I cannot change or amend the
wrongs you
suffered; even if it was not me personally, but someone else
representing me or my people; even if I believe another is also partly
at fault -- I offer no excuses. For me and my country's part I humbly
ask forgiveness for all of the wrongs committed. I am deeply sorry for
the hurt it has caused you. I hope you can find it in your heart to
Forgive.”
Rogers would value your constructive feedback on the concept and the
site. As he says, these issues are not just political or military. They
are personal to everyone.
Jeff Rogers is the nephew of YWAM Founder Loren Cunningham.
Note for Editors: This article was based on a Weekly Words column
by Jeff Fountain of YWAM Europe. The Weekly Words columns are the
personal reflections of Jeff Fountain and do not necessarily express
the official position of YWAM. They may be used with due
acknowledgment.
Past WW's may be viewed and downloaded at: www.ywameurope.org/news/word.asp
** Michael Ireland is an
international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a
London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News
Service of Garden Grove, CA. Michael immigrated to the United States in
1982 and became a US citizen in Sept., 1995. He is married with two
children. Michael has also been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a
British Christian radio station.
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