I am suggesting that we begin fresh negotiations as those run by a Mr. Koffi Annan. I propose that on one side we have Mercy and Truth and the other Justice and Peace. The rules at the negotiation table require one person speak at a time. Mercy and Truth a long time buddies. Truth speaks because he knows mercy will listen and act accordingly. Justice and Peace are identical twins. They are distinct as individual yet they have one origin. They walk and work together.
Truth looks back at the bungled elections, the intense moments as every Kenyan was glued to their TV screens watching live images of our supposed leaders misbehaving or is it behaving in public. Truth shows people bleeding, women and men crying, police officers strut the street in battle gear. Truth shows you the billows of smoke rising high into the sky coming from what was once someone’s house, a church, a shop etc. Truth shows you the face of men and women looting a supermarket carrying things too heavy for one person to carry. A road filled with big stones, mothers carrying children moving but going nowhere in particular. Truth shows you camps of FDP’s (forcefully displaced person’s). Truth adds the note: not yet resettled. As truth speaks there is quietness, seething anger, tears and cry for justice.
Mercy looks on and listens as truth speaks. A tear or two shed. Mercy says, Hii inchi tumeinjenga kwa muda mrefu kwanini tunataka kuiharibu kwa siku moja (this nation we have built it for a long time. Why do we want to destroy it in a day). Mercy is soft spoken. She looks at the wrong done and pleads for pardon. She points at the need for forgiveness. She says forgive them they didn’t know what they were doing. Forgiveness is good to heal the wounds and mend the rift caused between people neighbors, communities. Mercy argues that we have a future to live together and for that future to be secure we have to move together having put the past where it belongs in our past. She is willing to embrace the neighbor who killed her husband, wife; son daughter burned the house and possessed her land. She is not coaxed to do this but feels it’s the right thing to do. Her heart says that life cannot be lived in bitterness, anger and animosity. She is concerned if she allows these things to fester in her heart she will soon be compelled by emotions to consider retaliation. The pain is too much to keep hidden in her heart, the scars too painful to look at.
She looks intently at Truth and wants to know whether every wrong has been admitted. Her brother Justice winks at her. “Don’t be naïve,” he tries to whispers. “You have been deeply wronged. The people who did this to you must be brought to book. Their must be a restitution of what you lost. Your property was destroyed, your relatives killed, look at your self living like a stranger in your own land. You can’t leave these people walk scot free.”
Mercy is confused. She is torn into two. Do I forgive and forget or go forth to retaliate? She Looks at the truth at her side and stares straight into the face of justice and groaningly ponders her next move. She hears a whisper, “don’t be vague go to Hague” it plays in her mind for sometime.
She closes her eyes to focus her mind and heart and when she opens them Peace is staring at her from the other side of the table. He speaks in a more reconciliatory tone. He acknowledges that the truth must be told, however difficult and painful it is. He looks mercy into the eyes and says “you are right you have to be strong, your heart must remain tender because they took away what they cannot give back to you. It is not weakness and irrational to forgive. Extent you hand and great your enemy. This will ensure that I (Peace) am preserved but you must not ignore justice. Every action has consequences. To satisfy Justice you cannot remove these consequences because if you do again my life (peace) is threatened.
At the negotiation table the truth has been said and faced, mercy has been given a chance, justice has been given and peace upheld. Let’s not look for easy solutions it’s a balancing act.
I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the LORD will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase.
1 comment:
Good blog. We must never think that Forgiveness and Justice are mutually exclusive. Forgiveness in no way eliminates Justice.
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