Great article and a good critique and review of the rise of our warmongering ways.

To answer your question, no. Not yet anyway. The hurt and betrayal is just too deep. Wish I could say yes, but I can’t.

Besides, there are two kinds of forgiveness. One where the party who wronged you repents and asks forgiveness as a path to redemption. They vow to change their ways. They do the work. They are no longer an ongoing threat. You forgive them for both of you as it is the only way to heal you both and move the relationship forward. They mess up and so do you, but you’re both committed to the work and moving forward.

The second one is where the party who wrongs you never admits wrongdoing. They never ask forgiveness. They continue to do whatever they were doing that hurt you in the first place without remorse or censure, gaslighting you the whole time. Them, you forgive for you. So hate doesn’t fester in your heart and for your own healing only. You have to sever or limit your time with the injuring party so they can’t hurt you any more; they’re still a threat to you and will hurt you again the first chance they get.

We know who each other truly are now. We know who plays fair and who doesn’t. We know who works and advocates for the nation and who thinks the nation is disposable so long as they get their way on a few “single issues”. We know.

Can real forgiveness even happen until the violence ends with either repentance or separation? I don’t see any movement or willingness for the former, and the latter is unlikely to happen without war.