Terrorism in Peru
ENGLISH * Forgiveness Means Love Name: Alejandra Cardenas Modality: Essay School: Villa Caritas Grade:11 B Stage:High School July 2012 Forgiveness Means Love What would happen if a doctor told you are dying tomorrow, would you forgive the people who ever hurt you? Or would you die with that resentment in your heart? Everyone has been hurt at least once by actions or words from another person. It is difficult to forgive such an injury. These wounds can stay forever if you don’t learn to forgive the ones who hurt you.
Forgiveness means peace, love, respect, hope. We all talk about a peaceful world, but we don’t make an effort to make it happen. “Love is around us” but we reject it and prefer to obey our carnal desires. We expect people to respect us, but we don’t respect others, and sometimes we make fun of their believes. Hope is all it is left. Hope to have a better world, hope to become a better person, and hope to forgive others. A clear example of forgiveness is terrorism in Peru. Today we still have resentment and thoughts of revenge for what Abimael Guzman did.
But we need to forgive so we can live our lives in a peaceful way. After a long battle of terrorism in Peru, Abimael Guzman was finally put in jail in 1992. All the families were enthusiastic by the news and felt more secured. He was captured by the Intelligence Special Group, led by Alberto Fujimori, the president on that time. They started investigating various residence of Lima and found out that Mr. Guzman was hiding in a house of a lady. They found some medicines used for a treatment of psoriasis, a disease that Abimael Guzman suffered.
Shining Path was a group of terrorists, who believed in marxism-leninism-maoism. They thought that fighting would solve all their problems. They wanted a change but they were not heard. It was a fight between the proletariat and the state, between the landowners and the capitalists in the city. This group of terrorists wanted to replace what it was seen as bourgeois democracy with a “new democracy”. The Shining Path wanted to impose a dictatorship of the proletariat, lead a cultural revolution, and eventually introduce communism and have the complete control of the government.
Before he was captured, Abimael Guzman wanted to get the whole power of the Peruvian government. He used violence to achieve his goals. He attacked the Peruvian Armed Forces and the National Police. Guzman placed diverse bombs in schools, houses, streets and popular places. Many people died, and families were devastated with their loss. It was a time of mourning. Every day was a new wake, and every day more people lost faith. Many families, who lived in such a devastating period of time, blamed Abimael Guzman for all their misfortunes. Wished him the worst, and wanted to put him in jail.
At the end, Guzman was captured; people were safer but still felt a grudge towards him. But it is necessary to forgive and wish him the best. Everybody makes mistakes, some of them are big or small, but mistakes are made to learn from them and become a better person. Generally, forgiveness is a decision to let go the resentment and thoughts of revenge. Many people may think: Why is it important to forgive a man who hurt so many families? Forgiveness can lead to feelings of understanding, empathy and compassion for the one who hurt you.
It doesn’t mean that you deny the other person’s responsibility for hurting you, and it doesn’t minimize or justify the wrong of his action. Forgiveness brings peace that helps you go on with life. And that’s what Peruvians should do. It’s not easy but it is the right thing to do. We are free to decide what the best is for us, and the best is to always forgive. “…but I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool! will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ” It is possible that many Peruvians agree to forgive Abimael Guzman. On the other hand, there might be some of them who refuse to even consider forgiving him. Unforgiving means to have anger, resentment and bitterness in your life. Having all this negatives aspects would make life harder to enjoy.
Also it is possible to become more negative and insecure. Having a good future means to forgive the past. As Jesus once said: “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. ” It is an obligation for all the citizens to let go that resentment and feeling of revenge towards Abimael Guzman. Peace is not reached easily; it takes time and reconciliation with everyone who has hurt you.
Forgiveness means to have an open heart and mind. Forgiveness does not come easy for anyone. Human’s natural instinct is to protect itself when he or she has been injured. Forgiveness can change lives; it brings peace, happiness and emotional healing. It is job of everyone to build a better world, a world with love, peace, kindness and reconciliation. There is no love without forgiveness and there is no forgiveness without love. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Matthew 5:22-24 [ 2 ]. Luke 6:27-29
