Photo: Laura Fuhrman | Unsplash
A Greek saying goes, A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit." In light of this, how might we become worthy ancestors? We need look no further than to corners of the world where people chose hope over the horrors they faced. In Germany, within days of taking office, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer delivered a national address to reconcile the wrongdoings of the Holocaust. In Paris, Antoine Leiris publicly forgave the two terrorists who took the life of his beloved wife, who was among the 130 killed. In Gaza, Palestinian doctor Izzeldin Abuelaish lost three daughters and a niece in a bombing as part of Operation Cast Lead. His wounds ran deep; yet he chose courage over perpetuating hatred. It is so, so hard," said Izzeldin. "But ultimately the greatest courage is to forgive." These acts, with all others, are the gifts of shade for generations to come.
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