Written and Edited - June 2nd, 2017 - 3:52 pm to 4:20 pm
You're Moved? (In a surprised tone of voice)
As part of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation process, we met with people involved with other Truth and Reconciliation Commissions and processes, experiences. So, one of those was South Africa. At one point, (probably between 2004 and 2006) Dr. Reverend Bengani Finca came to support us. He was one of the Commissioners on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa.
At one point, Dr. Finca got up and spoke at a community meal. He said that he was at (either mourningside homes or the cemetery) and he was deeply moved. I think it was the cemetery, but my memory is giving me those 2 choices.
I remember thinking, you're moved? We had a picnic on November 3rd compared to what south Africa went through and is going through. I also thought that generally I don't compare our journeys. They are what they are. But if I'm going to think about someone else's journey next to mine, then I'll probably tend to have more empathy for someone else than me.
I continue to think and try to feel what Reverend Bengani Finca said. I felt that he expressed a deep connection to all of our humanity. And I think that I'm on that path to some extent and maybe feel it at the same level as him. For example, I feel a human connection with people alot of times, when I hear about people being harmed and hurting others. But for some reason, when he expressed that thought, it feels deeper than where I'm from. Maybe it's partially because of his journey. But I think that it's something that we can all nurture and grow in. To see every person as a human being and in the context of a dominant culture where people are being hurt and hurting each other.