Focus on South Sudan
In has experienced so many horrors, what does forgiveness look like? a country that It is not easy to answer this question. As I was reflecting on this question, I was reminded of an incident that took place some time back. A student from one of our schools was hit by his companion and, having grown up in our educational system being constantly reminded by the Salesians about forgiveness, the boy decided not to retaliate. When he got home, his family heard about the incident and told him that he was a coward and didn’t fit well into the family traditions, so they went to the family of the companion who hit their son to retaliate. A family quarrel had begun. It is just not easy to forgive. We have miles to go to truly embrace the teachings and examples of Jesus and our father Don Bosco. We do not give up but keep insisting, with lots of patience, to walk the Gospel values.
Can you see any green shoots of hope for peace and reconciliation in South Sudan? Our dream is to see a South Sudan rid of all these petty quarrels between tribes and among leaders, who are not concerned about the welfare of the people but only making themselves and their families and extended families rich. For the past few years there was apparent peace in the country. Since the house arrest of one of the four vice- presidents of the country at the beginning of this year, tensions have seriously emerged in different parts of the country. Churchmen were kidnapped and killed, aeroplanes shot down, innocent people travelling were ambushed and killed, civilians robbed of the little they had by the very people who should have given them protection and security. Despite of all these unpleasant incidents, there are armies of people of goodwill sowing seeds of hope through education and through being peacemakers. In this Jubilee Year we remain people of hope, hoping for a better future for this land blessed by God with fertile soil and many other resources.
Innocent people travelling were ambushed
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