[Note from Kathie Malley-Morrison: Today we welcome another contribution by our guest author, Dr. Majed Ashy.]
This past Memorial Day, like all Memorial days, is a good day to remember the fallen
soldiers, and an opportunity to contemplate –as individuals, communities, and
nations– ways to cultivate peace and reduce war casualties and suffering.
There are groups that have promoted the idea of an International Day of Forgiveness and a Global Day of Forgiveness.
I believe that there is an international need for an increase in education and awareness regarding apology as well as forgiveness and their roles in personal, social, and international relations.
An organization in the U.S. asked me to write a comment regarding President Obama’s speech in Cairo. In the comment I suggested the establishment of an International Day for Apology and Forgiveness. During this day, schools can discuss the roles of apology and forgiveness, do workshops on how to apologize accurately, and discuss various issues related to forgiveness.
It can be also a day for the media to present films and programs related to the topic. The United Nations and the member states might hold meetings and discussions on the roles of apology and forgiveness in world peace. States might offer apologies regarding past errors they did.
In addition, during this day, people might have the opportunity to apologize and forgive. Research showed that sometimes people are willing to apologize and forgive but they need an environment that is suitable for that–an environment that supports a peaceful mental state, and a social context that deeply understands the importance of apology and forgiveness for human progress.
Establishing such a day might contribute to such an understanding.
Majed Ashy, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Merrimack College and research fellow in psychiatry at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School