Why forgiveness is optional | The Gray Area

Quick Overview

Forgiveness is optional and should not be idolized as a universal solution, as doing so overlooks the moral necessity of anger and absolves society of its responsibility to address systemic injustices, according to philosopher Maisha Cherry.

Key Points: American culture idolizes forgiveness, perceiving it as a 'magical thinking' tool that solves all problems and leads to reconciliation; this idolization also idolizes victims, suggesting only they can repair the world. Forgiveness cannot change the past, which 'has an afterlife,' and forcing forgiveness can imply the original atrocity was not harmful or that the forgiver does not need further healing. The author discusses the Charleston church shooting victims forgiving Dylan Roof, noting that the media focus shifted to the act of forgiveness rather than the atrocity, relieving the community of responsibility regarding white supremacy. Anger is a crucial moral tool essential for justice; philosopher Joseph Butler argued that without anger, justice would not be administered in courts, and social movements like Black Lives Matter are driven by righteous anger. Forgiveness can still occur even if anger remains, provided that hatred—which suggests a wish for annihilation—is released; the author personally forgave her stepfather (by letting go of hatred) while remaining angry about his mistreatment of her dying mother. In political contexts like the US, forgiveness is irrelevant while active harm continues, meaning the eradication of ongoing injustice, not forgiveness, should be the immediate focus, as illustrated by the legacy of slavery. The American cultural obsession with redemption and a 'state of innocence,' as described by James Baldwin, impedes political progress by allowing denial of accountability for historical and ongoing wrongs.

Context: The host, Sean, interviews philosopher Maisha Cherry about her book, 'The Failures of Forgiveness,' exploring why forgiveness is often treated as an inherently virtuous act in American culture. The discussion critically examines the societal pressure to forgive immediately, particularly in high-profile cases of violence and systemic injustice, contrasting this with the overlooked moral necessity and function of anger.