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South Africa’s whites and restorative justice

June 6, 2009

From Susan Anderson’s post on The Loop: White perpetrators of injustice and violence — and blacks involved
in racial violence – were encouraged to come before the Commission. 
But, Commission Chair Tutu said,

“It is something of a pity that, by and large, the white community
failed to take advantage of the Truth and Reconciliation process… Many
of them carry a burden of a guilt which would havebeen assuaged had
they actively embraced the opportunities offered by the Commission…
Apart from the hurt that it causes to those who suffered, the denial by
so many white South Africans even that they benefited from apartheid is
a crippling, self-inflicted blow to their capacity to enjoy and
appropriate the fruits of change.”

For Americans, the lack of participation by whites in the Truth and Reconciliation process should be a warning.

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