TOW #19: The Act of Rigorous Forgiving (Written Text)

David Brooks, a New York Times op-ed columnist, published a piece reacting to the Brian Williams dilemma a few days after the news broke, taking a rather surprising approach: forgiveness. I decided to read the piece because forgiveness is a word not heard too often in reference to the media - in fact, it is probably the most unforgiving element of our society, spurring twenty-first century witch hunts for wrongdoings that, when examined more closely, most of us are not in any position to judge. Brooks aims to highlight that idea, and to convince his readers that “civic fabric would be stronger if, instead of trying to sever relationships with those who have done wrong, we tried to repair them, if we tried forgiveness instead of exiling.”

Anticipating a somewhat contemptuous reaction from those who regard forgiveness as a somewhat romanticized idea, he makes sure to note that his idea of forgiveness “balances accountability with compassion.” He organizes his piece by breaking down forgiveness into four processes. In each section, he explains what must be done in that stage. By explaining the processes, he makes it easy for his readers to truly understand what it means to forgive. He also makes it seem reasonable enough to be a viable option to be chosen over the present burning at the stake with acrid words to destroy all remaining shreds of the reputation of a man who realistically cannot say or do anything to defend himself. Additionally, Brooks uses respected figures like Martin Luther King Jr. to enhance the argument for forgiveness. Brooks states that King said that forgiveness is not an act, but rather an attitude. The use of a persecuted, yet triumphant figure like King helps to Brooks to convince his audience that though forgiveness is indeed right. If one who was so much more affected by another’s wrongdoing than his audience likely is by Brian Williams spoke of forgiving, then who are we all to take an attitude of superiority? Brooks takes one more significant step to convince his audience by ending with the question “Would you rather become the sort of person who excludes, or one who offers tough but healing love?” The preferable answer is obviously the second, as the first option uses the word “exclude,” a term which usually carries a negative connotation and is associated with bullying. Though perhaps one could see it as a false dilemma, it still gives the intended effect of making the reader consider their own character and decide what kind of person they would rather be. Thus, Brooks achieved his purpose by at least making his audience consider forgiveness.