Friday; April 22

As a brash adolescent, I was not happy when President Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon in 1974. The two years between the discovery of the Watergate break-in and the pardon had divided the nation and brought our national integrity into question. As a know-it-all teenage, not only did I think it was a bad idea, I wasn’t sure it was legal to pardon someone before they had been convicted of the crime. Through the years I have not only softened on President Ford’s decision, I actually support it. I am still convinced that Richard Nixon was culpable for what happened in his White House; but what we needed at the time wasn’t vindictive accountability as much as we needed national healing. It was time to move forward and years of public litigation wasn’t going to help us accomplish it. Gerald Ford’s political career would never the same, but thankfully, our nation wouldn’t have to go through the divisiveness and public humility of the conviction of a disgraced president.

As I think about President Ford’s statement regarding this national tragedy, I am impressed by his determination, “It could go on and on and on, or someone must write the end to it. I have concluded that only I can do that, and if I can, I must.”. You know, I wonder if the same mindset wouldn’t be good for us today? Are there past offenses that could be ignored to promote healing? Whether personally or politically, is it time to move forward in an effort to find peace? Sure, we may have the right to pursue accountability, but often there is catharsis in mercy.

Are we holding on to things that are holding us back? Maybe it’s time to let go and move forward.

Think About It!

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