On June 17th, 2015, a mass shooting happened at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. All the sudden, the shooting was all over the news' headlines. Nine souls were murdered by a 21-year-old Dylann Roof. A white man killed African-Americans during church time which was an attack of racism and faith. On June 23th, 2015, the New York Time posted a text with the headline "Why I Can't Forgive the Killer in Charleston" (Gay). was written by Roxane Gay, a contributing opinion writer. On her point of view toward the Charleston shooting, she can't give her forgiveness to Dylann Roof for what crime he committed. Is Dylann Roof needed to be forgiven? Does Dylann Roof deserve a second change? 

On the text of Roxane Gay, she refers Dylann Roof as "a racist terrorist whose name I hate saying or knowing" (Gay). Some people think use the word terrorist to describe Dylann Roof is overstated.  What is the definition of terrorism? The United States Department of Defense defines terrorism as "the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that generally political, religious, or ideological" (Terrorism Research). The Charleston shooting is a planned crime of racial attack, and causes chaos and panic of society. Therefore, Dylann Roof should be considered as a terrorist. Now, is a terrorist needed to be forgiven? Nelson Mandela, the world's most famous prisoner (Marshall), was imprisoned for 27 years in charge of terrorist. Desmond Tutu gave a speech at the University of Toronto with title "Let South Africa Show the World How to Forgive". He said, " ...there were those who said, ' ... these blacks who have suffered so grievously in the past will engaged in the most fearful orgy of revenge and retribution against the whites.'(Tutu), and he said about Nelson Mandela, " ... most expected that he emerged, he would be riddled with a lust for retribution. But the world has been amazed; instead of spewing calls for revenge, he urged his own people to work for reconciliation" (Tutu). With comparing with those who said and what Nelson Mandela did to people were terrorists to him, Nelson Mandela chose forgiveness over revenge. Desmond Tutu believed that is the reason a miracle happened in South Africa that Nelson Mandela being inaugurated as the first democratically elected president of South Africa and the transition from injustice and oppression to freedom and democracy(Tutu). 

Roxane Gay said, "Over the weekend, newspaper across the country shared headlines of forgiveness form the families of the nine slain. The dominant media narrative vigorously embraced that notion of forgiveness ... the power of whiteness ... " (Gay). It is one of the reasons why Roxane Gay couldn't forgive Dylann Roof. Instead of showing grief toward the families of the nine victims, media tried to draw attentions to forgive Dylann Roof, tried to raise humanities. It is an inappropriate action to report a tragedy. The families of the victims need time to process stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. It is so unfair for them and tried to force them to accept and forgive the perpetrator so quickly.

Another  the reason that Roxane Gay mentioned why she can't forgive Dylann Root, is "As a child, I learned that forgiveness requires reconciliation by way of confession and penance ... I am particularly unwilling to forgive those who show no remorse, who don't demonstrate any interest in reconciliation"(Gay). Roxane Gay believes that people who did wrong things should confess themselves for their behaviors so others could will to forgive them. Desmond Tutu also mentioned Nelson Mandela's decision regarding reconciliation, " ... he urged his own people to work for reconciliation -- and invited his former jailer to attend his presidential inauguration as a VIP guest" (Tutu). People think about reconciliation is in regard of either sides or the side who did wrong. However, Nelson Mandela chose reconciliation first not because he was one lack of excuses, is because he chose forgiveness over hatred.

As Desmond Tutu said, " ... we human beings have remarkable capacity for evil -- we have refined ways of being mean and nasty to one another. There have been genocides, holocausts, slavery, racism, wars, oppression and injustice ... wonderfully, exhilaratingly, we have this extraordinary capacity for good; we are made for love, for compassion, for caring, for sharing, for peace and reconciliation ... " (Tutu) . Roxane Gay talked about, "What white people are really asking for when they demand forgiveness from a traumatized community is absolution. They want absolution from the racism that infects us all even though forgiveness cannot reconcile America's racist sins" (Gay). Desmond Tutu talked about people as human beings, who kill, discriminate, desire as well as kind, heal, and forgive regardless of color. Roxane Gay's text showed a lot of aspects toward a group of people, color, race, and saw people with titles who have bad characteristics. She has hatred toward white people and unwilling to forgive the white who did terrible things to the black people. There are people chose to forgive Dylann Root over hatred, the families of the nine victim. As Roxane Gay said, "I deeply respect the families of the nine slain who are able to forgive this terrorist and his murderous racism. I cannot fathom how they are capable of such eloquent mercy, such grace under such duress" (Gay). As it once stated, "Forgiveness is the best form of love. It takes a strong person to say sorry and an even stronger person to forgive." People are all familiar with the phrase in the Bible, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." As children, we all told to be nice to others and forgive others' wrong behaviors. However, forgiveness is a choice of everyone. It's a multiple-choice question, yes or no, without correct answer, not a true- false question. Sometimes, it is too hard to forgive something or someone that hurt people the most. It is understandable, and it's ok to unwilling to forgive someone.

    As a journalist said, "It has always been one of the most remarkable features of the life and times of Nelson Mandela that children adored him. It was as remarkable how this man, once reviled as a terrorist and nearly hanged for his actions, and who went onto become the colossus of South African politics, in turn loved children"(Marshall). The influence of a passed movement or event will be recorded as a history lesson or marked as a part of culture for future generations to learn. Roxane Gay described Dylann Roof's racism, "was blunt and raggedly formed. It was bred by a culture" (Gay). None of us are willing to see another Dylann Roof who was influenced and grown under the effect of negative part of culture.It is a long way of fighting for freedom, respect, race, and forgiveness. For future generation, we should teach them forgiveness over revenger and hatred.

