Regardless of what is happening around us, and as one season fades into the next, I always find myself returning to the things in life that are important to me. One of those things is forgiveness. The other is a commitment to learning.
Recently, when Whoopie Goldberg made an insensitive comment that revealed her lack of understanding about the holocaust, her employer’s response was to punish her by suspending her television appearances on “The View.” Nathan Hersch, a writer, social justice expert, and civil rights advocate, characterized Goldberg’s punishment as troubling in a New York Times opinion, pointing out that forgiveness is a core principle of Judaism. Not only did Goldberg acknowledge her mistake, but she also apologized for it. However, Goldberg’s vindicators also made a mistake because they didn’t realize that, in Judaism, the cruelest act on the part of one person against another is refusing to accept their apology.
With diversity all the buzz these days, I wonder how we can learn more about one another without being admonished for getting it wrong? In reviewing many of the topics in this month’s issue of Buffalo Healthy Living, I realize how much we all have to learn. Whether it is learning about cultural differences, improving our diet and lifestyle, preventing and treating disease, or improving our relationships, we would all be better off if we remain open to learning, separating facts from fiction, making mistakes, and forgiving.
Enjoy this issue of the magazine, don’t let the March winds blow you away, and remember that spring is just around the corner!
