As the
world celebrated Human Rights Month in December 2021, the iconic Human rights
activist and Nobel Peace laureate, South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu died
on December 26, 2021 aged 90.
As
tributes came in from different leaders across the world, it took me back to a
Pluralism school I attended in South Africa, July 2012.
True to
the pluralism theme, there were 20 participants from different parts of the
world from all walks of life. On one of those days of the 4-week long program,
Desmond Tutu was the keynote speaker.
It has
been some years, so I can't recall verbatim what his words were on the
occasion. However, I remember that it was Nelson Mandela Day and the topic
tabled that day was Reconciliation. At the end of the session, in a bid to
escape the full hall of students, he happened to come out through the other end
of an exit I and a couple of others had used. I usually hold back when
expressing myself but in my excitement of being this close to the distinguished
Tutu, I gathered the strength to ask for a photo to which he gladly obliged.
As his legacy is celebrated, a lot of what I learned back then has come back to me. The different discourses and personal experiences we shared during that winter school in South Africa all centered on the richness in diversity which helped me understand, appreciate and work on managing differences in myself and others.
Desmond
Tutu was the central figure in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission whose
aim was to bring together the perpetrators and victims of apartheid through
forgiveness to enable all parties to heal. During this time, Archbishop Tutu
was prominent for spearheading the notion that justice was not always
"punitive in nature.” He worked tirelessly as an anti-apartheid fighter
and it is no wonder he is described as South Africa’s ‘moral compass’. Below
are some quotes that capture his work towards human rights, restorative
justice, and peace.
“Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s actually
remembering-remembering and not using your right to hit back. It’s a second
chance for a new beginning. And the remembering part is particularly important.
Especially if you don’t want to repeat what happened.”
― Desmond Tutu
“Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate.
We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.”
― Desmond
Tutu
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those
little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
― Desmond
Tutu
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have
chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a
mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your
neutrality.”
― Desmond
Tutu (Foreword)
“Don't raise your voice, improve your
argument."
[Address at the Nelson Mandela Foundation
in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, 23 November 2004]”
― Desmond
Tutu
Reading
back on Desmond Tutu's work has revealed to me that it takes everyone to create
a wholesome and inclusive environment that embraces differences.
The
legendary Archbishop wanted to be remembered as a person who “loved, laughed
and cried. I think these words encompass the core of humanity. I hope as we
remember him, we will be voices that keep the torch burning continuing on the
equity, diversity, and inclusion journey by learning, sharing, and being
intentional in appreciating the richness of the diversity in our society.
