The Value of Pardon

An article written by Pénélope Morin & Rajinder Jhol

Reading, editing, commenting, translating are called: Humanities, in French since the 13th century

As we approach the holiday season, we take time to rejuvenate, take stock, and reflect on our accomplishments as individuals, as communities, and collectively as human societies. We are at the dawn of a new creation story with the changing of the guard. We are on the cusp of the most important paradigm and trajectory shift of our existence.

The most important influence that an act of Pardon can have on the earthly life of mankind is the influence it has on the self, social, and societal spheres. The decisive action is above all in the social sphere between humans, where the value of pardon liberates us from anger, holding bitterness and grudges, seeking vengeance, revenge, punishment, blaming, condemnation, and pursuing a negative downward spiral that leads to pain, suffering, and conflict. Forgiving does not mean forgetting; rather, forgiving allows us to accept the lesson, rediscover inner peace, and move on to make better decisions and create better relationships with ourselves and others.

Sometimes we have to let go in order to hold on, and sometimes we have to hold on in order to let go. We live in a world where there are multiple perceptions of "value(s)," and what is valuable is changing. While some values are mutable and contextual, all peoples and nations also hold true to other immutable values: the inalienable rights of Man and Woman, basic human rights and dignity, and higher universal and primordial truths.

Some say, we have failed to win peace and security for all. Others see this as a gradual transition, with over 70 years since the Declaration of Human Rights, the Millennium Development Goals, and more recently, the Sustainable Development Goals. These programs have brought slow but progressive improvements to human lives across the world. While some could see the fullness being embodied, others, especially those left behind, see the breakdown of a value system that is dysfunctional and no longer upholds common values of shared peace and prosperity for all. In the notion of sustainability, the temporal dimension has essentially the same necessity to be accounted for.

It is important that our growth is sustainable and respects future generations. It is also necessary that people build sustainability through their own methods of production. Under the cover of time, the Economy reaches its highest and most dignified moral and political dimension, far from the dominant ideologies of innovation, disruption and creative destruction. It is time to move to an era of regeneration and metamorphosis of the productive systems.

Our perceptions of reality are shaped by the past and the future we imagine, in a play of mirrors that affects both sight and insight. At times, we may wish to take a bold step into the future, to take flight into the new vision, but past entanglements influence our belief systems and limit our ability to imagine greater possibilities. Sometimes, we take corners, and are forced to take sides, and other times we cut corners and change sides. Without the value of Pardon, we inherently become prisoners of our own impressions and belief patterns.

With regard to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, there are those who favor war (increased military budgets) and others who call for an immediate ceasefire. One truth, two realities, three perspectives, and multiple viewpoints of fear, mistrust, and perspectives take us to the edge of a long war with the largest refugee influx since WW2. While each one may be right in their perspectives and belief systems, all sides have failed to listen to each other. We have adopted opposing value systems, us and them, making it difficult to look each other in the eyes and see the other as an extended version of ourselves, and the unity of mankind. The conflict of regions is also a conflict of languages, cultural identity, socio-economic cohesion, and mutual understanding, above all it is a conflict of broken bridges and high raised walls to separate, isolate and dominate.

In the opening speech of the Peace Congress given by the eminent Victor Hugo in 1849, he called for the constitution of the "United States of Europe." The realization of "a united Europe in the fullness of a couple" will not be destroyed from the outside but rather from the internal foundational shortcomings and failures to build the defenses of peace in the minds of all European men and women, irrespective of language, culture, and belief systems. A creative and flowing culture is the bulwark and veritable social fabric of a united Europe that can shine and "radiate like the starry circle of its flag" for all nations and peoples globally.

Just like Victor Hugo, many creative artists, musicians, filmmakers, and thought leaders who helped carve out yesterday's dream that are our visible successes and achievements. The poem "Ode to Joy"* expresses Schiller's vision of the human race becoming brothers, a vision Beethoven shared. In 1972, the Council of Europe adopted the "Ode to Joy" as the anthem of the European Union to celebrate unity across the national, cultural and historical divides. So let us never forget the importance of the freedom of words, the freedom of thoughts, the freedom of expression and creation, to celebrate the ability of the creatives to stand on the shoulders of giants to see beyond the horizon.

In the past, we had organizations that provided shelter for writers threatened with or forced into exile for political or ideological reasons - the International Parliament of Writers was dissolved in 2004. In its place, the International Network of Cities of Asylum (INCA) was founded, based in Aubervilliers, France, and was dissolved in 2005.

Today, more than ever, we need to harness the creatives again to help us question and imagine pathways to an inclusive, sustainable future that cares for its people(s) and environment. We need to rekindle the beacon of hope for future generations, promote and protect the creative industries. We want to adopt innovative learning and collaboration tools so that we may have the creative tools necessary to create solutions to anticipate bottlenecks that may hinder the free flow of creativity.

The power of writing and authorship helps us clarifies our thinking, allows us to articulate and explain ourselves to others, and this allows us to work together to build things we could not alone, especially across nations, languages and cultures - Together, we must strive to win peace and prosperity for all and once again realize the well-being and collective forgiveness in order to redream the collective dream.

A big portion of our success is determined by how we employ our available resources, develop the knowledge economy, and pursue beauty and the creative potential to drive innovation based on our many cultures, languages, and diversity.

Why is the act of pardoning so crucial today?

The qualities of true forgiveness can take on a special intensity in the social sphere, cleansing the entire life of the social organism and infusing it with new strength.

“The united Europe is embodied in the fullness of a couple. Its volume expresses a single heart, its embrace turns and radiates like the starry circle of its flag"

Bronze sculpture "Europe at Heart" 1991

Created by Ludmila Tcherina (1924-2004) - European Parliament in Strasbourg, France

Copyright Penelope Morin - 2019

All forms of violence—internal or external—that are directed towards another individual, a group, or even an organization—as well as toward their flaws, errors, and especially any evil or lies that come from them, must be prohibited.

All of this must be balanced by a strong desire for goodness and truth, centered on making amends for what has been done to the greatest extent possible. There are many occasions in life when it is necessary to reject perceived wrongs and abuse bravely and firmly on the outside, while keeping forgiveness as an interior act and practice.

Only when the three primary conditions of forgiveness are met can one approach the value of forgiveness: victory over oneself, in which one overcomes all selfish impulses and tendencies; selflessness; and devotion to the love of the world in service to humanity and life.

We must make the best use of all the tools to communicate, share, and build consensus. The value of Pardon necessarily implies the presence of the triple ordeal of forgetting and remembering, overcoming, and reconciliation.

Each year, languages disappear and are forgotten, and a part of humanity’s wealth is lost. It is necessary for us to enhance cooperation to protect and preserve the diversity of languages and cultures. The respect for and revitalization of languages are essential to ensuring the continuation and transmission of diversity, culture, customs, and history.

Europe has not yet tapped into its fullest potential of being a bridge and a bridge builder.

The twenty-first century reveals a new network of cultural, political, economic, and demographic links and relationships among China, India, Europe, Russia, Latin America, Arab World, Africa, and Anglo-America.

The laws of the market have created social network spaces to enable freedom of expression, constructive cooperation, and open access to scientific and creative content. Yet, there is still a long road ahead to create inclusive safe spaces for all and promote the free flow of information across all divides.

Multilingualism is key in the process of "promoting" communication and cooperation across all boundaries. The protection and promotion of the diversity of languages, cultures, and thought patterns are the building blocks and means of constructing the pieces of humanity’s coexistence puzzle.

Artists, writers, and the media interpret the world for us. They are capable of constructing new social realities and inspiring action. The reach and role of creatives across mass media and social media are massive. Artists, writers, filmmakers, visual performing artists, and theater directors - can respond directly to any societal issue. Artists create new realities by BEING, dreaming, thinking, and doing. Their ability to set the tone and influence global and nationwide conversations is unprecedented and unparalleled. They are leaders in their own right, and at the same time, they support emerging value-based leadership at different echelons of society.

The universal values of dignity, equity, and compassion are essential for every human being to manifest their full potential. Media professionals, as well as political and corporate leaders, must make responsible use of their capacity to influence and shape the mindset of people and the trajectory of the future of humanity and our planet.

We must come together and cooperate like a constellation. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a constellation as "a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure" and as "a group of associated or similar people or things." For us, constellations are entities of people that connect, organize themselves, and operate in a particular recognizable way, based on universal values of human rights, dignity, equity, and compassion. Together, we create equitable and sustainable systems while respecting cultural norms, and responding proactively to solve the problems facing us.

We don't forgive something, we forgive someone. Pardoning means considering the individual as a complete being, giving him the respect and recognition that he merits.

We thank you for your continued support and participation in this accelerated adventure to unleash the creative and transmutative potentials of Europe through its languages, its mosaic of cultures, and its creations as a continent that knows how to preserve, develop, and communicate its knowledge of society.

A recent publication by Rajinder Jhol:
"Shine by Rajinder Jhol" is a dialogue novel between the Fallen Angel and the Fallen Man. They meet to explore the nature of reality, truth and the multilevel crisis of humanity in search of a luminous way out.

Shine explores the roots of fears, ignorance, manipulation, and misinformation in different aspects of contemporary society. As the Devil claims to have captured the minds and hearts of 99% of all humanity.

The questioner's quest for truth and knowledge, and his mystical journey take us on an epic, philosophical, spiritual, and sometimes humorous dialogue that seeks higher knowledge in the dark corners of perception as a beacon of hope for all humanity.

Is reality a shared hallucination, a play of light and darkness or a game of mirrors? Do humans really have free will and what will become of us when control technology is connected to our brains?

The story is a literary entheogen - it provides the reader with a super- observer position from which to know thyself and discover the lost treasure that resides within us all.

https://amzn.eu/d/eCqKeZj (Book available in both paperback and kindle versions)

Rajinder Jhol is a Singaporean-born author living in the Swiss Alps. He worked for two decades in digital technology development, diplomacy, mediation and democracy-building for fragile states. Former consultant at UNESCO Knowledge Societies, and former lecturer at the Geneva School of Diplomacy; Rapporteur at the Hague Institute for Accountability in the Digital Age. Rajinder provides strategic consultancy for public and private sector organizations; spiritual leadership and coaching for individuals. With ongoing projects with an overlap in Neuroscience, Governance, Psychotechnology, AI/VR, Web3.0., Spirituality and the Arts. Rajinder is writing a sequel to Shine for public release in 2023/4.

A recent publication by Penelope Morin:
Vers la société du sens: In this historical essay, Penelope Morin and Alexandre Rojey call for a coming of age to a meaningful society with renewed interest in shared values and the common good. The essay explores the various dimensions to encourage radical transformation by feeling beyond dogmatic and preconceived ideas to allow the emergence of new ways to the collective challenges western society faces.

https://jdheditions.fr/produit/vers-la-societe-du-sens/

Pénélope MORIN

Prospective & Regulatory Watch, Consulting, Strategies & Managerial Innovations 5.0: Awareness, consulting, coaching, conferences and training for executives, decision-makers, family offices and boards of directors in the implementation of programs to awaken Transparency, Ethics of values and commitments, meta risks and Resilience in institutional and associative, liberal, public and private organizations for the valorization of foresight, humanism and anticipation for the Governance of entrepreneurial structures by cognitive and participatory sciences.