Tutu has left a wonderful legacy
EVERY now and then, the world throws up a true leader. One who transcends normal politics, a leader who speaks to and for their nation’s people but whose message also resonates to the wider world.
Like us, they are mortal and are not perfect, nor is their message often welcome. At times they are a lone, unpopular and challenging voice to power. Yet, when they pass, their legacy is brought into great focus – their words and influence do not leave us even though they do.
Mahatma Gandhi is among such outstanding world citizens. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who died on December 26 at 90, also ranks among such.
Tutu’s passing unleashed worldwide grief and appreciation, described by the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation as a “deluge of love”.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described Tutu as one of South Africa’s “most illustrious citizens” and “our moral compass and national conscience” known for his “principles, unwavering courage, humility, dignity, compassion who has left an indelible mark on the lives of millions of people”.
The Tutu Foundation website continues such tributes: “Revelling in his humanity, in both words and actions, Tutu showed fellow South
Africans and people across the world what a life lived in love looks like. One of the world’s most respected spiritual and human rights leaders, Tutu was a living testament to faith in action, insuppressible in his opposition against the evils of racism, oppression, intolerance, and injustice not just during apartheid South Africa, but wherever in the world he saw moral wrongs, especially impacting the most vulnerable and voiceless in society.”
For years, while Nelson Mandela and other leaders were behind bars, Tutu visibly and courageously led the fight against white-minority rule. Tutu’s bravery in the face of apartheid is legendary, his faith deep, practical and consistent, his compassion almost unbounded and his humility unmatched.
As one example of his humility, he was apparently very clear on his wishes for his funeral. He wanted no ostentatiousness or lavish spending. He asked that the coffin be the cheapest available, and that a bouquet of carnations from his family be the only flowers in the cathedral, encouraging those who wanted to buy flowers to send the equivalent amount in money to the Tutu Foundation.
Tutu’s laugh was infectious and his teachings were intrinsically laced with his sublime, often selfdeprecating, humour. In fact, Tutu often used humour to make his point. Here’s a small selection:
“But God can only smile because only God knows what’s coming next!”
“We may be surprised at the people we find in heaven. God has a soft spot for sinners. His standards are quite low.”
“When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, ‘Let us pray’. We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land!”
“My father used to say, don’t raise your voice; improve your argument.”
In another well-known quote, Tutu directly challenges us all to take a stand: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
But perhaps his greatest legacy is what he taught and demonstrated to us about forgiveness. Tasked to head South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Tutu deftly steered what would have been for others a highly fraught and treacherous course. His words about forgiveness say it all.
“Forgiveness is like this: a room can be dank because you have closed the windows, you’ve closed the curtains. But the sun is shining outside, and the air is fresh outside. In order to get that fresh air, you have to get up and open the window and draw the curtains apart … Forgiveness and reconciliation are the only truly viable alternatives to revenge, retribution and reprisal. Without forgiveness, there is no future.”
Oh, that we could learn to forgive with such generosity of spirit. Vale Desmond Tutu. He leaves this world a better place and we have been blessed by his life.
FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION ARE THE ONLY TRULY VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO REVENGE, RETRIBUTION AND REPRISAL. WITHOUT FORGIVENESS, THERE IS NO FUTURE.