Non-violent Conflict Resolution through Forgiveness
Holy Family Tech. College, London
9 May 2008
“She was so angry that she stabbed my daughter just because she was in the way, because she said ‘what?’”. Mary Foley’s story about her daughter Charlotte was heart breaking, but very real. Charlotte was no different than many of you and to hear her mother say she forgive the girl that killed her – that was powerful!
Thanks to all you year 7 & 8 at Holy Family for making us welcome at your school. It’s too bad that the Q&A at the end was cut short; I know many of you had more questions that you would have liked to ask. Can you forgive someone even if they are not sorry? Do you have the strength to forgive the small things that people do to you? Tell us what you think.
anon said:
your assembley was really touching when mary was speaking i had a tear in my eye
your assembley was really touching when mary was speaking i had a tear in my eye
Davina Lynch-Thomas said:
Hi, loved your assembly. It helped me because I get into fights a lot, just for someone cussing me or something. I read the book, and some of the stories are quite sad. I feel sorry for Charlotte and all the other teens lost through violence. It makes me stop and think before I start a fight. Yours, Davina
Hi, loved your assembly. It helped me because I get into fights a lot, just for someone cussing me or something. I read the book, and some of the stories are quite sad. I feel sorry for Charlotte and all the other teens lost through violence. It makes me stop and think before I start a fight. Yours, Davina
Juliana Salgado said:
Hi well I just wanted to say that the assembly was really good and the way you started it was also good and the set up. I am trying to understand how hard it must be to all those people who forgave before the bitterness grew too big to handle. I have read a few stories so far from the book ‘Why Forgive’ the all have being really good. Also the two stories that we were told in the assembly were very touching because these were real life stories. You know the blank tomb stone has a name ‘Jimmy Mizen’ but hopefully all the assemblies you do around schools and other places will make a difference. Thanks for coming
Hi well I just wanted to say that the assembly was really good and the way you started it was also good and the set up. I am trying to understand how hard it must be to all those people who forgave before the bitterness grew too big to handle. I have read a few stories so far from the book ‘Why Forgive’ the all have being really good. Also the two stories that we were told in the assembly were very touching because these were real life stories. You know the blank tomb stone has a name ‘Jimmy Mizen’ but hopefully all the assemblies you do around schools and other places will make a difference. Thanks for coming
rachel laurie said:
hay. i really think that assembly today made us all think about are actions and what we do wrong. Also it made us think about what people do to use and and if we can forgive them. We had to read the book you gave us in the second period and there was heartbreaken stories in there wicth made me think why do people do this? i think you should carry on do the assemblys and should get the message [forgive not hate] to the word. xxxxx your assembly was great. thank you for coming to our school.
hay. i really think that assembly today made us all think about are actions and what we do wrong. Also it made us think about what people do to use and and if we can forgive them. We had to read the book you gave us in the second period and there was heartbreaken stories in there wicth made me think why do people do this? i think you should carry on do the assemblys and should get the message [forgive not hate] to the word. xxxxx your assembly was great. thank you for coming to our school.
Gabriella Uzice said:
HIII x i luved the assembly today at our school x I was touched at how many people could be affected by stories x and the pain that family and friends go through because of violence x When i heard Mary Foleys story i realised how hard it must of been to forgive Beatrice for stabbing Charlottex I’ve realised that over the past few years many people have been affected, hurt, and grieving for the ones that they have lost over gang crimes and violence x It must be really hard to forgive people over things like that x As Mary was telling us her story my eyes was watering, because i always hear things like people being stabbed or shot because of violence, but i’ve never been told it by someone. I have read half way through the book and i’ve already started crying. I always thought that it was hard to forgive, but after our assembly i’ve realised that no matter if you don’t want to forgive you have to to become a better person, than the criminal, and to give others hope and dtop crimes x Bless . Thank you .
HIII x i luved the assembly today at our school x I was touched at how many people could be affected by stories x and the pain that family and friends go through because of violence x When i heard Mary Foleys story i realised how hard it must of been to forgive Beatrice for stabbing Charlottex I’ve realised that over the past few years many people have been affected, hurt, and grieving for the ones that they have lost over gang crimes and violence x It must be really hard to forgive people over things like that x As Mary was telling us her story my eyes was watering, because i always hear things like people being stabbed or shot because of violence, but i’ve never been told it by someone. I have read half way through the book and i’ve already started crying. I always thought that it was hard to forgive, but after our assembly i’ve realised that no matter if you don’t want to forgive you have to to become a better person, than the criminal, and to give others hope and dtop crimes x Bless . Thank you .
hi everyone i just wonted to say thank you for coming to my our school. we were really touched by everything you said. i taught us lots about how to forgive and that it really is a powerful thing to forgive thank you mary foley you touched me the most in fact you made me cry and it must of been really hard for you i am so sorry for your loss. xx keisha xx