Forgiveness is the method by which an offended party chooses to change the way they feel about someone who has committed the offense against them. It carries a distinct difference from the idea of condoning (where one does not see the attack as wrong and therefore not needing forgiveness), and excusing the action (where you place the blame for the decision on someone else entirely). Giving pardon (cleared by a legal representative), misremembering (where the action no longer exists in memory in any real or present way), or the act of reconciliation (where the relationship is returned without the action strictly being forgiven). National Pardon Day is celebrated on September 8.
“We can’t let somebody rise to the top who will pardon these war criminals. Because they need to go to prison for what they’ve done in this world. We can’t have a pardon. They need to pay for what they’ve done” – Cindy Sheehan
History of Pardon Day
On the 8th of September in 1974, President Gerald Ford presented a rather controversial Presidential Proclamation. This announcement pardoned Richard M. Nixon of all wrongdoing that was compared to the most famous of American scandals, the Watergate affair. Richard made it very clear that he felt he had committed grievous wrongdoings against the people of the United States and the place they had granted him. While you are incredible to be in a position to grant a presidential pardon, what you can do is be more forgiving on International Pardon Day. If you are carrying a grudge against those who have committed some offense against you, National Pardon Day grants you a valid reason to examine your feelings and the time that has passed and to let that resentment and anger go.
What is known about justification is that it is an act that brings happiness to those who give it, one can release the hold on the negative emotions they’re entertaining in themselves, but they cannot release the associated guilt for the person who committed the act. As a result, justification is the one giving it rather than the one who committed the transgression. Analysis has shown that those who have chosen to abandon resentments live longer lives as a result of an improvement in their cardiovascular and nervous systems.
Other Celebrations on September 8
September 8 is also celebrated as
- International Literacy Day
- World Physical Therapy Day
- National Actors Day
- National Iguana Awareness Day
How To Celebrate Pardon Day
There are some good ways to celebrate International Pardon Day. The simplest is to make sure you use ‘Excuse Me’ and ‘Pardon Me’ whenever you feel it appropriate. If you require getting by someone, a simple ‘forgive me’ will serve to ask them to make the way politely. Did you pass gas or bump into someone when trying to get past them? ‘Excuse me’ is a good step towards showing you’re truly contrite.
Another, perhaps more challenging, way to celebrate is to take the time to consider the grudges you carry with you on a day-to-day basis. To imagine them over and determine if it’s worth taking that anger and resentment forward. Take National Pardon Day to set them and yourself free from the toxic weight you’re carrying. You can do it via email, in person, over coffee, or you can write them a letter. If they’ve passed on, don’t let that stand in your way; write a letter with everything you’d like to say in it, and then burn it to set it free. You can use the hashtag #Pardon Day to post on social media.
Thank you for reading the post. Celebrate each day with Happydays365.org and Happy National Pardon Day 2023.
