Posted on

Happy Global Forgiveness Day

 

globalforgivenessHappy Global Forgiveness day! Today, July 7th 2016, is Global Forgiveness Day, a holiday which was started by the Christian Embassy of Christ’s Ambassadors (CECA). The theme of today is, of course, forgiveness. Today is focused on the different ways to forgive others and ourselves.

There are many types of forgiveness. There’s mutual forgiveness, where both you and the other person apologize and forgive one another. There’s one sided forgiveness, where only one person apologizes and the other forgives. There’s open forgiveness, where someone else accepts an apology and forgives someone who did not ask for forgiveness in the first place. There’s inner forgiveness, where you look deep into yourself, accept, and forgive yourself. There’s begrudging forgiveness, where you forgive the person but keep your eye out because you don’t trust them anymore. Lastly, there’s fake forgiveness, where you accept someone’s apology but don’t forgive them at all.

The movie Pop Kowboy features main characters who have a lot to forgive and be forgiven for. Frankie, a down-on-her-luck drag queen, struggles with forgiving her mother. Frankie’s mother couldn’t handle her son living as a woman and kicked her out, shutting her out of both her inheritance and her family home. After years of being alienated, Frankie’s mother was still unable to forgive Frankie for not being the son she wanted and ends up pushing Frankie away again. Because of this, Frankie has to learn to forgive and accept her mother’s viewpoint while still accepting herself and her own choices.

Another person who needs forgiveness in the movie in Pony, the main character in Pop Kowboy. Pony is unable to forgive himself because he feels like he is a nuisance and unwanted. Pony tries to kill himself numerous times throughout the movie and almost succeeds. He feels alienated and alone, but throughout the movie, with a little tough love, he begins to accept himself the way he is. He forgives himself for being different and forgives others for not understanding him.

This movie teaches the viewers about suicide, self-love, self-acceptance, bonds, and forgiveness. Sometimes we cannot be what we want or what other people want us to be. Sometimes, we cannot be the best. We have limitations on what we can actually accomplish. In spite of this, we have to forgive others and, most importantly, we have to forgive ourselves. Watching Pop Kowboy teaches our audience that they do not have to be what other expect them to be in order to be loved, accepted, and most importantly, forgiven.

Posted on

Global Forgiveness Day 2015

 

Here in the United States, the month of July is most known as the month of independence and freedom with 4th of July. Fireworks, American flags, and beer flood the streets leading up to the day. But there is another day that is under the radar that all Americans and people of the world should know which is Global Forgiveness Day. Global Forgiveness Day was founded by the Christian Embassy of Christ's Ambassadors (CECA) and was designed to forgive all conflicts in the world, in specific countries all the way down to the individual home and person. CECA has spearheaded this event ever since it was founded back in the late 90’s and in recent years has gained traction all over the world. Global Forgiveness Day takes place July 7th, 2015 and CECA’s biggest upcoming project is enacting it here in the United States.

It’s been 12 years since the release of the critically acclaimed film Red Roses and Petrol hit theaters back in 2003. June 27th is the anniversary of the film that told the story of a dysfunctional Irish family coming together after the death of their patriarch (played by Malcolm McDowell). Once together, some of the family members put parts of the past behind them, which ties in perfectly with Global Forgiveness Day.  Although the story has some dark tones and metaphors, love and life are two crucial themes that are played throughout the film.

Too sum it all up, Forgive and Forget! Global Forgiveness Day is something the entire world should stop and think about and really take time to appreciate. With all the violence going on around the world and here at home, this day is something that is very much needed to stop, reflect, and be thankful for the amazing life we all have.