When Richard Moore came to speak to our class we were told he was there to teach us about forgiveness, but as he stood at the front of the class and explained his story I realised he would educate us not only on forgiveness, but on perspective.
Richard Moore is from the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. At the age of 10, in the midst of the Northern Ireland troubles, Richard was shot with a rubber bullet by a British soldier. As a result of this accident he lost his right eye and the sight in his left eye, leaving him completely blind. Richard always told himself that the person who shot him must have been an 18 year old soldier who didn’t know what he was doing, yet 33 years later Richard discovered the identity of his shooter, a 32 year old captain with a wealth of military experience.
Despite what this man had done to him, Richard wanted to meet the soldier, and chose to forgive him. Richard described to us his thoughts on the futility of anger towards other people, and that being angry at someone else was like drinking a cup of acid and expecting the other person to die. In an event that would have left most people bitter and resentful at what they had lost, it is clear that Richard does not believe he has lost at all. In the years since his incident he has lived a full and happy life; he has a family and a purpose and even a friendship with the Dalai Lama.
What Richard showed us is that no matter the obstacles you face, no matter how easy it would be to take the low road and fixate on those who have caused you suffering, by stepping above it and adapting to your situation with a smile on your face you can achieve anything you set your mind to. It must have taken massive strength for Richard to forgive the man who took his sight and he is a source of both inspiration and wisdom to every one of us who struggles to remember the value of forgiveness in our daily lives.
Holly Holman and Ellen Crozier, Year 11