I listened to a most interesting feature on restorative justice on NPR the other morning. I had been acquainted with the concept for years, but largely in conjunction with some church-oriented program. But to have it being promoted as a purely pragmatic approach other than love thy neighbor gave me new hope. It makes so much sense to have victim and perpertrator eye-to-eye. One of the assailants said one of the hardest thing he ever did in his life was to come face to face with his victim. I just let that thought percolate through my heart all day long.What percentage of conflict would be completely changed if people sat down with one another? To see the pain, tears, worry lines inches away instead of being clanged away into prison, sealing apart forever the deed and doer, might it not change the course of entire civilizations?
And on a much smaller one-to-one scale, if Twitter or Facebook combatants had to face each other, how different would the thrust of language be?
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