Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"Good vs. Evil: Human Rights vs. Human Wrongs"

Ashley Chang-Story

Issue date: 3/2/10 Section: Current Affairs

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Media Credit: Ashley Chang-Story Archbishop Desmond Tutu addresses the NSU community.

NSU was honored with the opportunity to have Nobel Peace Laureate and human rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu speak on Friday, Feb. 26. Also known as, "South Africa's Conscious", Archbishop Tutu captivated the audience with his jovial spirit and engaging analogies.

The Archbishop began his speech by addressing the dichotomous topic of characterizing God as omnipotent, all-powerful, and all-loving. He discussed that most would doubt God's concern for mankind, if he only observed the continuous oppression and injustice found within the world. He refuted this argument by stating, "God has given all of us an incredible gift of choice. Yeah! That makes you and memoral creatures who can choose between right and wrong, good and bad. We are able to choose to love or to hate."

As much as individuals would greatly desire God to intervene on the behalf of the hurting, the Archbishop acknowledged that such divine intervention would lead to the disruption of natural laws. Archbishop Tutu gave the analogy of a baby falling from the fourth floor story of a building. God could change gravity or the texture of the ground so that the child would safely reach the ground, but that alteration would have adverse affects worldwide, which most would not appreciate. The Archbishop preached that God observes rather than intervenes during times of distress, not because he is indifferent towards his creation, but because he is respecting the gift of choice that is given to all. Archbishop Desmond Tutu went on to say, "Whether you are tall or stumpy, like me, you are this incredible thing held tenderly, lovingly, caringly in the hands of God. Your name is engraved in the palms of God's hands."

Throughout the entire speech, Archbishop Tutu made it clear that unconditional love is found in God, but it may not appear the way one might hope it to be. The Archbishop declared an impacting statement: "God has a deep reverence for this gift [of choice] to allow a free gift to hell rather than compel us to heaven. God gives me the power to reject God". It may sound dismal; an omnipotent God watches his beloved creation suffer daily and refuses to do anything but the Archbishop reminded the audience that, "God is biased because he is always on the side of the weak, oppressed, and marginalized. Yet, God says: please help me, I look for human collaborators [to aid in the change of the moral climate of this universe]."

The Archbishop recalls his own country of South Africa, who suffered with apartheid, which is a system of discrimination on grounds of race. It was those, worldwide, who stood up against the injustice occurring in his country that allowed the black South Africans to vote for the first time in the land of their birth April 27, 1994 and essentially end apartheid in that country.

"On behalf of the millions of our people, we are free, thank you," rejoices Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The riveting and uplifting speech had the audience in high spirits as they left.

Freshman international student Nadia Harrylal who is an environmental studies majors stated, "Archbishop Desmond Tutu's speech impacted and gave me the ability to really show and not just think about how wonderful God works. It was my pleasure being able to attend an event on campus in which the Archbishop was the guest speaker."

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