South Africa: Former minister washes clergyman's feet in apology (BBC)

[mogster]

Feet washed in apartheid apology

A prominent South African clergyman and opponent of apartheid has told how an apartheid-era minister washed his feet in a gesture of contrition.
Rev Frank Chikane survived a murder attempt in the 1980s. He said he was grateful for the gesture made earlier this month by ex-minister Adriaan Vlok.
{...)
Mr Vlok was security minister in the late 1980s, a period when emergency laws granted police sweeping powers of arrest and detention against anti-apartheid activists.

Rev Chikane, former head of the South African Council of Churches, told at the weekend how Mr Vlok had arrived at his office and given him a Bible with the words "I have sinned against the Lord and against you, please forgive me (John 13:15)" on its cover.

"He said 'I take you as a representative and an embodiment of all the other people I should be talking to,'" Rev Chikane said, quoted by the Pretoria News.

"He then asked for water ... he picked up a glass of water, opened his bag, pulled out a bowl, put the water in the bowl, took out the towel, said 'you must allow me to do this' and washed my feet in my office," Rev Chikane said.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5292302.stm

[DRoseDARs]

1. A powerful gesture in many cultures, but admittedly a little wierd to me.

Sorry, but I'm not much a foot person. :shrug:

[Peace Patriot]

2. It's right out the Bible, the New Testament--Jesus washed the feet of his

apostles to show them the meaning of love and humility and service--and NO HIERARCHY. Dusty roads in those days--dust, dirt dragged into the house. But usually it was lowly servants or women who washed peoples' feet as they entered. Jesus got down on his knees and washed everybody's feet. Very egalitarian guy, Jesus. I think he would have approved of democracy.

The Pope goes through this ritual every year--but never seems to get the point.

This is a stunning revelation of the South African clergyman. It is the way of peace. It is "truth and reconciliation." It is not weird at all. We need this to happen HERE.

[crikkett]

3. and,

Have you ever washed your feet on a hot, hot day? Feels really nice. There's got to be a 'feels really nice' component to the ritual; ancient people must have had some comfort in their lives.

Practically speaking the feet head and hands do a lot to regulate body heat, that's why it's so important to cover them in the cold.