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Albie Sachs Talks about Revenge

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Albie Sachs, a white activist who opposed apartheid and was exiled from South Africa for 23 years, now serves as a judge on South Africa’s Constitutional Court. While in exile, Sachs survived an assasination attempt. In this clip from Facing the Truth, with Bill Moyers, Sachs talks about revenge.

Transcript: 

MOYERS: Was there a moment after what happened to you when you lusted for revenge?

SACHS: Never.

MOYERS: Never?

SACHS: Never. But I think there’s something wrong with me. But afterwards it stood me in very good stead. You keep your eye on the prize, and that’s freedom and transformation, and for me to do to someone else what they did to me, that’s not going to make my arm grow, but for me to live in a free society, I feel that there are roses and lilies growing out of my arm. I feel liberated, I feel it wasn’t for nothing, it was for something."

Related Videos: 
Albie Sachs on Building a Constitution in South Africa
Albie Sachs Discusses the TRC
Related Facing History Resources: 
An Amazing Day with Justice Albie Sachs
Video length: 
0 min 44 sec