Hero moved to tears after welcome by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the children of Tibet
TWA's report on the most remarkable event in Human History
Photo Credit; Kalsang Rinchen, www.phayul.com
Nobel peace laureate His Holiness the Dalai Lama took to the stage in front of a packed auditorium at the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamsala this morning (Wednesday, May 5). On either side of him were two men with a remarkable history. To his right sat Richard Moore, who was blinded by a rubber bullet fired by a British soldier when he was 10 years old in war-torn Northern Ireland. To his left was that soldier, Charles, who robbed him of his eyesight 38 years ago.
Incredibly, there is no animosity between Richard and Charles, who have become close friends since meeting for the first time in 2007. His Holiness clutched each of their hands as Richard addressed the audience on the benefits of forgiveness, and encouraged students to turn any anger they might feel into positive action.
Richard Moore's story, his ability to forgive, and his friendship with Charles have won him huge admiration from His Holiness, who wanted the children of TCV to gain inspiration from his example. Reading from a framed citation he presented to Mr Moore, His Holiness said: 'Richard, you are my hero. You have provided a living example of the true practice of forgiveness.' As Mr Moore addressed the children gathered, he told how the Dalai Lama had become his 'best friend' since they first met when His Holiness visited his home town of Derry ten years ago. 'His Holiness invited me here but I didn't think he meant it. I thought it was just a nice thing to say!'
He was shot as he walked home from school on May 4, 1972. A group of youths had been throwing stones at the nearby British Army barracks, and Charles fired rubber bullets to disperse them, something he explained to the audience was 'normal practice'. Richard was hit in the face and would never see again. His father offered to donate his eyes to his son, but doctors told him that the nerve damage was so bad, they could not be replaced. This paternal devotion inspired the title of Mr Moore's autobiography 'Can I Give Him My Eyes'. He told the audience of his appreciation of similar gestures of kindness from Tibetans he had met: 'Yesterday at the Transit School, two pupils offered me their eyes – that was the first time anyone had said that since my father all those years ago.' As TCV pupils praised his bravery in a question-and-answer session, Mr Moore was visibly moved. Hardly able to speak at one point, he said: 'Sorry I'm upset, but when I hear all these beautiful things you're saying, I realize how lucky I am.'
Richard Moore said that he had accepted being blind and that it had given him opportunities he'd never have had otherwise. 'If you said I could have my eyesight back, but that I would have to miss out on experiences like today, I would say I don't want it back,' he said.
Businessman Mr Moore has set up the charity Children in Crossfire, which works to support vulnerable children across the world. He is married to Rita and has two daughters, Naoimh, 21, and Enya, 18. In a typical flash of humour, His Holiness joked during the event: 'You can't see how beautiful your wife and daughters are – but I can enjoy it!' Charles also addressed the audience and spoke of the horror he felt when he realized he had blinded a child - 'I was appalled and devastated' he said, but told how the kindness shown to him by Mr Moore and his family had helped him come to terms with what had happened.
Both Richard and Charles will enjoy a half-hour private audience with His Holiness tomorrow. Speaking to TWA in an interview after the event, Charles explained how privileged he felt to have been embraced by the Dalai Lama. 'If the world was populated by more people like him, it would be a better place,' he said. Tibetan Women's Association president, Kirti Dolkar Lhamo, said: 'We would like to thank the private office of His Holiness for allowing 20 members of TWA to attend this very special event. It is not often that we are able to hear first-hand such a moving story of triumph in the face of adversity. The fact that His Holiness himself has been inspired by Richard Moore's story is testament to his strength and bravery.'
As he was guided out of the TCV Upper Hall, Mr Moore was surrounded by admiring students, some of whom hugged him and were overcome with emotion. A hero's welcome and a hero's farewell from pupils who seem eager to emulate his example of courage and compassion.