The act of forgiving, in its true sense, is more that likely, one of our most difficult "tests" in life.
A family has lost their child to a rampaging psychopath, the man a raging lunatic, a serial killer and sadist, though over time is finally apprehended, moves through our Judicial system and is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This man tortured and killed this families little girl in the worst way possible. The killers sentence: 25 years without parole.
As a parent, my first reaction is to commit murder, make him "pay" for what he did to my little girl.
Is twenty-five years in a prison with Foxtell television in his cell, off time with his "girlfriend", and good meals everyday, true justice for such a horrible crime?
Well, not in the slightest.
We can all assume to be liberal minded and "justify" this behaviour as "insane", "bad childhood" or simply the pathological condition of psychopathy - not really his fault, but a product of nature and nurture combined to create a monster. He has No resposibility because he is merely a "product" of his environment.
Rubbish.
Justice is Blind.
The Laws an Ass.
The balance of right and wrong too often sways towards the weak - the liberal-minded Fence Sitter; "It's not his fault but our socioty and his disfunctional family who is in fact created this monster are really to blame."
This may be absolutely true, but the Monster is still a sadistic child killer, and should be delt with appopriately.
What is appropriate?
Certainly not Foxtell cable, internet access, monthly conjugal visits from his girl friend and a nice structured life where he is NOT permitted to take responsibility because the system is not geared that way.
THE LAW IS AN ASS?
More to the point, however, if subjected to such an appalling situation, after the dust settles, would you have the capacity within your heart to Forgive this Monster?
A father who has lost his child to a Freak; for a Just man, a Good father, this would be the hardest "test" in his entire life.
Part of the Lord's prayer: ..."and forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
In this case, for the father of this poor little girl, this is a Big ask...but a necessary one.
Why?
Because without forgiveness, he will have no peace. It will haunt him to his last day.
Forgiving one's enemies has most often been seen as a sign of weakness.
True strength of character is the ability to forgive and not be a victim, at the same time.
I'll never forget this beautiful woman whose child had been murdered by this 'man'.
In court, rather than ranting and raving, she said that she forgave him and truly hoped, God would forgive him in the next life. This woman was sad yet spoke from her heart.
This reminds me of a quote from Jean-Paul Sartre:
"It is not what people do to you that matters but what you do to them that matters."
Our responses to life's hardships truly define our character.
Because Forgiveness is powerful and Right.
A family has lost their child to a rampaging psychopath, the man a raging lunatic, a serial killer and sadist, though over time is finally apprehended, moves through our Judicial system and is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This man tortured and killed this families little girl in the worst way possible. The killers sentence: 25 years without parole.
As a parent, my first reaction is to commit murder, make him "pay" for what he did to my little girl.
Is twenty-five years in a prison with Foxtell television in his cell, off time with his "girlfriend", and good meals everyday, true justice for such a horrible crime?
Well, not in the slightest.
We can all assume to be liberal minded and "justify" this behaviour as "insane", "bad childhood" or simply the pathological condition of psychopathy - not really his fault, but a product of nature and nurture combined to create a monster. He has No resposibility because he is merely a "product" of his environment.
Rubbish.
Justice is Blind.
The Laws an Ass.
The balance of right and wrong too often sways towards the weak - the liberal-minded Fence Sitter; "It's not his fault but our socioty and his disfunctional family who is in fact created this monster are really to blame."
This may be absolutely true, but the Monster is still a sadistic child killer, and should be delt with appopriately.
What is appropriate?
Certainly not Foxtell cable, internet access, monthly conjugal visits from his girl friend and a nice structured life where he is NOT permitted to take responsibility because the system is not geared that way.
THE LAW IS AN ASS?
More to the point, however, if subjected to such an appalling situation, after the dust settles, would you have the capacity within your heart to Forgive this Monster?
A father who has lost his child to a Freak; for a Just man, a Good father, this would be the hardest "test" in his entire life.
Part of the Lord's prayer: ..."and forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
In this case, for the father of this poor little girl, this is a Big ask...but a necessary one.
Why?
Because without forgiveness, he will have no peace. It will haunt him to his last day.
Forgiving one's enemies has most often been seen as a sign of weakness.
True strength of character is the ability to forgive and not be a victim, at the same time.
I'll never forget this beautiful woman whose child had been murdered by this 'man'.
In court, rather than ranting and raving, she said that she forgave him and truly hoped, God would forgive him in the next life. This woman was sad yet spoke from her heart.
This reminds me of a quote from Jean-Paul Sartre:
"It is not what people do to you that matters but what you do to them that matters."
Our responses to life's hardships truly define our character.
Because Forgiveness is powerful and Right.
4 comments:
Not interested!
Again not interested.
Hey Craig
There is a book of 2 short essays by Derrida. "On Cosmopolitanism and Forgiveness". It's worth a look if you're interested in thinking further about this subject. It's a short one and not as dense a read as a lot of his other stuff.
cheers
t.
Thanks Terry, I'll look into it...
Cheers,
Craig
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