Forgiveness

[gooddog]

This is a radio interview with a woman whose daughter was murdered and how she found forgiveness and became anti-death penalty after 8 rage filled years. This woman is my hero.

Election Bet | Death Penalty: Aba Gayle | Jimmy Mak's Closing . Radio | OPB

[Sporadium]

Sorry. I am posting this without having listened to the interview.

I just wanted to add that I would never forgive someone who murdered my child. Never. Ever. Not for something like that.

But, that would also never change my view on the death penalty. As much as I might want to hurt that person I would recognise difference between the feelings of hate I ve for this person and the moral and legal problems inherent in a system of government sanctioned murder.

[Sporadium]

Sorry. I am posting this without having listened to the interview.

I just wanted to add that I would never forgive someone who murdered my child. Never. Ever. Not for something like that.

But, that would also never change my view on the death penalty. As much as I might want to hurt that person I would recognise difference between the feelings of hate I ve for this person and the moral and legal problems inherent in a system of government sanctioned murder.

[Sammy1970]

I have not heard the interview and couldn't find a link so I could listen before replying so apologies.

This is just my take on the concept of murder and forgiveness and I understand that there are diverse views on this subject.

I believe in God & Jesus Christ but, I am not religous and do not attend church. It's not my thing and I talk to 'The Boss' on a regular basis from the heart in silence and that works for me. If religion works for others then that is a good thing for them. My opinion may not be deemed very Christian, but this is genuinely how I feel.

Firstly though, I do not believe that the Death Penalty is any kind of deterrent. Extreme crimes can be so complex and people who perpetrate the most twisted acts were probably very damaged from childhood and were likely victims of terrible treatment themselves. Jeffrey Dahmer seems to be an exception. As far as I know he wasn't poorly treated. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong on that point as I am no expert. Some human beings experience terrible treatment and never harm a single soul and others do. There is never justification for brutality regardless of past horrendous experiences, but one can see how this could create monsters.

The other problem with the Death Penalty is that if someone is wrongly convicted then this is a terrible tragedy and this has happened. Discrimination towards ethnic minorities would also see more people e.g. from the Afro-American community finding themselves on death row in disproportionate numbers due to less financial resources in the main resulting in worse legal representation etc. Others who may be framed for crimes that they did not commit would also be at risk....you know the possible scenarios.

To answer the question above, as a parent, if some one brutally raped or murdered any of my children and I didn't manage to stop them myself or wasn't around when the act took place, I would want a number of things to happen.

(1) I would want the real perpetrator found, not anyone the police feel they can pin the crime on in order to make their success rates look good, which sometimes happens.

(2) I would want the burden of proof (especially if I hadn't witnessed anything with my own eyes) to be massively beyond reasonable doubt. The evidence would have to be cast iron, because I would want the real person found.

(3) Then I would want that person to be denied the luxury of living and breathing and being taken care of at the tax payers expense, while my child/children are laid to rest - ASSUMING the bodies are even found.

(4) The family should be allowed to decide whether that person gets life or death if the country or state still has the death penalty. So someone who wants to show mercy can do so, but if the family feels differently, they can ask for the ultimate punishment IF there is cast iron proof of premeditation, cruelty, torture etc.

(5) I'm not into making it long and drawn out and going down that dark road. Just quickly efficiently and cheaply. Hanging was how we did it in the UK and I don't think it costs much.

This sentence should apply to all sexual crimes perpetrated against men, women, children and animals which these demons are fond of targeting, not just murder.

The question of forgiveness is very personal. I wouldn't be frothing at the mouth full of hatred for the rest of my life, but I would be completely devastated, heart broken and soul destroyed. There is a difference. In my mind only the victim can truly forgive the act as it happened to them, so while a parent may forgive, they can do so for themselves.

I wouldn't forgive because I don't think it is my place to, in terms of forgiving the act, which happened to someone else, but you can let go of hate and still have someone punished appropriately.

Just my view. I respect many people feel differently.