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Pardons, commutations and bankruptcy laws are all tools of forgiveness within the US legal system. Are we using them frequently enough, and with fairness? Law professor Martha Minow outlines how these merciful measures can reinforce racial and economic inequality — and makes the case for creating a system of restorative justice that focuses on accountability and reconciliation rather than punishment.
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First comment
“To err is human, to forgive, divine.”
― Alexander Pope
Yeah. Definitely one of those things that should be left in the hands of the Deity.
There is more money to be made by locking people up instead of rehabilitating them.The prison industrial complex is real. Capitalism thrives off of human failure.
When a deep injury is done to us, we never heal until we forgive. Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future 🙂
We are species, we are here to fight. I help others always, but I never forgive someone who has done something wrong to me.
This is just snowflake propaganda
Old Dudes Wisdom
Forgiveness is the path to our own freedom.
That’s not true. While many people find it helpful to their own mental health to forgive, many others do not need to forgive someone to move on with their lives and they find the pressure on them to forgive to be harmful.
If we continue to cling to memories that bring pain and misery to others and to ourselves, we will not be able to “live in the present”. It is mainly about “allowing” everyone the chance for “second chances” which are earned in the choices we make; in what we choose to forget and in what we forgive. This does not mean we can be “taken for granted” 🙂
So long as we don’t start demanding people to forgive fine, everyone should reserve the right to say *No*
SO true.
It’s not going to be a demand. It’s just going to be pressure, pressure, pressure, and a loss of Social Credit if you don’t.
Weird to watch because I don’t live in the US and basically third world countries and USA are the only places that hand out these not efficient and expensive sentences. Usa is basically incarcerating people with mental health problems and it’s way more expensive than having a proper early education program and mental health care.
Henkka that would be true if we didn’t make our own even crazier but pumping them full of every drug and then throwing them in a pure white cold room with their arms and legs being held together for days on end and then letting those people back into society
I just think Jim quick should do this for free. Oh my what ever etc. Because it will benefit the hole humanity. If Volvo haven’t free the 3 points impact belts so many more people would have lost their life. They could have made so many money but for the benefit for humanity they made the patent free. Don’t be selfish when the greater picture suggest it will benefit everyone. Made it free
“Forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgiveness is not overlooking difficulties you have had with people in the past, for that becomes emotionally and intellectually dishonest. You cannot make something good that was not good without deceiving yourself and becoming dishonest regarding your feelings. Forgiveness here must be something that enables you to see another person clearly and to derive learning from that experience, from that relationship.”
A quote from a teaching titled Healing Relationships, which you can read or listen to in its entirety at *NewMessage ORG*
Are you a Carpenter? You hit the Nail on the Head… & flush, in 1!
Ivan I agree. It is seeing the truth, but it is also letting go of the right to get even. Forgiveness is seeing the debt and the pain caused and then canceling the debt. It’s not pretending that the debt never existed, but it’s also not holding onto your right to get even indefinitely. Forgiveness is seeing the truth, and then letting go.
The current system isn’t working… It should be evident since a large % of people in prison, are repeat offenders… How is it that we still think severe punishment is the way to go?
It’s like yelling at your child continually until they cry… The child is may stop doing what you don’t want it to do, but with emotional scarring to go with it… And sometimes they’ll do it even more because they resent you instead…
Actual therapy and interventions can help so many people who are broken, and can stop so many repeat offenders I believe. And if these interventions were to be done before a person goes to jail, even better.
The realization of no victim no crime would be a positive addition to the legal system .
I really like this idea, but how do you change hundred years of criminal laws around the world
The usual Ted Talks speech cadence. It’s nuts!
The legal system is for profit and makes a lot of money out of every person they accuse of a crime. It needs to stop.
After I exact vengeance, I shall consider forgiving.
The best revenge is living well
I can appreciate your points and hear that you have left room in for wisdom and balance.
For me, I choose to forgive because it’s an easier path. Anger, bitterness, resentment, score keeping, etc., keep me stuck in the “story” of the offense(s) and robs me of my own resilience.
I can choose to allow any situation to be for my highest best. I haven’t had to deal with murder, but I have been on the “wrong end” of a number of moral and criminal violations — all difficult opportunities I choose to be for my growth, my highest best.
Holding on to resentment, bitterness, my right to hurt feelings, anger, justice, etc. only hurts me. It robs me of my compassion, my growth, my joy, my best life, my peace, etc.
I’m not a religious person, but I am deeply spiritual. In the many faith traditions I’ve been exposed to, forgiveness seems to be a common thread in one’s spiritual unfoldment — becoming your highest best. We don’t have to “be one of them” to learn from their faith traditions. There are also countless self-help teachers who teach that releasing our right to be hurt, angry, wronged, bitter, resentful, seeking justice, etc. sets us free from the past and allows us to move forward and live life to the fullest.
Isn’t that what we all want?
All that said, I have forgiven, but not without wisdom. In some cases, it’s just not a good idea for a predator to be free. Some crimes, for safety or the greater good, demand appropriate consequences.
For me, forgiveness is the first step to self-compassion. From self-compassion, there is nothing but love.
Just a thought, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
Actually, as she mentioned, when you research our financial laws, you’ll see a good portion are rooted in the laws of the Bible. They are not used often enough. She has a very valid point. It’s not a just system, not balanced.
Commendable sentiment