 michellezm says: Good to know the grace of God extends to the very worst of humanity. He is just crying for his sorry ass self. what's the use, crying now? pop for debby Unfortunately, the Khmer Rouge was no more guilty than the United States of America back then. Tosh! If he is truly apologetic, he should demand that he be justly punished. We'll see if that happens. If it doesn't, then we can be sure that it is all just for show. He's in custody about to be tried and sentenced, what's he going to do? Laugh? No, he'll cry and cry, oh the poor children... He's guilty as hell and he knows it. Of course he is, and he's not denying it. Why sneer? What more could he do? Isn't a broken heart and an utter shame what he should be feeling? He should have felt some compassion before torturing and killing all those people. It's just a little late now for me to be anything but cynical. The only ones who can hand out any real forgiveness are the victims, and seeing as how they are all dead ... The rest of us can be on our guard, knowing the character of this man by his past actions. Frankly I think there are already too many bad people in this world to be accepting one of them back into society with open arms just because he feels bad for what he did. I can only look on in astonishment to people that would declare a forgiveness to people like this. Better cynical than gullible. Forgiveness and incaution are not the same. And thank God, the choices are more than either cynical or gullible. Evil splashes on all who get near it; we end up hating like the haters hated. It's like drinking poison and hoping someone else will die. If I let myself hate, it shows up in the relationships that matter most to me. It changes who I am. I wonder if forgiveness allows us to still vigilantly defend against people who've committed such heinous crimes, without poisoning ourselves. Are you trying to convince me that I am as bad as a criminal because I demand that criminals face consequences from slaps on the wrist to death sentence? In most cases there is absolutely no hatred in involved in my feelings for criminals. Its a cold and calculated logic. I have no empathy for people that purposefully harm others. If they harm people close to me then yes, there may be hatred, and I do not apologize for that. But that is a consequence of their chosen actions. I am really pretty offended when people try to paint me as "evil splashed" because I support, demand, and am willing to implement harsh punishments on societies worst criminals. Nope; just telling my own story. Another Excellent Masbury. I remember when I was young watching the very first violent murder I'd ever seen on TV during the black uprising in the apartheid era. It was a young black woman being beaten and finally necklaced (burned with a car tyre around her). I was utterly wrecked. In my horror and anger I remember thinking, "If I'd been there with a gun, I'd have shot the lot of them". In the next instant it dawned on me that I was no different from them and they felt as justified in their anger as did I. It's a bitter concept to grasp that the heart of every human being is "deceitfully wicked above all things". I still struggle with it. Thanks! I've been moved by the story of Dinur for twenty years, I think. To have seen the camps, then realized "Eichman is in all of us" strikes me as a courageous insight. How ironic it is that the path to goodness is somehow tied up in seeing my own capacity for evil - not in shame, but in humility. Then I discover that people who do the things I hate have a great deal in common with me. We're both broken. Like you, "I still struggle with it." Peace! Monte How ironic it is that the path to goodness is somehow tied up in seeingI'd never seen it that way. Thank you Masbury I agree Michellezm. The difference being that someone hunted down their victims or took advantage of them when they were vulnerable, or simply abused a position of power. Again, I don't believe this "there is evil in all of us" mentality. To respond, protect, and rid yourself of a monster does not make you a monster. I'm reminded of the movie "Red Dawn" when the subject of morality came up when the kids were killing the invading army. One of the characters said that the killing made them just as bad as the Russian invaders, but the return comment was that THEY came to our land. The point being that a victim does not seek out a predator. If someone were to horribly harm my family in a predatory manner then I ... @Ootcloud Your last comment is excellent! Well said. To respond, protect, and rid yourself of a monster does not make you a monster.I'm not sure anyone here would disagree. What diminishes one is not defense, but revenge or cruelty, both of which suggest an inner motive that is far darker than merely "respond, protect, and rid yourself of a monster." Responding justly to injustice takes heroic self-control. It means refusing the cowardice of under-response, and it means refusing the self-indulgent cruelty of over-response. Some might find this site thought-provoking: Restorative justice So well said Masbury, and thanks for that interesting link. I failed to clarify in my little story that my intent and motivation at that particular moment was one of rage and revenge. I agree with you Oortcloud in terms of self-preservation and/or protection of another. I have been attacked twice in my life by knife-wielding men, and had I had the means and/or strength at that time I would have killed my attackers and had no compunction in doing so. There is a huge difference. It's down to the motivation - defense or revenge.. Mas bring up a non- conventional way of looking at something. Forgiveness is often a gift one can give to oneself. It builds confidence that you can survive from the pain another human being forced upon you. But forgiveness is after the fact and it's very personal. You do NOT have to forgive. Do I think Ort is evil for not feeling any empathy for the Duch's of this world? NO. But then, again, I don't think Mas thinks that either Ort. Personally, I think the world would be better off without them and I would have no problem blowing his brains out if he had hurt one of my children. Having said that, lets get back to forgiveness and the power it can have in one's life. A mi... I find that forgiving people who actively sought to hurt/kill other betrays the victims. Forgiving them after the fact is no better than consenting prior to the crime. Preservation or revenge - in either case some dogs need to be put down (no offense to all the good dogs of the world) |
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