Quote:
Originally Posted by graham.hobart
...
My original point was ... that they deserved mercy or clemency after ten years of good behaviour- the death sentence commuted to LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
...
Somehow a plea for mercy has got all mixed up with right and wrong.
|
Exactly Graham!
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
Thankfully, I think your general sentiments on this issue are indeed shared by the vast majority Graham and are humane, balanced and just.
Mike
|
I sure hope so Mike. It's hard to tell frankly. Much of the sentiment expressed in this thread plus the arguments in the broader community have, as you correctly pointed out earlier, missed the point. This is not about crime & punishment (the law), it's about
redemption and
mercy (the humanity).
I ignored this case for 10 years. When they got their original sentence I thought fine, just deserts etc etc. My humanity kicked in when I heard how they had both worked so hard to redeem themselves. It became clearer and clearer that theirs wasn't an act or a facade. It was a real attempt to do good and make amends.
My wife, who runs a large rehab center in these parts, can attest to the reality that people can change their path from bad to good. Even when not faced with a death sentence wrong doers can see the light and make amends and become better people. Some even go on to be
excellent mentors and teachers to others who might be following the same destructive path.
Shortly before his execution, Andrew Chan actually called and addressed the "students" in Gail's rehab to challenge them about taking the opportunities presented to them to turn their lives around
now before it's too late. Coming from him the message was a lot more powerful than if it had come from someone without that negative life experience. I.e. even at the end Andrew Chan was trying to help others to change.