Could you forgive someone who shot you?

[Gemini Cricket]

The little girl said the word porch and then began sobbing loudly. After her mother comforted her, 5-year-old Kai Leigh Harriott looked up from her blue wheelchair in the hushed courtroom yesterday and faced the man who fired the stray gunshot that paralyzed her nearly three years ago.

''What you done to me was wrong," the dimpled girl with purple and yellow plastic ties in her braids said softly. ''But I still forgive him."

Source

Could you?

[Nephythys]

Forgiveness frees her- not him. She's a better person for it- and very mature to do it.

As she gets older it will mean more.

Now it's his job to forgive himself.

[Gemini Cricket]

I could. She's one strong little girl.

[Alex]

Depends on why I was shot.

She may have forgiven him but I'm guessing everybody would be pissed off if the judge did.

[Nephythys]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Depends on why I was shot.

She may have forgiven him but I'm guessing everybody would be pissed off if the judge did.

Forgiveness is not a free pass out of consequences.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Depends on why I was shot.

I was thinking more in the mode of if you were that little girl. Same scenario... etc.

[bewitched]

The only thing that comes to mind is the quote (and really bad Star Trek episode):

And the children shall lead...

Could I? I hope that I could, but I'm really not too sure.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Nephythys

Forgiveness is not a free pass out of consequences.

Well, in my view forgiveness without a reduction in consequences is essentially meaningless. But I also doubt that the girl has reached any real decision on such and just knows that is what she is supposed to say. She is probably mirroring what adults around her have said or coached her to say.


GC: In that situation where the guy fired the gun without intention of hurting anybody but just in stupidity. Yes, I suppose I could forgive him. Though I'd still want him held responsible so I'm not sure what value such forgiveness would have.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Though I'd still want him held responsible so I'm not sure what value such forgiveness would have.

I was thinking the same thing about her possibly being coached. Although, I think it is good coaching if it is consistent with the way her parents actually think of the situation. Seeing the situation as forgivable is, to me, a way of moving on for the girl, the girl's family. I think the value is the ability to let go of a bad situation where the girl could blame this guy for the rest of her life and turn into a bitter adult.

[tracilicious]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Well, in my view forgiveness without a reduction in consequences is essentially meaningless. But I also doubt that the girl has reached any real decision on such and just knows that is what she is supposed to say. She is probably mirroring what adults around her have said or coached her to say.

I agree. When she's old enough to fully realize how this will affect her forever, then she can come to a decision on forgiveness.

I could probably forgive just about anybody for just about anything. I would still expect the courts to do their job though.