If we make it impossible for people to ever be forgiven, we take away the incentive for self-improvement. Why should anyone try to better themselves in prison if they know that they can never be redeemed? It's very important that accomplishments like Johnny's be recognized so that others will see there is an actual viable path back to mainstream society.
Yes, but this just underlines the need for justice to not waste its credibility interceding on behalf of the culpable but well-connected, declining to prosecute whole categories of socially-destructive offenses, or granting "forgiveness" on the basis of politics or color.
For forgiveness to have weight, punishment must be weighty. For forgiveness to be sincere, those unworthy of it must be denied it.
If we make it impossible for people to ever be forgiven, we take away the incentive for self-improvement. Why should anyone try to better themselves in prison if they know that they can never be redeemed? It's very important that accomplishments like Johnny's be recognized so that others will see there is an actual viable path back to mainstream society.
Yes, but this just underlines the need for justice to not waste its credibility interceding on behalf of the culpable but well-connected, declining to prosecute whole categories of socially-destructive offenses, or granting "forgiveness" on the basis of politics or color.
For forgiveness to have weight, punishment must be weighty. For forgiveness to be sincere, those unworthy of it must be denied it.