I know a man who now resides in a nursing home here in Mesquite, who is not of sound mind at this time and who is an extreme case of this phenomenon. In WWII, he was the photographer in an advance plane that was sent out ahead of bombing runs to take pictures of bombing targets and bring them back so the bombers would know what to take out. A Vet. that defended our country and so to many a hero. These people cannot admit that he has done any wrong.
Later in his life he became known as an alleged molester who molested an unknown number of young ladies (teenagers and older). He did this while being a Deacon and a Sunday School teacher of kids. So to others he is an evil person, and these people cannot admit that he has done any good.
So while I believe that he should have been arrested, trialed, and executed for these crimes, I also think that he should be recognized like all WWII vets as a hero. To only see one side of this person or any other, makes a two dimensional caricature of them. So I think that we need to see both the good and the bad and know that both exists to some degree in all of us.
I have not even gotten into the belief that as a Christian, the wrong doings have been paid for and that person will be rewarded in their future life for the good that was done here. So, for this man as well as many others: Thank you and have a great Memorial Day.
So while I believe that he should have been arrested, trialed, and executed for these crimes, I also think that he should be recognized like all WWII vets as a hero. To only see one side of this person or any other, makes a two dimensional caricature of them. So I think that we need to see both the good and the bad and know that both exists to some degree in all of us.
I have not even gotten into the belief that as a Christian, the wrong doings have been paid for and that person will be rewarded in their future life for the good that was done here. So, for this man as well as many others: Thank you and have a great Memorial Day.
As hard a pill as it is to swallow in this case, we are told to forgive 70 x 7. This guy may have pushed nearly to 469, but . . . . . how many times have the rest of us needed forgiveness??
ReplyDeleteI meant 489 . . . .
ReplyDelete"If he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” This is the verse in Luke 17 that Margaret was referring too. The only time that this man has ever ask for forgiveness is for being caught. He was forced into counseling at one point, but dropped out quickly after "hitting" on the receptionist.
ReplyDeleteI am all for forgiveness, even if the person is struggling and does things over and over, but I do not think that someone should put their head in the sand while a predator hunts down innocent victims either. You see for about 30 years the people who were leaders of this congregation said what Margatet said about forgiveness and turned their heads as he went after other victims.
What I am saying as I look back on this man's life is that the bad does not cancel out the good and the good does not cancel out the bad. If you do that then you are only recognizing a caricature of this man.
I believe that all of us do both bad and good things to some degree and that we should be able to recognize that without making a caricature of them.