Justice Is Essential for True Forgiveness

[Joanne98]

Regarding the discussion of whether to "forgive and forget" those who were "just following orders" to engage in illegal methods of torture, it is important to remember that the issue of power is central.

Studies have shown that bystanders tend to side with the perpetrator and blame those with less power. In the public discussion of the torture memos, the obvious persons with power are the torturers, and the detainees are the victims.

However, there is a more subtle process going on as well -- one in which the powerful are those in government and those who confront that power are outraged Americans. In this parallel process, the government of the United States is recommending that Americans extend forgiveness and forego justice. Yet, as the peoples of Rwanda, South Africa, Liberia, Argentina, and other countries have shown, forgiveness is impossible until the perpetrators take responsibility. As Lisa Nastasi, an observer of the Gacaca court process in Rwanda noted, in that country and in other countries that have processes of restorative justice, perpetrators must "admit guilt, show remorse, ask for forgiveness, and demonstrate that they regret their actions" before they are re-instated in the community.

Continued>>>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-dilenschneider/justice-is-essential-for_b_191254.html

[theoldman]

1. I totally agree on this one.

There has to be justice, especially if the group of perpetrators is small. It is a different story when you are talking about a large group like the citizens of two countries. You cannot punish a whole country although we tried that with Germany after WWI. We did not execute millions of Japanese at the end of WWII. We just executed the leaders. In the US we must punish the leaders who issued the orders, not the guys who were following orders.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. In what way did we try to punish the whole of Germany after

the war? We went after war criminals, specific individuals, in an open court of law. Please explain what you mean...

[Igel]

3. Odd shift in the definition of "justice."

Usually mercy upon repentance and contrition--that's what's being demanded here--has traditionally been considered to be the opposite of justice.

So in this case, I guess putting them on trial and sending them to prison would be "mercy".