We have a problem with forgiveness

With rampant violent crimes happening in our country, forgiveness should not be so easily granted. I strongly believe that despite your religious views it is not okay for someone to take an innocent life. When people forgive a person for committing a horrible act upon someone and they forgive them, that just justifies that it is okay to do what they did and they shouldn’t be punished for it.

Relatives of a 100-year-old victim of a home invasion that resulted in her husband being killed, says she has already forgiven his killers. Her husband of 30 years, 91-year-old Waldiman Thompson, died at the hands of four suspects who allegedly broke into the couple’s brownstone, according to WPIX.

According to the New York Daily News, both were tied up. Waldiman Thompson was found unconscious with a blanket wrapped around his head and a pillow pressed into his face, police sources revealed. He died of a cardiac arrest, NY1 reports.

As of yet no one has been charged and the investigation remains opened.

A relative credits Thompson’s faith for her quick forgiveness of her husband’s killers. Her rush to forgiveness is very foolish. Although her faith is inspirational, she needs to be more careful about condoning the behavior of these criminals.

I am very shocked that Mrs. Thompson had quickly forgiven the intruders for killing her 91 year old husband. They have been together for 30 years and they only had each other, according to their neighbor Kevin Tinsley.  

Mrs. Thompson said, “I forgive them but we want justice.”

It is not justice when a person benefits from forgiveness and  these criminals are going to think this forgiveness will mitigate their punishment.

In another case, Dylann Roof, who allegedly killed nine at Emanuel AME Church, at his bond hearing. Some family members of the victims used this time to publicly forgive Roof.

The brutality and horror of the killings of the innocent and the bloody shootout, the indescribable grief of the families and the sheer shock of such an incident occurring in an otherwise quiet community demand prayer, reflection and comfort more than quick and inevitably inadequate pontification.

“I forgive you and my family forgives you,” said Anthony Thompson to alleged shooter Dylann Roof. Thompson’s wife, Myra, was one of those slain. “But we would like for you to take this opportunity to repent, confess. Give your life to the one who matters the most, Christ”.

Since this story is very similar to the Waldiman Thompson case, this unearned forgiveness may encourage other criminals to commit these horrible acts because people come up quickly to forgive.