Lets be clear........

I had a e-mail today asking for my support on an issue which in the past has been quite, at least on the surface, straight forward for me, that of what is a appropriate response to the future of people who have committed a crime. In this particular case I have always been clear that these people should be put out of harms way until things change, both for them and for the victims and for the general public. What has not been clear, at least to you the observer of my opinion, is why this should be the case. CHANGE, change is infinite. You can not punish someone permanently. ie you cannot inflict a punishment on the same person forever. Why? because the person dose not exist in the same state forever. So over time you will start to punish a person who has changed and so that punishment is not appropriate or not effective. At some point you, and them and the victim or the victims family must deal with what has happened and move on, just as each of us has moved on both physical and mentally. Granted this may not be for the better but moved on we have. So..........yes its not easy is it? not simple nothing is. Hate never destroyed hate only love destroys hate. Not fluffy pink love but metta, loving kindness, practical, realistic love, accepting of our faults and the faults of others kind of love. Some call it tough love, and it can be tough, usually tough on the person giving it, as much as the person receiving it. You can't change the past only the present, you can't change the further it hasn't happened! Change your mind and your actions will follow. An eye for an eye just means we all are half blind with hate, I would rather see everything with metta, even the bad bits, and not have things hidden out of sight.

Matta!