Redemption
I think redemption as a concept is underrated.
I mean, sure, there are these people who will try and sell you redemption if you follow their book, or pay them enough money, or have someone else treat you as their pity porn. Perhaps that's why redemption is overlooked. Perhaps it's just that we live in a society which exalts violence and vengeance. (Seriously - our justice system is based on retribution, most narratives in fiction involve overcoming an obstacle with murder, and we are encouraged to support armies.)
The main argument against redemption seems to be "but this person had other chances" or "but this means that this person gets off scot free".
I'll admit that I don't have good counterarguments. I have blunt statements and a belief system.
Many people have many, many opportunities through life. Some are easier to achieve than others; some are almost impossible. People will make mistakes. People will actively do malicious things. You are one of those people. I am one of those people. Call people out, sure (although I have problems with how arbitrary callout culture can feel). A lifetime of condemnation is not a fitting punishment for a mistake. Even if it's a fitting punishment for doing something terrible, people should still be able to do something good. To start atoning - even if they never finish.
You know what? When you try to fix what you broke, you don't get off scot free. Other people still have to live with the hurt you caused them. You have to live knowing that you hurt people. You have to live knowing that no matter what you do, some people will never forgive you and that they have every right to do that. Atonement is hard.
Here's why I support atonement and redemption: people can change. It's what we do best as humans. It's not like people keep the same personality their whole lives. If people can change for the better - and I have a mostly unfounded belief that we can - let's make it easier for people to do that. Let's face it: humans are stupid and cruel. We spend most of our time being stupid and cruel to each other. We are not in a position to say that we don't want certain people to become better; being a doomed moral victor is not nearly as important as making the world a better place.
You are not required to forgive anyone. You are not required to act like a selfless angel, even to people who want to hurt you. But it would be nice to encourage people to change and help others out.
I mean, sure, there are these people who will try and sell you redemption if you follow their book, or pay them enough money, or have someone else treat you as their pity porn. Perhaps that's why redemption is overlooked. Perhaps it's just that we live in a society which exalts violence and vengeance. (Seriously - our justice system is based on retribution, most narratives in fiction involve overcoming an obstacle with murder, and we are encouraged to support armies.)
The main argument against redemption seems to be "but this person had other chances" or "but this means that this person gets off scot free".
I'll admit that I don't have good counterarguments. I have blunt statements and a belief system.
Many people have many, many opportunities through life. Some are easier to achieve than others; some are almost impossible. People will make mistakes. People will actively do malicious things. You are one of those people. I am one of those people. Call people out, sure (although I have problems with how arbitrary callout culture can feel). A lifetime of condemnation is not a fitting punishment for a mistake. Even if it's a fitting punishment for doing something terrible, people should still be able to do something good. To start atoning - even if they never finish.
You know what? When you try to fix what you broke, you don't get off scot free. Other people still have to live with the hurt you caused them. You have to live knowing that you hurt people. You have to live knowing that no matter what you do, some people will never forgive you and that they have every right to do that. Atonement is hard.
Here's why I support atonement and redemption: people can change. It's what we do best as humans. It's not like people keep the same personality their whole lives. If people can change for the better - and I have a mostly unfounded belief that we can - let's make it easier for people to do that. Let's face it: humans are stupid and cruel. We spend most of our time being stupid and cruel to each other. We are not in a position to say that we don't want certain people to become better; being a doomed moral victor is not nearly as important as making the world a better place.
You are not required to forgive anyone. You are not required to act like a selfless angel, even to people who want to hurt you. But it would be nice to encourage people to change and help others out.
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