Unforgivable

It started around a similar time last year, when I first posted about people having the freedom of choice (It's My Life). It was parents respecting the passions and wishes of their sons and daughters. It was the sons and daughters following their heart and doing whatever they desired, so long as they became aware of the attached consequences. None of this has changed. But there is one significant thing about choices that I feel the need to address with greater focus. That being the type of choices or to be more specific, the wrong ones. It doesn't matter whether they are big or small, because bad decisions are exactly what they are; bad decisions. And given the harm many of them can do, I see the need to share my stance. There's a reason for punishment, and I will always support it whenever it makes sense. Intentionally make a wrong move, then expect to pay a hefty price. There are even some things I do not believe one can ever come back from.

What classifies as a bad choice? Well there is one straightforward answer. A bad choice is any taken option by one that has negative impact on both themselves and other people. They come in a few different forms including risks, passions and inclinations. But all lead to one or more undesirable results. These results can be anything from financial struggles to life-threatening situations. Hence why punishment exists. We all know how the saying goes. It's better to be safe than sorry. They are unpleasant and nobody wishes to be on the end of them, but punishment is every bit necessary. It is a type of guidance. It teaches everybody to avoid mistakes and learn from those already made. It helps with further distinguishing the right from the wrong. And it encourages the rise of remorse. All have copped this harsh treatment at least once in their life. Punishment hurts very much, but it is there wanting for our best selves to always show.

I myself, have made many horrible decisions and have taken countless missteps throughout my childhood and teenage years. I was selfish. I picked on people. I made a mockery of things I shouldn't have. Plenty of my actions were performed without much thought put into them. Most times I was rightfully told off. The mistakes were pointed out. I took in whatever consequence that came my way (no matter how much I did not enjoy them). Looking back on my overall behaviour, I now often find myself full of shame. I can't execrate the kid I was any more than I do at the moment. I know not to take it back, as it has all built me up to be the better man I am today. However, these indelible memories keep returning to remind me of how foolish I used to be. Sure there are people who have done worse and do not regret anything. I'm just the sort to take a lot of things to heart. If you want to know a little more about this side of me, click the following link: The Room For Improvement.

Back to the topic of choices, some bad decisions are not what they are until harm is seen. Meaning that many behaviours we naturally consider to be inappropriate, are not always that. The most common of them being the acts of keeping secrets and telling lies. There's no denying how wrong they look on the outside. Not to mention the latter further brings down the ability to trust our surroundings (read The Truth About Trust for more on this). But taking these routes at times can often be based on good reason. Hiding or fabricating the truth is a popular action made by good people. While much thought is disregarded, the intentions can be perfectly clear. Such risks as these are able to hint a sign of care. People can now and then sense the truth will doing more harm than good to others. They'll tend to the idea that secrecy is key and that what one doesn't know, won't hurt them. It is though, a misjudgement. One that can bottle up emotion and bring forward pressure. When the lid pops off in any way, the consequences are likely to be tougher to deal with. Liars and secret-keepers are still in general the least worrisome, as punishment isn't as significant for them (and reason more often than not determines the size of such).

Here is where I dig deeper into the topic. To a more specified argument and another step closer to the 'unforgivable'. It's a greater look into another set of wrongdoers, much bigger ones in fact. It should be no surprise to anyone who I consider these bigger offenders to be. A group which make certain bad choices while knowing full well of the already-existing laws telling them not to. We hear about them every day. They go by the common terms 'criminals' or 'law-breaking citizens'. We all know what they do. Speeding, drug-smuggling, vandalism, driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, driving whilst using a phone, running red lights and so on. It baffles me how these people just don't care. It's as if they are rolling in dough and/or simply don't give a toss. It's like they want to be punished or think that they can get away from it. Like they are above the law. They just don't consider the danger they put themselves in. More importantly, they don't consider the danger they put others in. They're completely apathetic. These people are like every other hazard in our lives. What's worse is that they don't bother to see it and some of them believe it or not, like it this way. Despite the normality of criminality, I still find it crazy to think such immoral behaviour coexists with us.

Finally, it comes to the highest point. The point of no return. What's best described by the title of this piece. It's when others do end up getting hurt by these hazardous malefactors. The innocent lives of everyday people, unjustly caught in the danger zone. The harmless and valuable souls that become nothing but collateral damage. Whether it be severe injuries or a lives lost, it remains a permanent mark. Things won't ever return to how they once were. Survivors are left traumatised. Families and friends are left with broken hearts, as the righteous and good-hearted are left cleaning up evil's mess. There are even greater victims, who are targets of danger and indefensible crime. Many women for example have over the years been sexually assaulted and then brutally killed by heartless, warped men. On the other side of the world from me, young children are metres away from school shootings with some not making it through. It's sad, it's sickening and it's hard to stomach. Many of us just couldn't imagine the pain these sufferers go through.

No criminal behaviour is tolerated, and rightly so. But there are certain crimes I feel aren't dealt with hard enough. The most serious one being murder. People treat it as just another offense, but don't truly understand what it is and what it creates. It's the loss of a life at the hands of another. I find it to be the cruelest thing one can do. Taking a life is taking everything away. It's permanent damage that spreads sorrow and depression onto loved ones and close acquaintances. Sending a victim into the unknown and leaving others to never see their face again. Ripping away the opportunity for new experiences and new memories that come with them. A severe crime such as this deserves severe punishment (perhaps a lighter one for the regretful and emotional). Most murderers are practically (and deservedly) lost causes. Once they have a taste of the action, there is no turning back. Especially those responsible for ending multiple lives.

Life is a gift. A chance to experience both beauty and wonder A chance to enjoy and to examine. We humans along with numerous other creatures, are filled with curiosity and eagerness. We want to see how things play out wherever we go. We want to go beyond limits and explore the world we live in. And we humans in particular want to fill our lives with happiness and live them to the fullest. The best of us even attempt to share such joy, curing the ill and unfortunate all while bringing a smile to their faces. Life is a complete package of everything given to us. But the most important thing about the ultimate gift, is that it's a chance for all to return the favour to the higher powers. To leave these powers knowing they've created and blessed the right souls. Of course life doesn't come without its dangers, with the biggest one coming in the form of itself. An inner battle between the children of Earth, sort of an everlasting friction. Humanity has shown itself to be its own worst enemy.

We see it on the news. The heartbreak and tears. The anger towards the criminals. The frustration and displeasure towards the occasionally unfair verdicts. It's a wide range of negative emotions all tied up into one large ball. Crime proves to be a major catalyst in depression. It sparks chain reactions, and leaves some people never feeling as good as they once were. But we can be thankful that the support is always offered to those affected. The masses even get involved with their moral say. They're hostile with the wicked and wholeheartedly agree on the need for proper justice. The most important action of them all however, is the condolences and sharing of sentiments. The key word is 'empathy'. To remind those hurting that they are not alone and that the world is on their side. It's about making sure the suffering, fight through the pain and see the light. It's proof that the virtuous are what they are. Deserving of all the love and respect that can be given. Total opposites to the sin-committers, who most agree deserve the worst. 

I firmly believe that criminals with intent are beyond redemption. Anything from arsonists and murderers to hackers and stalkers. Their recklessness and willingness to inflict angst, pain and death on anybody around them, makes them worthy of abhorrence. These cold, selfish and inhumane monsters never stop to think about what they do. It's all a matter of personal gain, feeding addictions and believing they will always get away with the trouble they cause. And the sad thing is, criminals do succeed more often than not. With law enforcement constantly chasing tails and good-quality security hard to come by, guiltless members of society are forever feeling unsettled. Day or night, there is no telling what happens when one sets foot out the door. People are not even safe in their own homes. So there is no blaming anyone who calls for greater action and true justice to be served. There's still a lot of work to be done, but the direction remains promising. Intentional bad choice makers are rightly punished and repeat offenders are never forgiven.

We all will make multiple bad decisions throughout the rest of our lives. We'll face the awful consequences for some. We'll learn from some and avoid making them again. We'll even regret a few. But there'll always be saving for the lesser offenders. Can't say the same for those with criminal records or those with no hesitation whatsoever in destroying lives for the sake of their own sick and twisted ways. The fiends and sadists of the world. They own no mind and they own no heart. Everything is fun and games. Possessions hold more value to them than the living and breathing. If they don't get their way, they'll destroy for it. Even if it happens to be the greatest gift of all. It's almost unreal, but we are left to accept that we share planet Earth with them. We are left to hope that us as the light shines forever brighter. We know we are already superior, but for some of us it's still not enough. We want to ensure the unforgivable remain unforgivable and they take what they've given.

Travis "TJ" James