Victim of hate crime defends life of attacker

Powered by tea

Viaticum, United Kingdom

Jul 19, 2011 @ 15:26:58

In the days following September 11th 2001, Mark Stroman attacked three people, killing two of them, because he suspected them of being "Arabs" and was seeking revenge for the terrorist attacks. He has been on death row for nine years and is scheduled to be executed tomorrow.

But Rais Bhuiyan, who survived Stroman's shotgun attack but lost sight in his right eye, is campaigning for the shooter's life. He offers forgiveness to Stroman, who ackowledges that his crime was a result of hate and ignorance.

"He did what he did, but now he is a different person, and can talk to the people - those who are as ignorant as him - so there is a chance we can live in a better society. Execution is not a solution in this case."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14199078

0

chisa96

Supreme Goddess

Out in Nature, Wisconsin

#2

Jul 19, 2011 @ 15:29:12

Good on Rais. That takes a strong soul.

3

boobagins

SPICY HOT TAMALES

Astral Weeks, Florida

#3

Jul 19, 2011 @ 15:32:46

This is just one of the reasons death row is so controversial.

Make it life in prison instead of death row.

I don't think ignorance or hate is an excuse for crimes committed. A grown man should know that killing someone and violence is not a solution to anything. Heck, kids know that too.

He does need to pay for the crimes... but an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

2

Edited: July 19, 2011 @ 15:33

buffalobill90

Powered by tea

Viaticum, United Kingdom

#4

Jul 19, 2011 @ 15:33:50

@chisa96 Said

Good on Rais. That takes a strong soul.

The victim of a crime is often readier to forgive the criminal than most of the other people who are indignant on their behalf.

0

treebee

Government Hooker

Moderator

London, United Kingdom

#5

Jul 19, 2011 @ 15:44:17

@buffalobill90 Said

The victim of a crime is often readier to forgive the criminal than most of the other people who are indignant on their behalf.

funny how that works isnt it.

0

chisa96

Supreme Goddess

Out in Nature, Wisconsin

#6

Jul 19, 2011 @ 15:47:39

@buffalobill90 Said

The victim of a crime is often readier to forgive the criminal than most of the other people who are indignant on their behalf.

I'm still not sure that I could forgive someone who left me blind in one eye...

I don't think that I'd push for burning him at the stake, but I'm not sure that I could actively defend him either. Rais sounds like a good man.

0

sTreetAngeL

root tedt ree

in a paradox,

#7

Jul 19, 2011 @ 15:56:16

@chisa96 Said

I'm still not sure that I could forgive someone who left me blind in one eye...

Yeah, that's a tough test!

If the victim is willing to forgive him, then who are any of us not to?

0

boobagins

SPICY HOT TAMALES

Astral Weeks, Florida

#8

Jul 19, 2011 @ 15:58:03

To me there are a lot of gray areas in a case like this.

Sometimes to move on from a traumatic event, therapist encourage victims to forgive the person that hurt them. It's hard to say what is true and what is not.

Sometimes victims are pushed towards their POV. Other times, it's totally genuine.

I think that even if the victims forgive, should that be enough to absolve the preparatory guilt from a legal standpoint. The whole concept of laws is lost if you do that, but maybe not in a philosophical sense.

Another question to ponder: Are the immediate victims of the attack the only victims. What about those dead ones? And is society in general a victim of the crimes as well? Is it solely up to that victim in general?

I can say that I am an indirect victim of crimes related to racism. I can say that I have been subject to a different standard by people because of 9/11. Are all victims tied or are we individually our own?

0

Edited: July 19, 2011 @ 16:01

JR_Sanford

Portland (St. Johns), Oregon

#9

Jul 19, 2011 @ 16:02:32

I totally agree. It has to stop somewhere. Revenge will only continue. One side needs to see that forgiveness is the key to peace. This Guy sees the wisdom in so doing. I applaud him.

J.R.

0

JR_Sanford

Portland (St. Johns), Oregon

#10

Jul 19, 2011 @ 16:07:52

@boobagins Said

To me there are a lot of gray areas in a case like this.

Sometimes to move on from a traumatic event, therapist encourage victims to forgive the person that hurt them. It's hard to say what is true and what is not.

Sometimes victims are pushed towards their POV. Other times, it's totally genuine.

I think that even if the victims forgive, should that be enough to absolve the preparatory guilt from a legal standpoint. The whole concept of laws is lost if you do that, but maybe not in a philosophical sense.

Another question to ponder: Are the immediate victims of the attack the only victims. What about those dead ones? And is society in general a victim of the crimes as well? Is it solely up to that victim in general?

I can say that I am an indirect victim of crimes related to racism. I can say that I have been subject to a different standard by people because of 9/11. Are all victims tied or are we individually our own?

Killing Mark Stroman will not bring back the people he killed. What if those surviving families came forward and forgave him as well? Someone, somewhere is going to have to stop this cycle of eye for an eye. If we don't this will go on for eternity. Rais is on to something here. A Spiritually advanced Soul.

J.R.

0

Edited: July 19, 2011 @ 16:18

boobagins

SPICY HOT TAMALES

Astral Weeks, Florida

#11

Jul 19, 2011 @ 16:10:06

@JR_Sanford Said

Killing Rais will not bring back the people he killed. What if those surviving families came forward and forgave him as well? Someone, somewhere is going to have to stop this cycle of eye for an eye. If we don't this will go on for eternity.

J.R.

Go back and read my posts. Is death row the same thing as life in prison?

0

chisa96

Supreme Goddess

Out in Nature, Wisconsin

#12

Jul 19, 2011 @ 16:12:56

@boobagins Said

Go back and read my posts. Is death row the same thing as life in prison?

Killing mark... Rais is the forgiving victim.

0

Edited: July 19, 2011 @ 16:14

JR_Sanford

Portland (St. Johns), Oregon

#13

Jul 19, 2011 @ 16:16:17

@chisa96 Said

Killing mark... Rais is the forgiving victim.

Oops, that's what I meant. Thanks I edited the post.

J.R.

0

Edited: July 19, 2011 @ 16:21

chisa96

Supreme Goddess

Out in Nature, Wisconsin

#14

Jul 19, 2011 @ 16:17:53

Sure sure. Don't know how I quoted booby for it, but meh... whatever.

0

boobagins

SPICY HOT TAMALES

Astral Weeks, Florida

#15

Jul 19, 2011 @ 16:21:01

I got so confused for a second.

1

Similar Topics
	Forum	Topic	Last Post	Replies	Views
	Politics	The Copts abroad tell US: persecution is "crime against humanity"	Wed Nov 16, 2011 @ 11:48	0	718
	Gender Issues	Victim in Md. McDonald's attack alleges hate crime	Sun May 15, 2011 @ 22:03	223	13637
	Football (US)	for the first time in my 41 years of "life"	Mon Jan 17, 2011 @ 02:35	1	2732
	Random	How many people are in your secret "hate" list?	Sun Apr 12, 2009 @ 17:21	35	5614
	Poetry	A VERY long poem based on the novel, "Crime and Punishment"	Fri Aug 01, 2008 @ 15:39	0	898

News & Current Events