Broken people break others. Can society heal by punishing… or by forgiving? When the one who destroys is themselves destroyed — what does that say about us all?
In the wake of horrific crimes, society often faces a fundamental question:
Should justice focus solely on punishment — or is there still room for forgiveness?
The recent case of Tyler Robinson, who may face the death penalty or even execution by firing squad, has reignited this debate. Many argue that the harshest penalties are necessary to deter future crimes — that without serious consequences, there is little to lose, and therefore little reason for criminals to refrain from committing crimes. Harsh punishment, they say, is the only language that some will understand.
And yet, history gives us a radically different perspective.
(Picture: Jesus said; «Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.» – Luke 23:34, while being crucified. It represents an act of extreme mercy and forgiveness, where Jesus intercedes for the people responsible for his suffering and death, including the soldiers, religious leaders, and the crowd who mocked him).
In 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot and critically wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca, a terrorist from Turkey. Against all expectations, the Pope survived. But what shocked the world even more was what he did later:
He visited his would-be assassin in prison, spoke with him privately, and forgave him.
John Paul’s forgiveness did not erase the crime. Ağca still had to serve many years in prison. But the Pope’s act sent a powerful message:
Forgiveness does not mean removing justice — it means choosing mercy in the midst of justice.
This raises a haunting question about Robinson’s case:
What if someone close to the victims were to forgive him?
It would not mean he walks free. It would not mean society abandons justice. But it would show that even in the face of darkness, the human heart can choose light.
At the same time, we must dare to face an uncomfortable truth:
Those who kill are often deeply broken. Healthy minds do not commit such acts.
Those who destroy are often themselves destroyed — products of trauma, neglect, and a world that failed to heal them.
In this sense, every such tragedy is not just about one person, but a mirror of the society that shaped them.
Because in any society, the dynamics of human relationships follow a simple truth:
1. Those who are treated well often become well.
2. Those who are treated badly often become bad.
So simple — and yet so profound.
We are all in the same boat.
Justice protects society.
Forgiveness heals souls.
But prevention and compassion may heal society itself.
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” — Jesus (Luke 6:37)
And maybe one day, we will learn:
To heal the world, we must first heal each other.
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Ket Garden
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