Opinion
“Never ruin an apology with an excuse” ~ Ben Franklin.
“True repentance,” or merely “excuse-making?”
On 23 Mar 24 in Texas, a twelve-year-old boy entered the garage of an elderly woman and precipitously stabbed her (nearly to death).
The woman surely would have died had her own son not checked on her a short time later.
The perpetrator was arrested the same day.
The mother of the boy who did the stabbing was subsequently interviewed.
She claims her son “struggles with mental-health problems” She continues, “He’s just a boy… we learn from our mistakes”
Curiously, she expresses not a whisper of sympathy for the permanently disabled/disfigured victim of her son’s vicious attack.
So, a savage attempted murder is now a “mistake!”
A “mistake” is when we forget to dot the “i” or cross the “t.” Attempted murder is not a “mistake.” It’s a crime, and we don’t call murderers “mistake-makers.”
We call them “criminals!”
“Repentance” describes a deliberate, positive, self-imposed change in attitude and behavior. True repentance is very rare. “Excuse-making,” which is much more common, merely solicits sympathy for willful misbehavior, which will obviously continue.
Violent criminal behavior is now being routinely rationalized, explained/excused away as being due to “mental health problems.”
So, a murderous knife-wielding attacker is actually “an (otherwise) nice guy, who just had ‘mental issues’ that day.”
The lie thus begins!
“… no trouble losing, when you have a good excuse… all you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself, one of the best indoor sports… a sport enjoyed by all, especially born losers.” ~ Bert Gordon (played by George C Scott) to “Fast Eddie” Felson (played by Paul Newman) in the 1961 feature film, “The Hustler”.
More thoughts on excuse-making, from a renowned circuit judge, now retired:
“I heard that excuse from nearly every defendant, in every case, no matter the crime.
When asked what they were thinking at the time, the answer was always:
‘I made a mistake’
It was the universal excuse for all things, and criminal defendants clearly thought I would then reply:
‘Oh! Okay! Never mind then’
Because, it always worked for them before!
Made me angry!
So then (prior to sentencing), we would have this discussion about the difference between a ‘mistake’ and an ‘intentional bad act.’
It was a real revelation for a few.
Most still didn’t get it!”
“Excuses are merely nails used to build a house of failure” ~ Habeeb Akande.
/John
About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor, John Farnam will urge you, based on your beliefs, to make up your mind about what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance if any. Defense Training International wants to ensure that its students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or in-actions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
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