Mercy versus Justice Dilemma Story
Original Story by: Michael Krigline
Summarized & Analyzed by: Bank [12/12/02]

Jack Hatten, a sergeant was on an ordinary workday in the office, until he came back home to see their seven-year-old son and two teenagers dead in the house. He went up to check on his wife to see that she had been beaten, and abused. The doctors tried to do their best, but now she�s in coma and is in responsible of bigger hands. Later in the night or in the morning, he woke up and found that the events was not a nightmare, but reality. Anger and vengeance was dominating him, but then the lines of the Bible just come up to him to calm him down. After many verses of the Bible, that to �forgive those who trespass against us� he was convinced. The commander wants Jack to sign, as their response is limited if nobody press charges. Jack refuses and the commander was furious. The commander explained that even though personal forgiveness is a good deed, but if you don�t arrest them or punish them in a way, others those who are innocent and is enjoying their life may be in danger of those criminals. And when the criminals get away with the crime they had committed they would feel as if they could get away with another one. In the end, Jack got to his senses and knew what he had to do.

The decision to forgive those who trespass against us, is a good deed indeed, but we must think in perspective of others as well as our own. If Jack had just let go and let the criminals be free out there in the world, nobody will feel safe even in their own homes. �Do not repay evil by evil� but, by arresting them, and punishing them is not evil but actually a good. It teaches them and fears them from prison. If they fear prison they wouldn�t be committing crimes.

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