Letter from the Chairman
To Whom It May Concern;
The recent events in Arizona are causing some to reflect on the state of affairs in our great land. People are now asking, “How did we get to such a place of hate and evil intent?”
Representative Tim Holden has an article asking all of us to be more civil. I applaud him for that and certainly agree that is something we must do.
I also have to ask why we are not more forgiving as a people. Which of us has not needed or asked for forgiveness at some point in our matriculation through life? Which of us had anything to do with where we were born or to whom we were born? Of course none of us had any say. Nevertheless, we find ourselves looking down our noses at some that are different than us.
Ladies and gentlemen I submit we have to be more civil, we have to be more forgiving and we have to be more understanding of persons different than us.
When it comes to the ex-offender that has paid his or her debt to society, the question remains, how long must they keep on paying?
When will the slate be wiped clean, the past forgotten so that society can move forward collectively? We must understand that we are as weak as the weakest link. Therefore, it behooves us to pull everyone up and not let anyone get left behind.
Together we will all overcome or together we will all fail at this thing called “living in peace” with one another. We can do it; we all have to realize the benefits in seeing things the way they ought to be seen. Yes we punish crime, but when the punishment is duly administered and the sentence served is the individual then welcomed back into the fold? If not, why not? We must understand that with recidivism, we all lose. Let’s get this thing right so we can all move forward!!!
Vladimir Beaufils