Revenge Vs. Forgiveness

[Gvac]

Dear Wisest of the Wise,

Which is the better course of action when an innocent person has been wronged - revenge or forgiveness?

If a person was framed and put in jail for 10 years for a crime he never committed, for example, when he got out should he forgive those who set him up or go after them?

I know we've been taught to turn the other cheek and be pacifistic in nature, but is there ever a time when vengeance is not only acceptable, but expected?

I'm interested in hearing your response.

Thanks buddy.

[spankyfrank]

No not revenge......punishment......

[Snoogans]

Dear Wisest of the Wise,

Which is the better course of action when an innocent person has been wronged - revenge or forgiveness?

If a person was framed and put in jail for 10 years for a crime he never committed, for example, when he got out should he forgive those who set him up or go after them?

I know we've been taught to turn the other cheek and be pacifistic in nature, but is there ever a time when vengeance is not only acceptable, but expected?

I'm interested in hearing your response.

Thanks buddy.
I would guess, based on not wanting to go back to prison, that they would just embrace the freedom and try to enjoy what they had left. But I cant say I'd blame someone for being more than a little pissed off about it

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Forgiveness is the better. The simple reason being that revenge is much easier to achieve than forgiveness, which adheres to the ol' maxim that the easiest route is not necessarily the best way. And all that emotional soothing of the victim's wounds thing too that is attached with forgiveness.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

I would guess, based on not wanting to go back to prison, that they would just embrace the freedom and try to enjoy what they had left. But I cant say I'd blame someone for being more than a little pissed off about it

Somebody's been watching Tom Selleck framed-and-gone-to-prison movies.

Perhaps that should go into the obscure thread.

[Snoogans]

Somebody's been watching Tom Selleck framed-and-gone-to-prison movies.

Perhaps that should go into the obscure thread.

Did I miss something? The only Tom Selleck movie Id watch is Mr Baseball

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Did I miss something? The only Tom Selleck movie Id watch is Mr Baseball

You'd love it. He fucks Underdog up like nobody's business in the shower scene.

[Friday]

in most situations...nothing good can come of revenge.

however, if you have ever seen "In The Bedroom" ... you can see there may be situations where revenge is the only path to justice.

still... i hope i would have the strength to choose forgiveness.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

in most situations...nothing good can come of revenge.

however, if you have ever seen "In The Bedroom" ... you can see there may be situations where revenge is the only path to justice.

still... i hope i would have the strength to choose forgiveness.

I'd imagine good comes from revenge in most situations. Just not as much good as forgiveness. And less circular cycle of shit that revenge brings with it. But I can think of a billion instances where revenge would not yield zero positive results.

[Mafialife Chris]

2 wrongs can NEVER make a right.

Forgive is one of the hardest thing to do, yet is always the right thing.

Just my 2 cents.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

2 wrongs can NEVER make a right.

Forgive is one of the hardest thing to do, yet is always the right thing.

Just my 2 cents.

Wouldja kill Bin Laden?

Yer goddamned right.

[epo]

Forgiveness. Although I'd really deep in my gut like to get revenge.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

I think rape victims need to forgive while I get revenge on the rapists. Frank Castle fan since Day 1.

[A.J.]

Revenge....served cold.

http://www.celluloidheroreviews.com/images/wrath_of_khan.jpg

[boosterp]

Revenge is true salvation. If a person seriously wrongs you then revenge will bring you peace. But, revenge comes in different forms and does not have to mimic that which has wronged you. Meaning, sometimes silence is the best revenge, sometimes meditation is a good revenge, and sometimes punishment brings you peace. It depends on who you are and what was done to you.

[ToiletCrusher]

Extreme outrage.

[Furtherman]

Revenge....served cold.

http://www.celluloidheroreviews.com/images/wrath_of_khan.jpg

Like there was any other answer.

[A.J.]

Like there was any other answer.

Furtherman completes me.

[Jujubees2]

http://images.nipponcinema.com/releases/vengeance_is_mine_criterion.jpg

[Gvac]

Revenge....served cold.

http://www.celluloidheroreviews.com/images/wrath_of_khan.jpg

I swear by all that I hold dear, the VERY INSTANT I posted this thread I said to myself "I can't wait for A.J. to respond with a Wrath of Khan reference."

[Recyclerz]

An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.



You know what they say: Revenge is like serving cold cuts.


The choice is yours, but I sure do likes me a pastrami sandwich every once in a while. :innocent:

[A.J.]

I swear by all that I hold dear, the VERY INSTANT I posted this thread I said to myself "I can't wait for A.J. to respond with a Wrath of Khan reference."

You throw me a hanging curveball, and it's going over the fence my friend.

[EliSnow]

Revenge is true salvation. If a person seriously wrongs you then revenge will bring you peace. But, revenge comes in different forms and does not have to mimic that which has wronged you. Meaning, sometimes silence is the best revenge, sometimes meditation is a good revenge, and sometimes punishment brings you peace. It depends on who you are and what was done to you.

Let's stop playing with what the word "revenge" means. It is to exact punishment, or inflict pain or harm in response to a wrong committed. I know people like to use the word "revenge" figuratively in the ways you do above (silence, meditation), but that's not revenge and not what Gvac is talking about.

Revenge may feel like justice in that the wrongdoer suffers for what they have done. However, I don't think revenge ever really gives a person peace. And I do believe that you're more likely to have internal peace, forgiveness is really the way to go.

The people who forgive those that have harmed them or others seem pretty damn at peace to me.

But it's pretty damn hard to take that route over revenge.

[EliSnow]

I think rape victims need to forgive while I get revenge on the rapists. Frank Castle fan since Day 1.

And look where that got him. He's dead inside and can't relate to others in any meaningful way. He might as well be a robot.

[A.J.]

He's dead inside and can't relate to others in any meaningful way. He might as well be a robot.

My ears were burning for a moment there.

[Crispy123]

Two words for you my friend, Count of Monte Cristo.

Alexandre Dumas had that shit right!

[A.J.]

Two words for you my friend, Count of Monte Cristo.

Alexandre Dumas had that shit right!

That's the Count of Monte Crisco by Alexander Dumbass.

http://www.listosaurusrex.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/dumas.PNG

[EliSnow]

Two words for you my friend, Count of Monte Cristo.

Alexandre Dumas had that shit right!

I think the point of the story was to show the harm revenge has. Yes, the Count got his revenge, but as a result of that, innocents suffered. And in the end, he lets Danglars live and forgives him.

Having done this and helped some others, he goes of with Haydee and finds love.

[EliSnow]

Remember what Confucious said: “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”