Some spiritual leaders would advise us to always forgive, regardless of the situation. Although that sounds like the most peaceful approach, it can end up doing more harm than good sometimes.
Sexual violence has long been a serious and widespread problem all over the world, and the perpetrators can sometimes even go unpunished. In September 2020, I read reports about a dalit girl allegedly gang-raped by four upper-case men in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, India. In the days following the attack, newspaper reports elaborated on the gruesome nature of the rape. She did not survive. It was an incident that shocked the entire nation. I was not surprised by the protests that happened all over the country. They wanted justice for the young.
The question is: Should we have forgiven the men who raped? In the ancient classic the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna asks Sri Krishna about a similar dilemma of forgiveness. War had come to Hastinapur, which is modern-day Hathras. Arjuna's cousins had brought tyranny and immorality to the kingdom, and after months of peace negotiations, the only solution left was war. This occurred 5,000 years ago. There were codes of conduct that were followed diligently, war was only fought between armies, not civilians.
Throughout the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna tries to convince Sri Krishna that the best thing to do is not to
fight. He is a pacifist. Why partake in bloodshed when you can retreat? Surely it is better to forgive those who perform such transgressions?' Arjuna argues. But Sri Krishna wholeheartedly disagrees with his cousin and shares the spiritual level, then we can transcend our dividing differences.' wisdom of social justice.
On a personal level, we can forgive those who hurt us. That is a personal choice, available to all of us. However, on a societal level, such heinous crimes, if left unpunished, can create havoc. The social repercussions of allowing those who break the law to go free are devastating. Therefore, Sri Krishna encouraged Arjuna to lift his bow, because in this case fighting was the right thing to do. Similarly, the men who perform the criminal act of rape should face the full force of justice, as casual actions in the name of forgiveness do nothing to help society progress. If these criminals are not detained and punished, can you imagine the message it will send out? The principle of forgiveness and the principle of social justice go hand-in-hand; it takes wisdom and introspection to know how they are to be used.
#HathrasCase #Justice #Wisdom #HangTheRapist #whyissocialjusticeimportant
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