September 13, 2022
Image edited in Canva. Quotes from picturequotes.com
Life isn't perfect, and so we are humans. We all make mistakes and bad decisions, but it doesn't mean we are literally bad. We are just imperfect. But some people can't really just accept it even though they are also making mistakes. We all are. And we all deserve second chances to learn from our mistakes. To start a new life with the lessons we learn from our mistakes.
These thoughts came after reading Samsmith's article on the Silverbloggers community the other night. That also reminded me of the discussions in one discord voice chat with @Ayane-chan, @DennMarc, @Eunoia, and JM. The topic was about giving a second chance to ex-convicts, and the boys said that they can't live a normal life anymore since those people have already been tainted. I didn't dive into their discussions as I was busy with something else. Yet, in my mind, I disagreed with the boys' answer.
Going back to Samsmith's post, it was about a man who was once an alcoholic with a drug history. While under rehabilitation, unfortunate things happened, and he wasn't allowed to live at his home because of having a minor daughter. His wife got sick and later died because of lack of medical attention. His wife refused to be sent to the hospital as Social Services might learn about it and take her kids away. Now that his wife is dead and the kids are left at home with no parents at all, the man carries a burden of guilt throughout his life.
The man seemed to be out of rehab and now willing to start anew. Yet, due to his drug history, he is still not allowed to live with his kids at his home. Although prohibited, his kids would sometimes allow him to stop by, but he couldn't stay overnight. And his struggles probably include finding a better job to make ends meet or support his kids. He mentioned in one section that if he got money, he could stay in a better place; if not, he would... (that was cut).He probably stays on the streets if he has no money to pay for a better place to sleep for the night. As a result, he is homeless and struggling greatly.
I know there are laws protecting the social welfare of every one. Yet, for a man and a father like him who wants to change for the better, for the sake of his kids, he deserves a second chance, and the bad history shouldn't be dragged on all aspects.
Now, relating to the two mentioned cases, the man with a drug history and those who got out of jail have committed mistakes that made their reputations tainted and judged by society. So in most cases, they struggle a lot to get back on track, and only a few can go back to their normal lives. Unless they are accepted again and given second chances by the people in the society they are in,
Those ex-convicts were given a chance to change and start anew, and they deserve it. And that's one of the reasons why, in some cases, those who haven't been given second chances would allow history to repeat itself and just let themselves be called bad for the rest of their lives.
For people like them, it will be tough at first to live normally and gain back the trust of the people around them. But I believe we all deserve second chances. As I mentioned above, we are all imperfect humans, and we sometimes commit mistakes or make wrong decisions. I get the point that it's hard to trust anyone nowadays, especially those with a bad history. Yet, those who want to correct their mistakes and change for good shouldn't be deprived of starting a new life.
If God can forgive us, we humans can too.
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Got teary eyed while reading this, Ate. Naalala ko 'yung napanood ko na movie which is halos same dito sa kinwento mo~ can't remember the title but the society & his wife didn't accepted him kasi nga ex-con s'ya and could harm their children.
He became homeless, discriminated and all. But, in the end? He succeed in life. His inspiration? His children kasi it turned out na abuser pala 'yung wife n'ya. Gandang story, dunno lang kung fiction or true story s'ya.