[Saundra Duffy]

What happened is that people forgave Rudy for his past mistakes in the wake of his courageous, exemplary handling of the 9/11 tragedy. For victory & freedom!!!

[verboten]

What happened is that people forgave Rudy for his past mistakes in the wake of his courageous, exemplary handling of the 9/11 tragedy. For victory & freedom!!!

I have to disagree absolutely. It is not our place to forgive Rudy. His wife and children are the only ones who can forgive him. To think otherwise is to imply we have the right to act for other people. Regardless, pennance requires the admission of guilt, and seeking of forgiveness. I don't know that Rudy did either. So I don't know that even his wife and children can forgive him as of yet.

[ArGee]

What happened is that people forgave Rudy for his past mistakes in the wake of his courageous, exemplary handling of the 9/11 tragedy. For victory & freedom!!!

But did Rudy repent. And if He didn't repent, isn't he still a baby killer and an adulterer? I understand the original question. Is an adulterer and baby killer a hero? Suppose he had killed a few winos. Should the American people have forgiven that if he had never repented?

Maybe what we no longer understand is that the evil actions we do show what is at our core. Someone can provide a very civilized veneer over a very dangerous core. I know, I know, I sin too. But at my core I am repentant. Maybe I will continue to commit the sins I have committed in the past, but I am doing everything I know how to avoid doing that. I desire to be something else. Does Rudy desire to be other than a baby killer and adulterer?

It is a valid question.

He did do a bang-up job handling the 9/11 attack, though. No argument there.

Shalom.