Instead of being castrated for pardoning 200 plus inmates en masse upon leaving his job as Governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour should be applauded for having the courage to defend his convictions. State governors traditionally have the discretion to pardon prison inmates pretty much as they please. Too often, governors are wary to do so, because they fear the political flack they can receive if someone they release early subsequently commits another crime. An appeal for mercy to the governor is typically the last resort for an inmate who has to apply for a pardon. Most governors who receive these appeals lack knowledge of the conditions, effects, and of ramifications of imprisonment. They simply bend to political expediency and consider pardoning only low-level offenders. Haley Barbour is the exception. As the article belows shows; he has firsthand familiarity not only with the possibility of rehabilitation and second-chances being given to inmates; but he also is following his christian conviction of forgiveness. Perhaps if more of the public has a chance to have the same level of interaction with former inmates as Barbour has in his life there would not be the same level of fear and hate-mongering against the early release of inmates. Perhaps there would be the true chance for former inmates to successfully reintergrate back into society peacefully in an atmosphere of greater acceptance.
It is heartening to see a staunch Republican and christian standing up for his principles without apology. When one considers how many individuals have been and are wrongfully convicted and inprisoned in states, one wonders why Barbour’s action would be this controversial, and why there is not the same level of concern shown for ensuring that no one is wrongfully convicted.
RichardWanke.Com 