I once watched a movie and came across this concept of a Presidential Pardon.
I’ve forgotten the name of the movie, but in it, the candidates running for president promised that, if elected, they would grant presidential pardons to certain prisoners including those on death row.
They made such promises openly, just to win the hearts of people who had relatives or friends behind bars.
At first glance, a presidential pardon might seem like a good thing. After all, some people do change.
Some people behind bars may have truly repented, or maybe they were wrongly accused in the first place.
For those, a second chance sounds fair and even necessary. It gives hope and healing. It can even correct some injustices in the system.
But at the same time, I can’t help but feel that it’s like releasing a timed bomb.
There’s always that risk.
Some of those granted a pardon might not have changed at all. They might go back into society and continue where they left off.
And if they do commit another crime, who takes responsibility? The president who pardoned them? The justice system? Or is it just seen as “unfortunate”?
This uncertainty makes the whole process feel dangerous.
Worse still, the presidential pardon can be manipulated. It’s not always about justice or fairness.
Sometimes, it’s about politics, connections, or personal gain.
Some influential people may use it to free their allies or protect themselves in the long run.
And that’s where the real danger lies—when mercy becomes a tool in the hands of the powerful rather than a lifeline for the deserving.
I honestly feel that if a presidential pardon is to be given, it should come with strict conditions.
It shouldn’t just end at freedom. The person should be closely monitored, perhaps even required to report regularly or go through a rehabilitation program.
Their behavior should be tracked to ensure they don’t go back to committing crimes. This way, society is protected, and the individual is guided properly.
Also, there should be transparency. The public deserves to know why someone is being pardoned, especially if it’s a high-profile or controversial case. That helps reduce abuse and builds trust in the system.
In the end, forgiveness is powerful. But without wisdom, it can cause more harm than good.
Thank you for reading 😌🙏.
NB: Images are generated from Ideogram.