If someone brutally murdered someone you love, would you have the courage to confront them? Would you even want to? For some victims of violent crimes, these meetings are vital to the healing process.
Jennifer met with and forgave the man who killed her father.
On February 13, 1988, 17-year-old Jennifer slept in her bedroom as her father, Franklin Kennedy (known as Ken) was forced into his bed, stripped naked and brutally stabbed to death.
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Over the next 16 years, Jennifer married and had five children. Still haunted by her father's horrific murder, she enrolled in a "restorative justice" program, designed to help victims and their families heal from the devastation of violent crimes through meetings with the offenders.
from CNN
Okay up to this point I can agree with wanting a face to face with the killer of a parent, that's completely understandable for a number of reasons, however it goes down hill from here.
As their meeting ends, Jennifer reads a statement to Billy. "I have traveled a very, very long journey. ... Part of my ending piece to my journey is to tell you that I forgive you. I forgive you for what took place that night. I forgive you for that; I've made peace with that. I had to because I was so angry and I was so hurt. He was such a great person. Just because he was gay didn't mean he was bad. I've forgiven you for that. Maybe you can find some peace in that, because I have."
Accepting an apology from the killer is also fine; provided you can stomach down the bile long enough to accept and believe that the apology is sincere. However then returning the gesture by conveying your forgiveness just turns my stomach. You forgive people who call you a derogatory word, or who cut you off in traffic, or who otherwise slight you in minor ways; to offer up forgiveness for a crime so unspeakable as killing someones father especially your own. It is beyond me how people could even bring those words to their lips in such a situation as being face to face with the killer of a parent.
Were I to be put into that situation I suspect I would have been physically ill just to know that my own tax dollars were supporting and protecting the life of a convicted murderer who robbed me of a parent. How anyone can tolerate such things is truly beyond my comprehension. The worst part is that vapid heads everywhere flock to Oprah as some kind of messiah with her messages of forgiveness, learning, growing, whatever you want to call the crap she spews. This is just another gleaming example of why she and her empire are completely full of shit.
