Mercy?/Deshler High 1990 Football Team!

Holland Noah Elkins and Mercy

A Guest Commentary By

J. J. Ray

With great interest, I read the comment from the individual who had judged and sentenced Mr. Elkins. Does he wish to be the executioner also? Mercy is a strange concept for many because justice and mercy are at odds with each other. On one hand, society demands justice for the offended and yet the accused begs for mercy.

William Shakespeare wrote: The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. Matthew 5:7 teaches, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."

A. W. Pink asks and answers. What is mercifulness? It is a gracious disposition toward my fellow creatures and fellow Christians. It is that kindness and benevolence that feels the miseries of others. It is a spirit that regards with compassion the sufferings of the afflicted. It is the grace that causes one to deal leniently with an offender and to scorn the taking of re­venge.

There is an enormous difference between revenge and justice Those who seek to revenge themselves often regret the effort. Can we temper justice with mercy? The answer is simple. For those that choose to continue a way of life that affects society in a negative and harmful manner, justice appears to be the only answer. In order to receive mercy one must show mercy. Robbing banks and inflicting pain and suffering on society on a consistent basis is not showing mercy.

Yet, it is not up to us as individuals to decide innocence or guilt, justice or mercy; it is reserved for the court system. We are a nation of laws and must depend on those elected to mete out justice sometimes tempered with mercy. This question of mercy versus justice has been argued since the time of Plato and Aristotle but there does not seem to be a solution.

All we can do as a society is to depend on our laws. True, there will be mistakes but our system of justice is far better than anywhere else in the world. If Sharia law were used, he could have his hands cut off, be hanged or stoned to death. That would be justice but where is the mercy?

Would justice be served if Mr. Elkins were once more turned loose on society? Is he a sociopath that cannot be cured? We do not have these answers. After all he was granted mercy once, is twice too much. Only our creator knows for sure.

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Did you attend Deshler High School? Did you graduate in 1991? Were you a member of the 1990 State Championship football team? If you answered yes to all these questions, you are indeed a prize-winner.

According to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society (and who even knew we had one of those?), Deshler fielded its first team in 1923. The 1990 4-A State Champions were the first team in school history to go 15-0. How about that?

Deshler's homecoming will be October 15th, at which time the entire 1990 team will be honored. Honorees are asked to meet at the Chappell Stadium Field House at 6:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact The Geddon Report. Geddon has asked that I remind everyone that streaking is optional.

We'll be having a followup report on the homecoming activities before the big day. At that time, we will also be publishing Geddon's Tiger Beat photo. You don't want to miss it.

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Can't wait for The Connection to finally publish its premiere issue? According to the publishers, the launch was a definite go for September 30; however, we all know how life's surprises can set us back, even the good ones. The debut of the Shoals Internet magazine is now set for October 7th. We're told it will be a work in progress for the first few weeks, then prepare to be amazed and amused.

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For the 1990 Deshler Football team:




Shoalanda



Connecting October 7th. This time we mean it!