Should Acts of Violence Be Forgotten And/Or Forgiven?

Today March 22, 2011, channel ABC's "Good Morning America," had two guests who were involved in different acts of violence. John Foreman, a father from Rhode Island, lost his son, Jason Foreman, from a horrific act of murderous violence. Chris Brown, who is an R&B singer, was arrested in 2009 for a felony assault charge involving the singer Rihanna, his girlfriend at the time.

Chris Brown was being interviewed by Robin Roberts who brought up questions regarding the 2009 incident. In that incident Chris Brown physically assaulted Rihanna during an argument, leaving her face battered and bruised. He was arrested and sentenced to a felony assault with probation, community service and a restraint order. During this morning's interview Chris avoided the question and appeared agitated. His comment was, "Not big deal to me now. As far as that situation, I think I'm past that in my life..." Chris Brown inferred he only wanted to talk about his upcoming new album.

After the GMA show it's alleged that Chris Brown had a violent rage attack in his dressing room, throwing a chair through a glass window and acting verbally abusive, requiring a security alert. He tore his shirt off and left the building. It is alleged that Chris Brown was later arrested. This young man seems to still have anger management issues even though he intended anger management classes because GMA reports they cleared the Rihanna incident questions with his team prior to the interview.

Should Chris Brown's violent act towards Rihanna be forgotten and forgiven? Making a comment inferring he can put his violent act in the past infers he hasn't fully dealt with his emotional abusive issues, and definitely if he acted out physically due to his anger towards questions while on the GMA set. Chris Brown wants a fresh start with his fans being musically talented and his new single is number one today. Personally should the public allow him to live his life and stop questioning his past behavior? If Rihanna has forgiven him, should the public also forgive him? Or should Chris face the media questions when he's a guest and answer them responsibly, showing he has learned from his mistakes.

John Foreman, the father of five year old Jason Foreman was also interviewed by GMA. Jason Foreman was abducted from the front of his Kingston, Rhode Island home thirty-six years ago. After seven years of police searching for Jason, a teenage neighbor, Michael Woodmansee confessed to being the kidnapper and killer. The remains of Jason Foreman's body were found in Michael's home, a victim of a brutal savage murder. John Foreman agreed to a plea bargain in order to avoid the graphic details of his son's murder being revealed in court. Michael Woodmansee was sentenced to forty years. Now after serving twenty-eight years with good behavior, Michael Woodmansee is scheduled to be released in August 2011. Michael was caught because he attempted to kidnap another child. It was revealed Michael maintained a journal revealing graphic details of Jason's murder. Two bones were found shellacked as trophies in his bedroom. The journal was sealed from the public's eyes and John Forman has never read it.

I can't even begin to know what it feels to be John Foreman, living with the fact his young son died from such a brutal violent act and now his son's perpetrator is going to be released. John Foreman reports he didn't want to see Michael Woodmansee freed because he still had murderous revenge thoughts towards him. John reports he would gladly go to jail if he murdered the man who killed his son. An act of violence for an act of violence?

John Foreman's neighbors report they stand with him, and who humanely wouldn't feel the same way towards a young child's brutal murder. How can Michael Woodmansee expect to be forgiven and have his act of violence forgotten so he can live his life? The law states Michael served his term, but can a depraved violent act give him the right to walk the streets of Rhode Island freely? Can John Foreman live his life and be expected to forgive the man who violently took his son's life? The law states John Foreman has to abide by and live with the plea bargain he initially agreed to.

At this point psychiatrists are going to evaluate Michael Woodmansee to see if he can be released or will be committed to a psych facility.

Many people commit violent acts unfortunately. Domestic violence, child abuse, kidnappers and acts of torture, rape and murder, are some of the violent acts inflicted by humans on each other. The question remains whether acts of violence can ever be forgotten or forgiven?

You can read the full stories and view videos regarding Chris Brown and John Forman via the following GMA website link.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/