Pardon for Rosa Parks?Jack Lewis (real name Danny Carlton) looks at a
proposal for pardoning Rosa Parks. Apparently a pardon essentially says yes, the person was guilty, but we're going to forgive them for it.
If there doesn't exist a means of removing the legal stigma of a record violating an unjust law, then wouldn't lawmakers be the very people to create such a means? Call it a "Justification" and note in their record that not only are they no longer under any legal consequences of violating that particular law, but have society's gratitude for their courage in doing so. That way not only does it remove the negative stigma, is preserves the positive aspect of their act. The original record can be stamped with a large red "JUSTIFIED".My own feeling? I'd like to know whether Rosa had ever requested a pardon, or indicated her desire for one during her lifetime. If she didn't then I would leave the matter alone, or pass a resolution applauding her for her actions. It seems to me that with Rosa dead, pardoning her diminishes what she did. She broke the law and accepted the consequences.
