Hicks deserves a Second Chance
March 3rd 2008 21:47
You see, the cynic in me is constantly looking for the angle when somebody does a good deed for another person and this instance was no different.
Smith certainly has a reputation for courting publicity with his grandiose practical jokes (from attempting to jump 25 Harley Davidson motorcycles in a London double decker bus to ‘attempting’ to tow an iceberg to Australia to obtain more fresh water) and public donations (he has already donated $60,000 to the campaign to secure a fair trial for Hicks). I find it entirely conceivable that this recent act of kindness is a clever and extremely successful ploy to once again hit the front pages of the newspapers.
But, again, that’s probably the cynic in me.
The liberal and compassionate side of me, thinks ‘so what’? Nobody is being hurt, some good is being done and anyway perhaps kindness of this nature should be rewarded with the public’s kudos.
I came to the conclusion that the motives for helping someone are secondary to the act of kindness itself. I know people who would fiercely disagree with me and who would say that true kindness can only come from humility, not from the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald. And I suppose in the purest sense of the word, they would have a point.
However, Hicks has served his time in allegedly the harshest environment imaginable and I imagine he just wants to get on with the rest of his life. I don’t for one second think he’ll be labouring over the motives of someone in the fortunate position of being able to lend him a hand. And why should he?
It is a tough and arduous road for people returning from prison and the lack of opportunities upon their release is undoubtedly a major factor in the rate of re-offending. They have usually served their time and usually learned their lesson, but we find it just too difficult to forget and forgive their past crimes and would much rather they just stayed out of everyone’s way.
The truth is that without the help of Smith, Hicks would have undoubtedly learned the hard way that people will happily talk about second chances as long as they don’t have to give them.
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