[BrandonM]

Growing as a person and improving the human condition are some of the most virtuous things that one can do. Someone doing those things should not be condemned for life because of past mistakes.

Your expressed belief seems to reflect the attitude of the current American criminal justice system, a system that is very bad at rehabilitation: it tends to turn minor offenders into hardened criminals.

Any improvement is worthy of praise. Any contribution is worthy of gratitude. Denying that to someone because past mistakes is very disingenuous. Pretending that people are static characters like some bad sitcom is short-sighted and naïve.

There is no good and evil, only people with different motives. If you've never grown up wondering where you're going to live next week or where your next meal is going to come from, then you can't understand the thinking of someone who has, and you're in no place to judge their actions.

[gnaritas]

Any improvement is worthy of praise, that doesn't make the person worthy of praise. You don't just get to pretend the past didn't happen and the people you hurt don't exist. Some things are unforgivable and nothing can ever make up for it; ever.

Yes, people change and grow, that doesn't mean you get to leave your past behind and pretend it never happened. You murder someone, you're a murderer forever, not just until you realize it was wrong.

> There is no good and evil, only people with different motives.

I don't agree, though I'd never use the words good and evil, I'd use right and wrong and some things are objectively wrong.

> If you've never grown up wondering where you're going to live next week or where your next meal is going to come from, then you can't understand the thinking of someone who has, and you're in no place to judge their actions.

I did grow up that way, and I am in a place to state my opinion on their actions.