Quote:
Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague
If the purpose of youth justice principles is to prevent precisely this sort of outcome from affecting people because of what they do when they're 14, and you think those are good principles to have, then, logically, you should object to the outcome we're currently seeing play out for this person.
Right, but I don't think anyone's saying that it was illegal to make this known. He's saying it should be illegal, because he thinks the Canadian policy is correct and the Ohio policy isn't.
I asked my question earlier - i.e., "what if he apologizes now" - to see if there was any circumstance, any possible way he could have a professional hockey career according to posters here. The answers varied. But according to some, professional hockey is an avenue that should now be closed off to him forever, it seems. That is an incredibly harsh punishment, and as bad as what he did was and as damning as the mother's reaction is (which I view as essentially a victim impact statement), it doesn't fit the crime in my opinion. Internet mob justice never seems to.
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Outside of the issue that saw him in court, though, there is a... what... 9 year period between ages 8 and 16 where he physically abused, mentally abused or intimidated, and was outwardly racist to his victim?
If this was the only incident, a one off, and we only knew about it because of a lack of youth justice provisions... sure... I buy it. But none of that is true, so what impact would have been made if the same provisions that exist in Canada existed in Ohio? None that I can imagine. Isaiah still spoke out, his mother still spoke out, the actual bullying (which seems like a light term) extended far prior and then beyond the incident he was convicted for. I don't think there's a material change in this situation if those same provisions existed in Ohio.
As far as whether he apologizes now, I don't entirely care about it. Not because he doesn't deserve a second chance, but because my opinion rests on his ability to make amends and be forgiven by his victim, not solely on an apology. If Isaiah forgives him, why shouldn't we? And given that Isaiah forgave his other abuser, I don't see that as being a stretch. And if he doesn't, the question to me isn't "should he have an NHL career" because who am I to say so? But I know for me, circumstances being what they are, I wouldn't have drafted him, and as a person without that power, I'll simply root against him making the NHL.
And I've rooted against someone making the NHL for far less, we all have.