Video from BBC Ideas „Why I’m friends with a man who shot me” portrays two different

men whose paths crossed and it changed their lives. We are presented with two individuals
who met in Brixton in the 90s. James at that time, was a police officer. He had been brought
up in a religious household. That’s why wanted to move out and joined the Metropolitan
Police. Leroy, however, was a gangster, grew up with a grandma because his mother had been
murder when he was only 2. He left school at 13, continuing his life as a thief being in and out
of prison. In the 1994 James with his colleague were checking pubs in Brixton, they were
doing overtime and the easiest way to accomplish it, was drug arresting. After leaving one of
the places James saw Leroy with a friend on a motorcycle. He decided to approach them.
Nevertheless, Leroy was reassuring he didn’t have anything to hide, yet something fell out of
his pocket. James wanted to pick up the evidence but then Leroy took out a gun and shot two
policeman. Miraculously, they both survived even though they were badly injured. After the
incident Leroy fled the country, only to be arrested a month later. He got a 25- year sentence.
Fast-forward 20 years later, Leroy wrote a book, which James acquired. When he read it he
decided to support Leroy and hoped he had become a good person. That’s why, he got in
contact with him and they became friends. James even said that forgiving Leroy was the best
thing that happened in his life. The article talks about the similar issue. More precisely should
we be friends with a criminal. Judith Fein poses a question if cutting off a relation with
someone who has been convicted of wrongdoing is a good idea. She volunteered for 6 years
in prison system, where she met juveniles, people who committed federal as well as heinous
crimes. What was the result? These prisoners were actually resourceful, creative and
intelligent people, but had terrible childhoods. For example, one prisoner was taught how to
shoot up heroin at age 10, the other one was being beat up mercilessly by his father, the next
one was bullied into revenge. Can we shrug off all these circumstances and only judge them
by crimes they committed? Are they even aware of their sins if they were brought up in an
uncustomary environment? One of the guards even said: “they’re in such emotional state that
they can’t relate to the question if they feel guilty”. It’s like asking someone in a cast if they
are comfortable. The journalist wants to expose them to see a positive world by having classes
that help them express themselves and their creativity. Some of the convicted weren’t aware
they can enjoy such things. Every day we hear about different crimes and feel anger towards
the perpetrator. However, if it was someone close to us would it be that easy to be resentful
towards them? We should think about the circumstances that led to that situation and find out
if we’re able to help them in any way, however still having victims in mind.