If you own a label, you can change what it means for you. To me, murderer means “extraordinarily wise and compassionate person”, because it not only describes me, but most of the murderers I’ve known. Being considered the scum of the Earth, and having to live with others considered the scum of the Earth, has taught me that many people who are widely considered scum aren’t scum at all; but simply people who’ve made mistakes. Shocking, horrific mistakes, that destroy many lives — not just the life of the victim, but the lives of the victim’s friends and family — but mistakes nonetheless. A mistake is something you wouldn’t do if you had it to do over again — and 99% of murderers would …
